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Breastfeeding your baby can save you small fortune. Unfortunately not everyone can breastfeed due to health reasons, or work schedules, or just because it's really hard! There's nothing wrong with using formula to feed your baby—I did. Although it can get expensive, there are a few easy things you can do to save money on baby formula.
Almost every major brand of formula has some type of free club or newsletter you can subscribe to for savings. Realistically, you may end up switching brands at some point because the formula you use may not agree with your baby. It's a good idea to sign up for multiple newsletters and clubs just in case this happens. It will only take you a few minutes to join each club and I will tell you how you can take advantage of those extra coupons shortly.
Once you sign up for a club like the Enfamil Family Beginnings Club, Enfamil will send you coupons every couple weeks. As your baby starts getting older and consuming more formula, you will definitely need to find other ways of getting coupons. The Sunday paper and sites like CoolSavings.com are both good resources to start your search. You can also ask your pediatrician—they often get free samples and coupons from manufacturers to pass on to patients.
A great way to get or get rid of extra coupons is by using eBay and coupon trading forums. It may sound silly to actually pay for coupons, but if someone is selling $100 worth of formula coupons for $10, you're still saving $90 on formula! There are also a ton of coupon trading forums such as the BabyCenter Trading Post where you can try swapping the coupons you don't need for the ones you do with other moms. You can also try Craigslist.
Keep in mind that if you or someone you know has a baby and is going though extreme financial hardships, look into the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program. It is a program that uses Federal grants to help low-income families get food and/or formula for infants and children up to age 5. You can find more information and see if you qualify at the WIC website.
Brand Name Diapers vs. Generic Diapers
A common topic when I talk to other parents of small children is whether buying generic brand diapers actually saves you money. The answer? It depends. Every brand of generic diapers is different and the quality of each brand can vary drastically. Also, every child is different, so the way each brand of diapers fits your child can vary as well.
Generally speaking, you pay more for brand name diapers, but the quality is better so you end up changing your child less often. Generic brand diapers may cost less per diaper, but you will probably end up changing your child more frequently because generics tend to be less absorbent. Personally, I bought both generic and brand name diapers—my daughter wore generic diapers during the day and brand name at night. Generic brand diapers tended to leak through if she wore them all night and I figured paying a few extra cents per diaper in exchange for a good night's rest was definitely worth it!
After much trial and error, I ended up sticking to a combination of Target brand and Luvs diapers. I occasionally bought Pampers or Huggies diapers when I got my hands on a good coupon. If you have a favorite brand of diapers, check out their website to see if they have coupons, or a newsletter or club you can join to get more coupons and savings.
Generally speaking, you pay more for brand name diapers, but the quality is better so you end up changing your child less often. Generic brand diapers may cost less per diaper, but you will probably end up changing your child more frequently because generics tend to be less absorbent. Personally, I bought both generic and brand name diapers—my daughter wore generic diapers during the day and brand name at night. Generic brand diapers tended to leak through if she wore them all night and I figured paying a few extra cents per diaper in exchange for a good night's rest was definitely worth it!
After much trial and error, I ended up sticking to a combination of Target brand and Luvs diapers. I occasionally bought Pampers or Huggies diapers when I got my hands on a good coupon. If you have a favorite brand of diapers, check out their website to see if they have coupons, or a newsletter or club you can join to get more coupons and savings.
Find More Grocery Coupons Online
It's no secret that using coupons can save you a small fortune over time. Many people only use the Sunday paper as a source for coupons. Obviously you are tech savvy enough to know you can get tons of printable coupons and other savings tips online at websites such as CoolSavings.com. But did you know that there are other unique ways to find coupons online? Hopefully the tips below will help you discover a whole new way to save more money on the things you already buy.
The first step in your quest for finding coupons should always be to go straight to the manufacturer. Many manufacturer's websites offer printable coupons, special offers and even a chance to sign up for their newsletter which is often filled with coupons. You can also try asking the manufacturer to send you some coupons by calling their 800 number or sending them an email. You can find their contact information on their website or on the back of their products' packaging. Manufacturers love to hear feedback about their products and will probably be more than happy to send some coupons to a loyal customer.
Another great way to find coupons is eBay. Oftentimes many fellow coupon users will feel bad throwing away extra coupons they have so they will sell them on eBay. It may sound silly to actually pay for coupons, but if someone is selling $20 worth of grocery coupons for $1, you're still saving $19 on groceries! eBay is a great source for finding valuable baby formula and diaper coupons if you are a new parent.
