The transition to becoming a parent is no small feat. From the time that we learn that we are pregnant to when our baby is finally in our arms, we have already begun accumulating the many things we need. For many couples, simply the journey to get pregnant can be fraught with much anguish and cost.

Children are expensive, no doubt about it, but they don’t have to be extravagantly so. I often read articles that attest to the hundreds of thousands of dollars that it takes to raise a child from birth to eighteen. I believe that with intentionality, goal setting and some savvy habits, you can raise wonderful children at a fraction of the cost.

Here are 12 money-saving tips for parents: