Since our daughter just turned 6 months old, we've started offering her a few pureed foods here and there. Though canned baby food doesn't cost that much at first, when babies have just a couple of tablespoons of food a day, it can add up later on.  For a budget-friendly and fun alternative, try making your own.  Though there are all-in-one gizmos on the market that steam and puree fresh fruits and vegetables, all you really need is a basket steamer, a food processor, an ice cube tray, and Ziploc bags.   Once you've got everything pureed, simply spoon into ice cube trays, freeze, and bag for later.  I started with carrots and pears and plan to branch out into other fruits and vegetables as we go along.