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One afternoon a friend was excitedly showing me pictures of her nephew. Every picture showed the new born in exactly the same pose but wearing different outfits.

"This cost me forty dollars!" She exclaimed enthusiastically.

As I gazed at each picture in amazement, I realized it was not her new born nephew she was excited about, but the outfits she had bought for him. I wondered why anyone would invest so much money clothing a new baby, especially since babies don't understand the value of money and they grow out of their clothes so fast.

It must be a compulsion people with new babies in their lives have. Some unexplainable force makes them go out and spend an extravagant amount of money on toys and baby clothing. They are blissfully unaware that the child has no appreciation of the generosity being thrown upon them.

The first four to five years of a child's life will be the only chance you will have for economical spending. The latest trends do not concern children while they are small and they are not worried by peer pressure. This is the time for parents to take advantage of.

Refrain from buying expensive toys with flashing lights. Your child's interest will only last as long as the battery. Don't try to keep your toddlers up to the minute in the latest fashions. Wait until they know what fashion is.

Another friend of mine buys lots of toys and clothes for her children. The difference is she buys second hand and accepts hand me downs from friends and family. She thinks of the future by buying things her children can grow into. They never seem to do without anything.

She has the right idea. By being thrifty now she will be able to afford her children's more expensive tastes later on.

Clothing babies should be simple and practical. For the first few months you should only need six jump suits or gowns, about ten t-shirts, two jumpers, a warm hat, a sun hat, four sleep suits and six pairs of socks or booties.

As they grow, gradually add further items to their wardrobe such as overalls or dresses. Get more wear out of t-shirts and socks by buying a couple of sizes larger so the child can grow into them. That way they won't need to be replaced as often.

At this age children shouldn't be too demanding when it comes to toys either. Remember you are buying for the child not yourself (Dads especially will know what I'm talking about here).

Besides the usual teddies and dolls stick to simple educational toys that will keep your child's interest until school age is reached. Building

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