It’s a glorious time in your life. The dream you have had as long as you have been a conscious human being it about to be realized. Waiting for your whole life to do something meaningful and the time is now. You are going to be a parent. Maybe even a good parent.
Back to reality, babies are expensive, needy, and very expensive. On top of that, everything they need is expensive. Diapers, food, clothing, toys, educations, hobbies, entertainment, sports, travel sports, college. It just keeps escalating out of control.
How can anyone afford a whole other person? Let’s take it one step at a time. First, you want to make sure your new baby has food. For starters, babies like mothers breast milk. That’s easy you make it for free. Unless you don’t, or can’t breastfeed. Then it’s onto formula.
Like all the other things you are stressing about with your newborn, formula cost is a major concern. I’ve compiled a few easy ways to save some money on your new babies formula. While they may seem minuscule and not worth the time, remember your baby will need a lot. This will add up quickly.
Samples at the Dr’s Office
It is a great big marketing world we live in, aggregated with our free market economy, that results in large companies vying for the chance to be your formula supplier. You are going to, for lack of a better word, milk this opportunity. Start by asking your doctor or nurse for samples. Formula companies know the best way to win over a mothers formula loyalty is to get the doctor to recommend their brand.
They do this by buying the doctor’s office lunch, telling them why their brand is the best, and giving the office loads of free samples. It’s a simple conversation with your doctor, just ask what they recommend, you will go home with at least 2 weeks worth of free samples.
Cash the Formula Checks
Now that you got the free sample from the doctor, look inside for the company insert. It is usually in a plastic pouch. Most discard this but don’t. It is full of goodies. In this pouch will be formula checks that can be used like cash to buy formula. How amazing is this? Before redeeming these, go check out the company’s website. It will be in the info in the plastic pouch. Register with them.
These products are expensive, the companies know this, and are making a fortune selling it. These formula manufacturers like to make coupons and sample packs available to parents. Once you are linked up online, they will shower you with more coupons, checks and additional incentives on other related baby products.
After you have tapped the online resources, make a phone call or send an email reaching out to their customer service department. These companies love positive notes, boast about how much you love their product and how your baby loves them. You will be surprised how willing they will reward your gracious appreciations with some valuable coupons in the mail.
Social Media
Take to social media and Facebook. There are thousands and thousands of garage sale, mommy, and swap pages you can comb through and find all sorts of precious and modestly priced baby products. Remember people get a lot of coupons in the mail, even people without babies. Some of them even receive formula samples from brands that they don’t prefer or just don’t like. You will be blown away on the coupons or stockpiles of formula you can get from social media.
Amazon Mom
Want to save 20% off of diapers and formula? With Amazon Mom Subscribe & Save subscription for moms you can. Plus they throw in additional $1 to $3 e-coupons. You will get the prime shipping free and Amazon will always match Walmart’s prices. Pit them against each other. 20% off formula and supplies is a massive saving. You will save on formula easily with an Amazon Mom membership.
Also, you will also get a 15% baby registry discount and your first 30 days is free. There is also the option on Amazon Mom to buy diapers and wipes that are returns or that have damaged packaging for less than the regular price. It’s a moderate risk, but there is the option. Desperate times?
Dads’ To The Rescue
There is also another great way to load up on formula before the baby is born. It is a new phenomenon called “the dad shower”. Like a baby shower for moms but a lot more fun. Dads get together around a pool or televised sporting event. The new dad-to-be supplies beer and food. Traditionally pizza or bbq. Invites all his buddies and co-workers, in turn, they all bring a gift of diapers or formula.
It’s an easy, low key good time, and very beneficial for new parents. You would be surprised how generous single men without babies are. Also, we have no idea what a baby actually consumes so we tend to grossly overcompensate. Free beer, why not.