When you are getting ready to welcome a new life into the world, it can be exciting but difficult sometimes. Many women dislike maternity wear, and a large number of them worry that they don’t look their best. Well, there are plenty of stores where you can get attractive and stylish clothes that will make you look great and feel comfortable. Here are a few stores that sell some comfy and fashionable outfits for expectant mothers.

H&M

H&M has a variety of clothing to begin with, but their maternity wear is top quality. They have everything from dresses to blouses to jeans. There’s over a hundred items to choose from, including lingerie and tights. You can find plenty of styles, materials, and patterns to work with, so you’ll be sure to get something that fits you, lasts long, and looks great. There are 30 stores across the country, so you should be able to get whatever you need easily. There is also an online store, which will deliver everything right to your doorstep.

Old Navy

At Old Navy, you’ll find pretty much everything you need for yourself and for your new bundle of joy. You can easily pick up your entire wardrobe for an affordable price. You can also shop online if you want to, and have your clothes delivered to your home. These stores have hundreds of dresses, skirts, tops, swimsuits, intimates, and activewear, so you have virtually endless options.

Motherhood Maternity

This chain store caters exclusively to mothers, so you can be certain that you’ll find what you’re going to need during the pregnancy and after the birth. They have a ton of great clothes in a variety of colours and patterns, including dresses, sleepwear, swimwear, nursing bras, and more. There are also some options for your baby as well. There are 20 locations across Canada, but you can shop at their online store too if you need to.

Thyme Maternity

Thyme also caters solely to mother-to-be and new moms, and you may be able to get some excellent deals on the clothing too. They have a good website that will inform you about sales they have on offer. The site also helps you to shop for clothing by stages of your pregnancy. This store doesn’t just have clothing, it also has skin care, tips, and trends to check out. There are 20 stores across the south of the country.

Sears

At Sears, you can find all kinds of maternity wear, from comfortable and supportive lingerie to stylish dresses and items with stretchy, soft fabric. There are over 90 department stores around the country with several outlets, so you should be able to find a store near you. You can also easily see all their items on the Sears Canada website and shop online.

Walmart

The Walmart chain is well known for its highly affordable clothing and wide ranges. Get all your essential items for baby and mother at these stores. They have hundreds of supercenters all over the country, plus more than 80 discount stores. Whatever your size, you can be sure that you will find clothes that will fit because Walmart has items from extra small to extra extra large. You can get something for every season too, and you can shop online if you need to.

These department and maternity stores will have everything you need as a mother to be and when you welcome your little one into the world. You can shop at the locations or online as all these stores have excellent websites. It is best to opt for stretch clothing that will grow with your baby bump.

Parenthood is fraught with responsibility. One of the main concerns that you may have as a parent is just how much money you are going to need to take care of your little one. It is estimated that over the course of eighteen years, it may take about quarter of a million dollars to raise a child. This is not even including college tuition. This boils down to a little over a thousand dollars each month. This is by no means a small number. Many parents, particularly young ones, may be worried about just how they are going to balance their budget. Here are a few tactics that may ease your concerns:

Baby Expenses

As mentioned above, raising a baby is definitely not cheap. In fact, during the first year of their lives, your baby may be at their most expensive. This can be for several reasons – first, you are going to need to stock up on items that you don’t have. This includes cribs, clothes, baby bottles, and other necessities. Also, as your baby will probably grow drastically during this time, he or she will also require frequent changes in clothes, shoes, and many other items.

One of the things you can do is try to find as many items as possible second hand. You can speak to family members and friends who have had children recently. You should be able to get baby furniture and clothing for free or a discounted rate. This will help to reduce some of the costs that you have to incur.

Making a Budget and Sticking to It

One of the first things you are going to need to do is to sit down and make a list of everything that your baby or child needs each month. It doesn’t matter how insignificant the item may seem, make sure to note it down. This should be done along with how much each item is going to cost. Prior to doing this, it is a good idea to see just how much of these things that your little one goes through each day or week. This will help to determine how much of these you are going to need.

You will also have to factor in rent, utilities, groceries, and transportation. These are considered to be essentials that you simply cannot live without. Once you have added up all of these costs together, you now know just how much you require each month.

Unfortunately, creating the budget is the easy part – sticking to it ends up being a lot more difficult. However, if you are not earning a lot of money, it is vital that you do not stray from your budget. To prevent you from cheating, avoid impulse purchases or buying items that you do not need. You should also limit how much you eat out.

Staying Away from Credit Card Debt

The best way to avoid credit card debt is to use your credit card as sparingly as possible. You should typically reserve it for emergency purposes. However, when you do use your credit card, it is important to know if you can pay back what you owe. This is when your budget comes into play. If you are buying something that is not a part of the essential items list, it is important to have the necessary funds. Once you have deducted the necessary expenses from your income, you may find that you have a small portion of money left over. It is a good idea to never buy anything with your credit that you cannot cover with this money. Another habit that you should form is to pay off your credit card bill as soon as you receive it. Late payments, even if they are only marginally late, tend to count against you. To avoid any of the negative consequences of this, it is vital that you pay it as soon as possible.

Avoiding Excessive Debt

Sometimes, you are simply unable to avoid debt. You may find yourself owing money to other companies or people. This tends to be quite inevitable. Nonetheless, you should always keep a close eye on this debt. Make sure to stop accruing additional debt once you know that you already owe a certain amount of money to others. This can mean cutting back on your spending or finding another source of income. You should also try to pay off the debt every time that you have a little bit of extra money in your hand. Another thing to watch out for is interest rates that you may be accumulating on your debt. By paying off your debt soon, you avoid getting into even more trouble.

These are just a few ways that young parents can manage their finances. It may be quite difficult at times but it is certainly not impossible.