More For Less

As your pregnant tummy grows during this lean economy, get used to the words “down-scale” and “hand-me-downs” – they’ll get you through the tough times ahead.

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Downscaling from disposable nappies to the good old-fashioned to welling kind or – even more drastic – selling your three-bedroom home to live in a squashy little box of a townhouse with your family of three, when you’re about to give birth…A large percentage of the global population is taking extreme measures to merely make ends meet during one of the biggest recessions ever. Typical middle-class, two-income families have had to do some radical downscaling due to job loss and the slowing down of the economy.

Now, imagine all this and that you’re pregnant: as the recession gives birth to a whole number of scarily bleak situations, so the impending birth of your child begins to make you panic.

Actually, pregnancy is a time to take stock, so why not do this on a financial level too? At the same time, try to remain calm and focused on the little miracle growing inside you – your baby’s health and your well-being are even more important during these stressful times. Look for ways to escape your day-to-day financial worries by going for walks. Find a quiet place in your home, and take an hour off to read a good book, or tap into your creative side and take up a hobby such as pottery or painting. Don’t obsess over the negative – “I can’t afford to deck out my baby’s nursery” or “My baby won’t be getting everything it needs” – think of the positive: your baby will be loved and will love you back unconditionally.