Baby Savings – Part 1 – Formula

Baby Formula is one of the biggest expenses of having a baby. Diapers is the other, but it’s a LOT easier to find deals and save money on diapers than it is formula. But I have discovered ways to save on formula. I just wish I knew what I know now 1 year ago!! I did score some great deals and I can say that I’ve NEVER paid full price for a can of formula and I’ve gotten TONS of samples in the mail.

If your baby is on a special formula (A.R., Soy, Alimentum, etc.) it is going to be a little bit harder to save plus those kinds are more expensive anyway. But I would still encourage you to go through these ways because some of them will work to help save you some $.

If you are expecting – start NOW! There are things on this list you can do now that will put you ahead of the game when your baby gets here. your savings can start immediately. Not pregnant yet? Bookmark this for later!

I would also encourage you to sign up for ALL formula brands savings clubs and free samples. You never know when your baby’s needs may change (or when you can pass along coupons or samples to help someone else out.)

Also (and I would appreciate if you didn’t blast me for this if you happen to disagree) you can save more if you are willing to switch between brands. Some people think that it’s totally unacceptable to do this, and if you see that it has a negative impact on your baby then you shouldn’t. I am not a medical professional – so don’t take that as medical advice. But my son was never affected by switching between brands. He started out on Similac because that’s what our hospital used. We used the samples they gave us and the ones that Similac sent us, but I quickly saw that Enfamil was more generous with their samples and coupons. So we switched to Enfamil. Most generic baby formula (CVS, Nestle Good Start, Parent’s Choice (Wal-Mart) and Member’s Mark (Sam’s Club) were brands that we used) are modeled after Enfamil Lipil with DHA and ARA anyway. So when I didn’t have coupons for Enfamil or if I found a great deal on another brand, I didn’t think twice about getting it.

So if switching between brands is okay with you, you will see it affect your savings more.

Okay…so here’s where to start:

• Enfamil – sign up for Enfamil Family Beginnings
  They will send you samples. In fact, they send several samples over the course of your baby’s first year. Including a sample of Enfamil Next Step at around 9 months.
  They will also send you “checks”. They are Enfamil’s form of coupons. The amounts will vary, $1, $2, $4, $5 & $7 are all amounts that I have received. At CVS, I was able to use multiple checks on one can as long as the checks did not amount to more than the cost of the can. I tried this at Publix and they wouldn’t let me. The check says “one per purchase” but I think that’s new. I don’t think the first few I got ever said that. Just be sure to read the fine print. They do not scan like coupons. They actually run them through like a check and process it like a payment toward your total. Sometimes I’ve been asked to endorse the back of it. If you are asked, then just do it. These come with your name printed on the front. However, I’ve never had anyone check the name and have used ones that friend’s have given me that had their name on the front.

• Similac – sign up for Strong Moms.
  They will send samples and maybe a coupon but not like Enfamil does.
  I found Similac coupons on a tear pad at the check out counter at our pediatrician’s office. I have seen Similac coupons in the Sunday inserts only TWICE since my son was born a year ago.
  I had a registry for Target. In the first couple months after my son was born, Target sent booklets of baby coupons. One of them had a Similac coupon. (sidenote: Target sent me an offer to get a $25 gift card for registering there. I created a registry online with 10 or so items on it. Printed it out and presented it in store with the offer and got my giftcard. So I would recommend “registering” at Target if you receive this offer even if it’s not your top choice of places to register at. It also gets you on their list to send baby coupons too!)
  It may be different in different areas but this is all the savings I’ve found on Similac. You can try browsing E-bay for Similac coupons. Weigh the cost of the coupons (plus shipping) against your savings and see if it’s worth it. Read the fine print on coupon auctions and only buy from seller’s with good ratings.

• Nestle Good Start (made by Gerber) – sign up here.
  They periodically send out $5 off coupons for formula. You will also get Gerber coupons that correspond to your child’s age. Pacifier, stage 1 food, cereal coupons for 3 months. Stage 2 foods for 6 months. Stage 3, juice, First Snacks for 9 months. Graduates coupons for 12 months. Great savings!!

After you have done these things, here are some more tips you can try.

• Buy as much formula as you can at CVS using ECBs to add additional savings. Same is true at Wal-Greens if you have RRs to use but you don’t earn the 2% back like at CVS.
• Be willing to buy generic and/or switch between brands. I talked more about that above. CVS has printed coupons on my receipt for savings off their brand of formula. I have also gotten coupons out of Parenting & Baby Talk magazines for CVS formula!!
• Check dates on cans and stock up when you find a good deal. When the Food World stores in our area closed last spring, I scored some cans of Nestle Good Start 2 formula for 75% off! I had coupons too!! Now, my son wasn’t old enough for the next step or “2” formulas. But they were dated into next year so it was a bargain I couldn’t pass on!!
• Member’s Mark (Sam’s Club) formula is a great buy if you’re stuck needing formula and don’t have any coupons. It’s under $20/can and the cans are double what you get in a large Enfamil Lipil Can which runs $22 or more!

I think that’s as thorough as I can be on baby formula. If I think of anything else, I will amend this post.

Free Sample of Member’s Mark Formula (Sam’s Club)

Free Samples of Parents Choice Baby Formulas (Wal-Mart)