Coupon trading forums are another little known source for coupons. Two of my favorite coupon trading forums are couponforum.com and frugalvillage.com. If you are specifically looking for diaper and formula coupons, you will love the BabyCenter Trading Post. The way these coupon forums work is that you trade the coupons you have and don't want for the ones you do want. Sometimes people will offer to send you the coupons you want for free—even if you don't have anything to trade. Membership to these coupon trading forums is free and is a great way to meet other savings-conscious people.
When in doubt, Google it! Type in the type of coupons you are looking for into a search engine and hopefully you'll get some useful results or at least enough to start you on your money-saving quest. If you know of any other unique ways to find coupons, please share with us!
The first step in your quest for finding coupons should always be to go straight to the manufacturer. Many manufacturer's websites offer printable coupons, special offers and even a chance to sign up for their newsletter which is often filled with coupons. You can also try asking the manufacturer to send you some coupons by calling their 800 number or sending them an email. You can find their contact information on their website or on the back of their products' packaging. Manufacturers love to hear feedback about their products and will probably be more than happy to send some coupons to a loyal customer.
Another great way to find coupons is eBay. Oftentimes many fellow coupon users will feel bad throwing away extra coupons they have so they will sell them on eBay. It may sound silly to actually pay for coupons, but if someone is selling $20 worth of grocery coupons for $1, you're still saving $19 on groceries! eBay is a great source for finding valuable baby formula and diaper coupons if you are a new parent.
Coupon trading forums are another little known source for coupons. Two of my favorite coupon trading forums are couponforum.com and frugalvillage.com. If you are specifically looking for diaper and formula coupons, you will love the BabyCenter Trading Post. The way these coupon forums work is that you trade the coupons you have and don't want for the ones you do want. Sometimes people will offer to send you the coupons you want for free—even if you don't have anything to trade. Membership to these coupon trading forums is free and is a great way to meet other savings-conscious people.
When in doubt, Google it! Type in the type of coupons you are looking for into a search engine and hopefully you'll get some useful results or at least enough to start you on your money-saving quest. If you know of any other unique ways to find coupons, please share with us!
Saving Money on Maternity Clothes
Pregnancy is a blessing and can be one of the happiest times of your life. It can also be a frustrating time financially if you are not prepared. Not only will you most likely be spending more on groceries because you need to make sure you are eating healthier, but you also have to buy numerous baby items to prepare for your little bundle of joy. If that wasn't enough, you also have to deal with your body changing rapidly and not fitting into your existing wardrobe. If you are lucky enough to stay home, you can probably get away with wearing a combination of sweats, t-shirts and some of your husband's clothes for most of your pregnancy. If you are working or have an active social life, you will probably have to invest in some maternity clothes. No need to worry though, there are ways to look great during pregnancy without blowing your budget!
- Don't be afraid to ask friends and family if they have any maternity clothes you can borrow. Some women might be holding on to their maternity clothes simply because they felt bad throwing them out and may be more then happy to have someone take them off their hands. You can also have a clothing swap with some friends who are or recently have been pregnant to help you double or triple your wardrobe and get rid of items that no longer fit.
- Buy used maternity clothes on eBay and stores like Clothes Mentor. Also check out your local consignment shop or Once Upon a Child to see if they carry maternity clothes. Many consignment shops that primarily sell clothes for infants and children also have a small maternity clothing section.
- Skip the pricey boutiques and department stores and find a great selection of cute maternity clothes at Target and Old Navy. The Old Navy Maternity Department
has tops for as low as $10 and dresses and jeans for around $30. They always seem to have items on sale and clearance for even bigger savings.
-Shop online and save big using coupon codes.
- Buy or use your existing non-maternity items such as button down sweaters, cropped tops or hoodies to help you stretch your wardrobe and transition in between seasons. Your summer maternity tank tops and dresses that you wear in the spring and summer can still be used in the fall by simply putting a sweater or hoodie over it. Don't worry if these items don't zip or button up, so long as they keep you warm. You will get more use out of them if they are non-maternity clothes because you can use them long after you are done being pregnant.
