Formula 101 -- Updated and Improved!

[MrsPinecone]

Saving Money on Baby Formula 101

Thanks to queenofthehivemomof5 for the original post.

Even if you don’t have a baby, or don’t plan to formula feed, this is good information to have. Formula is an expensive food item, and it it’s good to know how to get the best deals.

Formula 101 will cover formula checks, baby clubs, catalinas and WIC.


Formula Checks

• What is a formula check?

A formula check is a promotional tool sent to you by the company that produces a particular formula. It is not a coupon. Formula checks are used like cash by the consumer, and deposited as checks by the stores. This means that they can be combined with manufacturer’s and store coupons to maximize your savings on infant formula.





Formula checks come in various denominations, anywhere from $11.00 to $1.00. Don’t toss those $1.00 checks, sometimes they can be handy!

• How do I get them?

Formula checks are sent in the mail once you have signed up for the particular company’s mailing list. The “Oh, Baby!” mailing list thread with the links can be found here.





While you are at it, have your friends and family sign up, too, so that they can give you the money-saving formula checks! Make sure that they know they will be getting them, and that they won’t just throw them away when they arrive.

• Anything special I need to know about the signup process?

The various companies will ask a series of questions when you sign up. The way you answer will determine the number and value of the checks that you receive, so it’s pretty important to answer appropriately.

Most people state that they will be bottle feeding (whether you intend to or not), and enter the name of a competitor’s brand as the intended formula. For example, if you are signing up at Similac, tell them that you plan to use Enfamil, and vice versa.

If they ask if you are or are planning on receiving WIC, tell them "no", even if you are. If you say that you will receive WIC, they will send you lower value checks or none at all.

If you are pregnant right now, tell a little white lie and say that your due date is sooner than it really is, if you want to stockpile some formula before the baby is born. You never know—the baby MIGHT be early and then you’d be in a bind.

Unless your doctor mandates a particular brand of formula, they are all pretty much the same. Formula is heavily regulated for quality and nutrition standards.

It is still a good idea to sign up for all the brands. If your baby does need a certain brand of formula, you can always trade the excess checks you receive from the other brands for the brand and type that you do need!

Baby Clubs

Do any of the grocery stores where you live have a baby club? Sign up if they do!

For example: Kroger stores have a baby club in which you earn 1 point for every dollar that you spend on baby items. (You may get double points if you buy Kroger brand items.) Those points add up fast! Once you have collected 200 points, you will get $10.00 off your next shopping order. It comes right off at the register. These rewards are good on any shopping, not just more baby items.

Catalinas

Catalinas are the manufacturer coupons that print out right at the register. They can be white bordered in red, blue or green, or printed in full color.

If you buy formula at a major grocery store that prints catalinas, you will very often get a coupon for the competitor’s brand. These can be $ off, Buy One, Get One Free, or completely FREE formula.

WIC – The Women, Infants & Children Program

It may be a good idea to see if you qualify for WIC. This is a program designed to help pregnant and nursing women, infants, and children under 5 years old to help them meet nutritional needs.

Link to list of WIC phone numbers by state:
http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/Contacts/tollfreenumbers.htm

There are several factors that enable you to qualify for this assistance. Income is one of them, so if you are in a lower income bracket you may qualify. Other qualifying factors can be nutritional needs, special diets, underweight, overweight, etc. Even if you don’t think you will qualify based on your income you may qualify for nutritional needs.

WIC works in one of two ways. You will either get WIC vouchers for foodstuffs or you will get an EBT card that works much like a credit/debit card. If you are pregnant, nursing, or have children under the age of 5, you will likely get milk, carrots, beans, peanut butter, cereal, cheese, juice and tuna. Different people get different things in different areas, based on the particular family’s nutritional needs.

If you have a bottle-fed infant you will get free cans of formula --usually Enfamil with iron, unless your doctor tells you that your baby needs another type. As your baby approaches 4 months old you will get infant cereal as well.

You will get a list of the qualifying brands and sizes. Then, you will go to the grocery store and buy the items using either your vouchers or EBT card. It’s pretty simple.





What do I do with the formula checks once I have them?

• You can use the checks yourself to get cheap or free formula.
• You can get formula to donate to a local charity that can use it—food banks, women’s shelters, abortion alternative clinics and church nurseries are all good options.
• You can get formula to give to friends or family members who need it.
• You can trade the checks on the Trading Boards here at HCW or sell them on ebay.

