Baby formula

My son is 18 months so we are well past the days of having to buy formula but are now using the "follow up" formulas because I am getting them so inexpensively. I have some extended family that are young, newly married, newly homeowners and new parents. The father just recently lost his job and the mother is terribly, terribly stressed because breastfeeding is not working for her. The birth was early due to complications and was completed by c section after induction and many, many hours in hard labor. She has since suffered another surgery (gallbladder) and many physical complications in addition to her emotional turmoil over having a new baby, lost jobs and having their home, cars, credit and health insurance in jeopardy. I think most of us can relate in some ways to this story as sometimes life's best blessings come when everything else is in turmoil. The husband is feeling a lot of pressure and has said that the breastfeeding has to work because they simply cannot afford formula. And at about $80 a month I certainly understand. So I suggested my approach to couponing in an effort to assist. Hopefully it will work for them.... So formula, with my first child breastfeeding didn't work for similar reasons to the story I just mentioned. I remember digging through the couch cushions and cashing in change to afford it. I actually used a "free trial" coupon for a daycare center so I could get to a job interview. My daughter got ringworm from that "free trial" but I did get the job and was able to work partially from home and still care for her. So I certainly feel for anyone going through this but the point I want to make is that it doesn't have to be that hard! With my second child he didn't take to breastfeeding well so I exclusively pumped for six months. At six months I could no longer delay starting a medication that I desperately needed and started using formula. Don't get me wrong, I strongly believe that breastfeeding is best but for some this simply isn't the best option or try as they may, it doesn't come naturally. I think I pumped about 12 hours a day, during TV shows, after every meal, before bed, in the middle of the night several times and still only got about 12 ounces a day with the most expensive rental pump. Sorry, too much information! Anyways, at $80 a month, formula is cost prohibitive for some. I talked to another mom recently that said her hospital samples were running out and asked what I though about store brand formulas. My initial reaction was way too much money! I signed up for the various formula clubs while I was still pregnant and was raking in the formula savings. They advertise $250 in free "gifts" aka formula checks. If you sign up for all three major brands you might just have enough to cover your first year or formula. I have combined these "checks" with manufacturer coupons for free formula many times over. Right now we are using Enfamil Enfagrow which is $16.99 on sale at Safeway. I use a $5 printable manufacturer coupon plus about $10 in formula checks each month that are still coming. I think Safeway also has an ecoupon. so $1.99 for a large can which lasts us about two weeks now that he also drinks regular milk and juice. This is a good fill in for the days when he doesn't eat much or isn't feeling well. And at $1.99 it is certainly cheaper than milk and is readily available in the pantry if I need it.