It's such an exciting time when you're expecting a baby but we all know that babies can be expensive. I always found that there was a looming black cloud over my head when I thought about how we were going to afford all those essential baby things that we were going to need. However, now Ellie is here I've realised there are so many simple ways you can save money when having a baby;

You don't need everything. When you start shopping for a baby it's really difficult to find the line between the things you need and the things you want. You could have a list as long as you of all the things you want to buy for baby but it's so important to stop and ask yourself whether you actually need it. Always ask yourself "will I really use it?" or "is it really necessary?

Don't be afraid to ask. Speak to your family and other Mum friends as they might be able to help you out. They may have old baby furniture in their loft or baby clothes in the back of a cupboard that they're never going to use again.

Look out for baby events. Every supermarket in the UK has a baby event on at some point in the year, it's a great time to pick up a few things as they tend to have some really good deals especially when you bulk buy nappies or wipes. Aldi's baby events are always my favourite.

Don't always opt for branded items. Just because something has a brand name doesn't mean you have to buy it; we found that buying our wipes & nappies from Aldi when we shopped was so much cheaper than the leading brands.

Make a list. Make a list of all the clothing items you own for baby in each size, that way you'll know what you have and what you don't and you won't end up with 50 sleepsuits in one size but only 2 or 3 in another.

- Save on the basics. If your baby is only going to wear sleepsuits to bed then do they really need to be in designer ones? Buy basic sleepsuits and vests from your local supermarket, they're still good quality but are so much cheaper. Plus, at the rate they grow, you won't feel bad about buying more.

- Ask people for recommendations. If you're thinking of making a big purchase but aren't sure then ask people, there are so many forums and people out there who have had babies that can help. You never know whether someone may have owned it and it wasn't worth the money or can suggest something better or cheaper. It's always good to ask.

- Buy bigger items in gender-neutral colours. If you're planning on having more children then don't go out and buy a pink or blue pram. Go for a grey, navy or black that way you can put it away and get it out again if you choose to have another child. Same goes for nursery furniture, car seats, etc.

Buy clothing in sales. If there's a baby clothing sale on then pick up a few things in a bigger size and put them away in a box. That way when they need a bigger size you're not going to have to buy everything at once and you've saved a little money by not paying full price.

- Opt for second-hand things. Things like highchairs, toys and nursery furniture can be picked up reasonably cheap if you get them second hand. For how long your baby will use things it's crazy to pay full price. 

- Claim all you can. From free prescriptions and dental care to Bounty packs and maternity grants, there is so much available to people during pregnancy and after your baby is born so take what you can get!

- Accept Offers. People love to help out when you're having a baby if someone offers to help you out then accept it. Not only will it save you some money it will also make them feel good for helping you out.

If you have any other money saving tips then leave them in the comments below.