- Don't be afraid to ask friends and family if they have any maternity clothes you can borrow. Some women might be holding on to their maternity clothes simply because they felt bad throwing them out and may be more then happy to have someone take them off their hands. You can also have a clothing swap with some friends who are or recently have been pregnant to help you double or triple your wardrobe and get rid of items that no longer fit.
- Buy used maternity clothes on eBay and stores like Clothes Mentor. Also check out your local consignment shop or Once Upon a Child to see if they carry maternity clothes. Many consignment shops that primarily sell clothes for infants and children also have a small maternity clothing section.
- Skip the pricey boutiques and department stores and find a great selection of cute maternity clothes at Target and Old Navy. The Old Navy Maternity Department
has tops for as low as $10 and dresses and jeans for around $30. They always seem to have items on sale and clearance for even bigger savings.-Shop online and save big using coupon codes.
- Buy or use your existing non-maternity items such as button down sweaters, cropped tops or hoodies to help you stretch your wardrobe and transition in between seasons. Your summer maternity tank tops and dresses that you wear in the spring and summer can still be used in the fall by simply putting a sweater or hoodie over it. Don't worry if these items don't zip or button up, so long as they keep you warm. You will get more use out of them if they are non-maternity clothes because you can use them long after you are done being pregnant.
Make Your Own Baby Food
If you're a new parent, you may be wondering if you can save money by making your own baby food. The answer is...absolutely! Not only is homemade baby food much more nutritious, but making your own baby food can also help you save a considerable amount of money on groceries each week—especially as your baby gets older. Typically, one ounce of homemade baby food costs about one-fourth of what you would pay for a 1-ounce jar of baby food.
I started making my own baby food when my daughter was about 6 months old and had moved onto Stage 2 baby food. At that point the amount she was eating cost about $15 dollars a week. The main reason I started making my own baby food is that I wanted to avoid any additives and preservatives. I also found out that beans upset her stomach and unfortunately many of the mixed vegetable and dinner varieties of jarred baby food had green beans mixed in. Making my own baby food allowed me to control exactly what vegetable combinations I fed my daughter, and I was able to introduce her to a greater variety of tastes and textures, including ethnic foods. As an added bonus, the rest of our family started eating healthier because I would usually cook lean protein and vegetables for dinner so that I could make baby food out of it.
How do you make your own baby food and boost your grocery savings? Simply wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly and peel the skins which can be hard for your baby to digest. Bake, steam or boil your vegetables until soft and then puree. Frozen veggies are fine too if you're strapped for time. Then just puree and store leftovers in the fridge or freezer. I loved using these reusable dishwasher and microwave safe baby cubes to store baby food. Reusing empty baby food jars also works well.
Although making your own baby food can save you money on groceries, whether you decide to make your own baby food will largely depend on your schedule. If you regularly cook meals at home, making your own baby food could be as simple as pureeing the food you already cook for your family. But if take-out food is a way of life for you, making your own baby food will take some organization and possibly extra time that you simply do not have. Either way, making your own baby food is something I recommend trying at least once.
I started making my own baby food when my daughter was about 6 months old and had moved onto Stage 2 baby food. At that point the amount she was eating cost about $15 dollars a week. The main reason I started making my own baby food is that I wanted to avoid any additives and preservatives. I also found out that beans upset her stomach and unfortunately many of the mixed vegetable and dinner varieties of jarred baby food had green beans mixed in. Making my own baby food allowed me to control exactly what vegetable combinations I fed my daughter, and I was able to introduce her to a greater variety of tastes and textures, including ethnic foods. As an added bonus, the rest of our family started eating healthier because I would usually cook lean protein and vegetables for dinner so that I could make baby food out of it.
How do you make your own baby food and boost your grocery savings? Simply wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly and peel the skins which can be hard for your baby to digest. Bake, steam or boil your vegetables until soft and then puree. Frozen veggies are fine too if you're strapped for time. Then just puree and store leftovers in the fridge or freezer. I loved using these reusable dishwasher and microwave safe baby cubes to store baby food. Reusing empty baby food jars also works well.
Although making your own baby food can save you money on groceries, whether you decide to make your own baby food will largely depend on your schedule. If you regularly cook meals at home, making your own baby food could be as simple as pureeing the food you already cook for your family. But if take-out food is a way of life for you, making your own baby food will take some organization and possibly extra time that you simply do not have. Either way, making your own baby food is something I recommend trying at least once.
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