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Are you worried about the price of formula for your bab(ies) on the way? Or just need a cheaper alternative?

Well today I am sharing with you guys just how my friend over at Small Town Fam saves over $50 a month on formula! (I know- I needed her tips too!)

The average cost to feed a baby formula the first year of their life is $1,400 (according to the brochure my doctor gave me). That is about $117 a month in formula.

Can I get a HOLY COW!

Truth time I already knew this stat before getting pregnant. Since I am a planner I had already made a list of baby expenses to see if we were ready for a baby. So here is the truth I was convinced that I would breastfeed the whole first year of my little one’s life. So I put a red X through that expense.

Then motherhood hit and I learned very fast that nothing goes as planned. I was unable to breastfeed and was a just-enougher exclusive pumper. Most days we did have to supplement with 4oz of formula.

At three months I made the best decision for our family and decided to stop pumping and switch to all formula.

I made this decision KNOWING I could get the price of formula down if I was strategic.

So here it goes I am going to show you how I save $50+ a month on formula and NO it is not by buying generic.

Grab your cup of coffee or glass of wine and scroll with me. I am going to save you all kinds of money.

How I Save Money On Baby Formula

Okay so here is the secret…

I take FULL ADVANTAGE of EVERY avenue of savings but I only buy formula at one store. and that store is…

CVS!

Yes, I know you are thinking CVS is more expensive than Walmart or Target on formula BUT stay with me I am going to show you the magic.

What Baby Formula Do I Use

We did not really make the choice of what formula we were going to feed our little one. It was kind of made for us. After a truly horrible labor story, we were told that our little one had lost 15% of her weight in 12 hours so we needed to supplement formula and breastfeed. They asked us if we wanted X or X brand. We had no idea about formula. Remember I was going to breastfeed the whole first year. So we said give us the best! That is how we ended up using Enfamil Gentlease.

If you are reading this and thinking well Sam’s Club and Costco have the generic brand for cheaper and it is the same thing. I know. BUT my little one had stomach issues and the pediatrician didn’t want us switching until we got those under control. BUT here is the kicker I get Enfamil Gentlease for CHEAPER then you can get the generic brands.

Okay, are you ready for my amazing money saving mom method?

My Secret Revealed

Disclaimer: This is my mother’s method. She is a CVS ninja and knows how to save more money then you spend at CVS. So shout out to her. Also, this method will work with Enfamil and even BETTER with Similac (they send higher value formula checks).

STEP 1: Get a CVS card. Make sure you set your account up online and click to receive promotional emails.

STEP 2: Sign up for formula checks. We never actually signed up for these, at least I don’t think. I just started getting them when I was pregnant and saved them. If you use Similac or Enfamil make sure you are getting checks they are a key part to savings. Formula checks to a consumer are used as a coupon. To a retailer, they are used as a form of payment, in the form of a check. The formula company knows when you use them because of this. The more you use the more they will send.

1. In the beginning, they were sending me $3 checks AND $5 checks. I never used the

$3 checks only the $5 checks. Now they ONLY send me $5 checks. So instead of a $3 check and a $5 I get two $5 checks!!

STEP 3: Start using your card at CVS to build points. If you get prescriptions have them sent to CVS so you can earn rewards. Also, I always check out the Krazy Coupon Lady to see any deals at CVS each week to help build points. Bonus points if you can buy baby items, diapers, and wipes. CVS will give you coupons based on your purchases so if they know you have a baby you have a good chance of getting formula coupons.

STEP 4: Start saving money.

ACTION PLAN:

1. Gather your extra bucks, your formula checks, your email coupons from CVS and any coupons that are added to your CVS card.
2. Head to CVS and get to saving.
3. CVS sends two GREAT coupons a month that make this work. Make sure you use these two coupons when you get them. They will send you more the more you use them. These are the two times a month I buy formula.
   1. 30% off your entire purchase (excluded sale items, no worries formula is never discounted)
   2. 40% off one item.

The Breakdown

I need three 21oz cans of formula ($32 a piece) = $96 a month

OR

2 32oz big box refills ($39 a piece) = $78 a month

Here Is One Example: using $40% off one item

• 1 21oz can of formula $31.49
• $5 off $30 Baby Formula CVS coupon (this coupon was added to my card based on my purchases)
• Get 40% off one item
• $5 formula check

GRAND TOTAL- $10.89  TOTAL SAVINGS OF- $20.60

If I did this three times my monthly formula cost would be – $32.67 total monthly savings of $61.80.

Can I get a HOLY COW!

Example Two: Using 30% off whole purchase

• 2 bigs boxes $38.49 each – total $76.98
• $10 in extra bucks
• Get 30% off entire purchase
• 2 $5 formula checks

GRAND TOTAL: $33.89  TOTAL SAVINGS: $38.49

I would only have to do this one time a month my monthly formula cost would be $33.89  a total monthly savings of $38.49.

My Average Cost Of Baby Formula For One Year:

I use the second example the most. So that would be $33.89 for twelve month that is a total of $406.68 for one year of formula.

Remember the national average is $1,400 that puts me spending $993.32 BELOW the national average.

Can I get a HOLY COW!

So that is my crazy mom tip on how to save almost $1000 in a year on formula. Now I want to turn it over to you. How much did you end up spending on formula? What is your money saving tips for saving on baby formula? I would love to hear your thoughts below so drop me a comment. Don’t forget sharing is caring. Pin for later or share with a friend.

Brandi Mowles is a first-time mom to a beautiful little girl. When she was 8 months pregnant she decided to leave her career to be a stay at home mom with her little one. After getting a hang of being a mom she decided to start her own mom blog. When she isn’t blogging at Small Town Fam, spending time with her family or drinking lots of coffee, you can find her documenting her Keto journey on IG – follow her here or Pinning all things mom and baby related. Follow her on Pinterest!

Want to guest post for Twins and Coffee? Shoot us a message and we can get started! I loved working with Brandi and would love to work with more of you momma bloggers!