Now that you are getting your formula checks in the mail from the various manufacturers, you need to know what the best way to utilize them is.

· Most often, you can only use one check per can of formula. Some stores don’t care if you combine them. YMMV on that one! Read the fine print on the checks very carefully to avoid the possibility of fraudulent use.

· You can use manufacturer’s or store coupons along with the checks to maximize the savings! Formula coupons are pretty rare, except for the catalinas… but that is how you maximize your savings, by playing the catalina game!

· What is really hot is when formula is Buy One, Get One Free! You can use your checks along with the Catalina’s and you can potentially get two cans of formula for less than $5. Some stores will let you use 2 checks and one BOGO Catalina for every 2 cans of formula.

· You can see the value in $5 and $10 formula checks, but what about those measly $2.00 and $1.00 checks? What do you do with those?

Look at the small cans of ready to feed or concentrate liquid, which sell normal price for about $4.50 a can. They sometimes go on sale for less.

Also look for formula on clearance. Formula is sometimes in the clearance bin for $2.00 to $5.00 for full size powdered formula. Many times, you may wonder why it’s even on clearance -- they aren’t opened, expired, or even dented!

Some stores may allow you to use more than one small check per can. Again, please read the fine print to avoid fraudulent use.

· Be careful to check the expiration date on any formula you buy, whether on clearance or straight on the shelf. You may find expired formula, and you want to buy the formula with the longest shelf life.

· If you do qualify for WIC, be sure to buy all your formula at the store where you signed up for the baby club. That can add up really fast. One member is on WIC for her twins and they get 12 cans of formula a month. That’s a lot of money toward the Baby Club!

· If you get the BOGO catalinas, you can use them at stores that accept competitor’s coupons. If you find a great sale or clearance price, use them there!





What are some other ways to save money on infant formula?

• Ask your pediatrician or OB for samples. Most of them will load you up!
• Get the free diaper bags from the hospital when you deliver. They have sample cans in them -- usually full sized!

If your child is on a special (read: expensive) formula like Neocate, Alimentum or Nutramigen:

Check with your insurance company and see if they will cover it. Many insurance companies will cover all or part of the cost, as long as the doctor has written a prescription for it.

You may have to pay a co-pay, but it will undoubtedly be less than a month's supply of a specialty formula!

[ShoppingCartDiva]

Just a note about "special" formulas and WIC.

My daughter went from Similac LIPIL, to Gentlease, to LactoFree, to ProSobee then to Alimentum. When she switched to Alimentum, my daughter's pediatrician had to fill out paperwork that she wanted my daughter on Alimentum for health reasons. Then WIC started giving me vouchers for Alimentum, 8 cans a month.

Most doctors will work with you on this if your child needs to change formulas. My daughter went to ProSobee pretty quickly (within a month after birth), but it took longer for her to change to Alimentum. She seemed "ok" on it, except she had chronic, horrible constipation and was very fussy (of course diagnosed as colic). Switched her to Alimentum and she was a different baby. Of course the stuff smells horrible, but it made a huge difference for us.

Let me tell you, that's $200+ in formula a month, which can really help with grocery club cards. It got us two 20¢ off/gallon fill-ups at Martin's per month. Oh, also never let a grocery store clerk tell you that you cannot use your savings card and/or coupons with WIC. It is not true, in fact most WIC offices will tell you to feel free to use coupons, as it helps save money within the program.

[Devstar]

I work for WIC in Iowa and our contract is with Similac brands. This fall Iowa WIC will be reducing the amount of formula issued and increasing foods for breastfeeding moms. They will also be adding baby foods!
Yes you can always use coupons with WIC and any store club card benefits and any other discounts/sales should apply to your WIC purchase just as it would if you were paying cash. WIC is guaranteed money to the stores. WIC appreciates coupon usage as it saves us (and the taxpayer) dollars.
Best practice is if you can, stick to your state's formula contract brand line when changing formula. For example in Iowa our contract is with Similac (Ross) brands so a can of powder Similac Advance costs us around $1.xx a 12 oz/. can under contract. If a participant switches to a non-Similac(Ross) brand like Good Start or Enfamil we pay full retail which takes a lot of $$ away from the program. So it's best to work with your baby's doctor to try another formula in your program's same line whenever possible.

[Harper12]

I had no idea you could use coupons along with the checks!