In the last few weeks, we've really gotten lucky on finding bargains for the baby items we needed;diapers and formula. (Yes, we have to use formula. Please don't make me go into the heart-breaking details.)
Jewel has been my favorite place, as of late! For two weeks, they were running their Spend $30, Get $15 deal, which included Pampers! Since it's been bitterly cold here in Chi-Town, I sent Rich to pick up the deals.
He picked up three packs of Pampers for $30. We used $6 in coupons and spent $26 out-of-pocket after taxes. We got back $20 in coupons. Yup, my friend Debbie had given us a heads up that they were also running a Spend $25 in Baby products and get a $5 coupon on your next baby purchase. So you could say these diapers cost $2 a pack. A huge savings over the normal $11 price. (I used the $15 towards Nathan's b-day party food.)
He then picked up a large 25oz. can of formula that was on sale and two boxes of Gerber Rice cereal. I figure it's only a few months off until she needs this so I better get them while the deals are good. I had a $3 Gerber coupon from pledging here. I also had an $11 formula check. In the end, we spent only $6.35 for $29.97 in items. Plus, since the total was originally over $25, it printed off another $5 off baby purchase coupon for Jewel. Since there's no threshold on how much to spend, I can buy $5 in future baby items and get them for FREE.
The great thing is, I then had enough Pampers points to get a $10 gift card to Target. I saw that they have formula cans with 20% more free. I figure I can use the $10 GC with another $11 check they sent last month and get another large can of formula for $4.
So this is how those of you who also have to buy expensive formula can buy it without breaking the bank. Keep a look-out for deals such as these. Grocery stores sometimes run deals on baby items just to get you into the store and buy up groceries. (Make sure you don't lose your earned savings by buying unnecessary things,though!)
Also, keep an eye out for when Walgreens has their $5 off coupon deals when you spend $20. (Be sure to sign-up for their newsletter to get them right when they come out.) And be sure to sign-up at the formula sites so you, too, will get the very valuable checks that they send out.
My end total spent was $36.35 for 3 packs of diapers, 2- 25 oz. cans of formula, 2 boxes of baby cereal, $15 in groceries and a coupon for $5 in FREE baby products. Reg Price: $108.93 plus my grocery savings. (I didn't keep track of those.) $72.58+ in savings. Not too shabby for a minimal amount of work and just a couple coupons/checks. Never think being frugal has to take up that much time!!
How do you buy frugally for your baby? Click here to see other Frugal Friday tips.
The pampers deal was a good one. We stocked up on enough diapers to last us for about the next 4-5 months.
ReplyDeleteAre you on Good Start? I have some checks I can send you. I held off because things were going well, but I can send them now if you want them.
I usually get diapers at Walgreens. My local Wags is AWESOME. I like their premium diapers, and have stocked up when they go on sale for $6 a pack. I use their register rewards to pay for them. Same for baby food.
We get Collin's formula at Costco. The Kirkland brand is about $18 for 2 25oz cans. We tried some of the "big brands", but he doesn't tolerate them well for very long.
I'm also going to start making his baby food. He is becoming less interested in bottles lately, and eats 3-4 jars of baby food EACH DAY, and he's not 7 months old yet. Yikes!