Comments on: Baby Coupons, Free Samples, and Discounts http://cashmoneylife.com/2009/05/14/baby-coupons-free-samples-discounts/ Money Management, Small Business, Career Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:44:55 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Kristy http://cashmoneylife.com/2009/05/14/baby-coupons-free-samples-discounts/comment-page-1/#comment-18270 Kristy Thu, 21 May 2009 21:21:06 +0000 http://cashmoneylife.com/?p=1596#comment-18270 We just welcomed our little girl into the world three weeks ago, but started doing research (like you!) well before she arrived. Here are a few of my favorite sites / programs. 1). BabyCheapskate - http://babycheapskate.blogspot.com - It's full of daily posts about ways to save on all things baby. Some posts are for ridiculous $700 strollers on sale for $499 but she also documents all the 'stockupportunities' for baby necessities such as diapers (Huggies, Luvs, Pampers, and some store brands), formula, clothing, etc. That could include coupons, special store savings, or BOGOs. 2). Babies R Us Rewards card - I know, I know... another way for a company to track your spending. We signed up for the Rewards card when we started our registry and ended up getting $90 back that we used to purchase our baby monitor. It works out to be $5 for every $50 you spend, but they include the items people buy for you off your registry. Plus, if you buy your diapers and formula there you can get a free box or carton when you buy X amounts. Just a quick note... we had originally planned on exclusively breastfeeding as well due to the health and financial benefits. Unfortunately, it didn't work out for us. Using the coupons and free samples of formula have been lifesavers in these first few weeks where we didn't budget for those expenses. One container of formula can be anywhere between $21 and $26 a *week.* Hold on to those coupons and samples until you're absolutely certain you won't need them to avoid blowing your budget. On the bright side, we live in Columbus, OH where the parent company that manufactures Similac is based and a friend of ours is now getting us formula at cost. I've also read quite a few articles comparing name brand formulas and Costco (Kirkland) formula. One other thing - we got our hospital bill today and were astounded that it was over $35,000 for an emergency c-section and a 5 day stay. Depending on your insurance and when your baby is due, you may want to increase the amount of $$ you're putting into your Flexible Spending Account. I ballparked $1,800 for her birth and our portion is going to be around $1,817. If your baby is due after January 1st, crank up your FSA deductions in 2010. We also learned that we could increase our FSA deductions within 30 days of her birth since it was technically a 'Life Changing Event.' (Ha! How true that is!). Let me know if you have any questions or want to know how having a baby can completely hammer your budget to smithereens :) We just welcomed our little girl into the world three weeks ago, but started doing research (like you!) well before she arrived. Here are a few of my favorite sites / programs.

1). BabyCheapskate – http://babycheapskate.blogspot.com – It’s full of daily posts about ways to save on all things baby. Some posts are for ridiculous $700 strollers on sale for $499 but she also documents all the ’stockupportunities’ for baby necessities such as diapers (Huggies, Luvs, Pampers, and some store brands), formula, clothing, etc. That could include coupons, special store savings, or BOGOs.

2). Babies R Us Rewards card – I know, I know… another way for a company to track your spending. We signed up for the Rewards card when we started our registry and ended up getting $90 back that we used to purchase our baby monitor. It works out to be $5 for every $50 you spend, but they include the items people buy for you off your registry. Plus, if you buy your diapers and formula there you can get a free box or carton when you buy X amounts.

Just a quick note… we had originally planned on exclusively breastfeeding as well due to the health and financial benefits. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out for us. Using the coupons and free samples of formula have been lifesavers in these first few weeks where we didn’t budget for those expenses. One container of formula can be anywhere between $21 and $26 a *week.* Hold on to those coupons and samples until you’re absolutely certain you won’t need them to avoid blowing your budget. On the bright side, we live in Columbus, OH where the parent company that manufactures Similac is based and a friend of ours is now getting us formula at cost. I’ve also read quite a few articles comparing name brand formulas and Costco (Kirkland) formula.

One other thing – we got our hospital bill today and were astounded that it was over $35,000 for an emergency c-section and a 5 day stay. Depending on your insurance and when your baby is due, you may want to increase the amount of $$ you’re putting into your Flexible Spending Account. I ballparked $1,800 for her birth and our portion is going to be around $1,817. If your baby is due after January 1st, crank up your FSA deductions in 2010. We also learned that we could increase our FSA deductions within 30 days of her birth since it was technically a ‘Life Changing Event.’ (Ha! How true that is!).

Let me know if you have any questions or want to know how having a baby can completely hammer your budget to smithereens :)

]]> By: Patrick http://cashmoneylife.com/2009/05/14/baby-coupons-free-samples-discounts/comment-page-1/#comment-18191 Patrick Mon, 18 May 2009 14:07:10 +0000 http://cashmoneylife.com/?p=1596#comment-18191 <strong>Michelle: </strong>That is a wonderful idea. We are planning on breastfeeding, so hopefully we won't need the coupons and can pass them along. Thanks for sharing. :) Michelle: That is a wonderful idea. We are planning on breastfeeding, so hopefully we won’t need the coupons and can pass them along. Thanks for sharing. :)

]]> By: Michelle http://cashmoneylife.com/2009/05/14/baby-coupons-free-samples-discounts/comment-page-1/#comment-18190 Michelle Mon, 18 May 2009 14:04:47 +0000 http://cashmoneylife.com/?p=1596#comment-18190 No suggestions, just a request? If you and your family choose to breastfeed or if you start receiving formula coupons you won't use, please consider donating the coupons (which can be significant since formula is so expensive) to your local women's shelter or other appropriate charity? I breastfed and offered up coupons for free on craigslist the first month and got HATE email from those trying to sell the coupons on the board. Learned my lesson & just took them to the shelter - which always needs this kind of donation (sadly, lots of moms & infants are always in residency)...Congrats, good luck with your family addition & THANKS for the opportunity to comment on a subject that's important to me! No suggestions, just a request? If you and your family choose to breastfeed or if you start receiving formula coupons you won’t use, please consider donating the coupons (which can be significant since formula is so expensive) to your local women’s shelter or other appropriate charity? I breastfed and offered up coupons for free on craigslist the first month and got HATE email from those trying to sell the coupons on the board. Learned my lesson & just took them to the shelter – which always needs this kind of donation (sadly, lots of moms & infants are always in residency)…Congrats, good luck with your family addition & THANKS for the opportunity to comment on a subject that’s important to me!

]]> By: Patrick http://cashmoneylife.com/2009/05/14/baby-coupons-free-samples-discounts/comment-page-1/#comment-18153 Patrick Fri, 15 May 2009 01:36:32 +0000 http://cashmoneylife.com/?p=1596#comment-18153 Thanks, C. We'll be sure to check that site out! :) Thanks, C. We’ll be sure to check that site out! :)

]]> By: c http://cashmoneylife.com/2009/05/14/baby-coupons-free-samples-discounts/comment-page-1/#comment-18150 c Thu, 14 May 2009 22:26:18 +0000 http://cashmoneylife.com/?p=1596#comment-18150 Congratulations!.. I like babycenter.com. The site (if you choose to subscribe to the emails) emails information on weekly (both pregnancy and baby) milestone updates.. It is always fun for me to see what my child is supposed to be doing during a given week. They also have various forums, coupons etc. Congratulations!.. I like babycenter.com. The site (if you choose to subscribe to the emails) emails information on weekly (both pregnancy and baby) milestone updates.. It is always fun for me to see what my child is supposed to be doing during a given week. They also have various forums, coupons etc.

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