While making a baby may be fun, saving for the thing isn’t as joyous. The average cost of raising a child is $233,610, and that doesn’t include pregnancy costs or college. If you or someone close to you is expecting, you’ll have some checks to write over the next two decades. How can you save effectively for the next dozen plus years in less than nine months? Good news! You don’t need that $233k up front, but you do need to know how to get there.

Start Saving. The best way to eat the elephant? One bite at a time. Whatever you can afford to tuck away for a rainy day, do so. Begin an emergency fund is you don’t already have one. Put as much into your savings as possible. If it’s not going to bills, rent, or anything else you need to stay alive, put it away. A little now helps more than you think tomorrow.

Budget. You have a budget, right? You should… we have no shortage of guides on how to accomplish it. Whether you have one ready to go or not, your numbers will need to be adjusted. See where you can cut back, allowing you to put more money in savings. Determine what additional expenses will come when the baby arrives, like diapers, car set, and more. Ensure that any time you’re taking off work is present and accounted for.

Child care. Will you be utilizing child care for your little one, or will you be adjusting your career to become a stay at home parent? Both options have their own set of pros and cons, and both require some additional planning. Ensure that you can cover the cost of child care, which averages $750 a month. If you decide to take that on yourself, ensure any decrease in hours it notes, and if you need any additional equipment for your home office.

Debt. With more money going to keeping your child happy and healthy, there will be less to take care of any outstanding debts you may have. Determine whether or not its worth investing in eliminating as much debt as possible before your child is born. If that’s unrealistic, no problem! Adjust your budget to allow for debt payment with your increased expenses.

Insurance. With a child, some of your regular expenses will be adjusted. This includes life and health insurance, which may see increases after your child is born. While it can be difficult to face your mortality, you want to ensure that your family is in the best possible position in case of your passing. Saving for a child isn’t just about paying for bills and food tomorrow, but into the future… with or without you.

Future. Again, saving is about more than the next year. You’ll want to ensure that you have enough for the next ten years, for both your child and you. Don’t sacrifice the immediate future (like bills and an emergency fund) for the future, but ensure you’re putting money away for college, retirement, a 529 plan, and continuous investments into the other expenses.