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How To Save Money On Diapers

February 22, 2022 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Here are a few ways to get baby diapers for cheap!

If you have a baby (or have ever had babies) then you know that buying diapers can be a huge expensive.  I remember being a first time mom (back, many, many years ago) and I couldn’t believe how quickly we went through a box of diapers.  Fortunately, there are some things you can do to get diapers for cheap!  Here are a few tips for how to save money on diapers, I hope they help all you parents out there save some money!

How To Know When You Are Getting A Good Deal

First, let’s go over what a good diaper price is!  It’s so important for you to know the going rate of diapers, so that when you find a good deal, you will know it’s the best price! 

According to True Money Saver the current stock up price on diapers are:

Newborn: 13¢
Size 1: 14¢
Size 2: 16¢
Size 3: 19¢
Size 4: 22¢
Size 5: 25¢

The best way to compare current diaper prices is to calculate the price per unit.  A price per unit is the price that each individual diaper costs.

To calculate the price/unit you will divide the price of the diapers by the number of diapers in the box. 

For example, if you are buying a newborn size box of diapers that costs $47.07 and have 198 diapers in the box you would use this equation:

47.07 divided by 198 = 23

So the price/unit of the newborn box of diapers is 23 cents per diaper.  If you look at the stock up prices above you will see that 23 cents/diaper is a little high, and not a great deal.

Tips To Save Money On Diapers

Now that you know the best prices to watch for when buying diapers, let’s go over a few ways to get those much needed diapers for cheap!

1.  Shop Sales

One of the best ways to save money on diapers is to buy them when they go on sale.  

Here are a few tips for buying diapers on sale:

  • Baby sales typically happen between the months of February and September
  • Compare unit prices on diapers to know if the sale is actually the cheapest price (as discussed earlier)
  • Pair a coupon with a sale for the best deal
  • Scan receipts into cashback apps for rebates on diapers
  • Use the Flipp app to find weekly diaper deals

2.  Join Amazon Family

Did you know that you can get a 20% discount on diapers when you join Amazon Family through prime, and sign up for a diaper subscription??  Because you can!  Plus, you can even match the subscription discount with Amazon coupons for an even better deal.  And!  Prime membership always gives you free shipping!  This is a great deal for parents!

I’ve used Amazons subscription services a few times and love the convenience of them!  It’s so easy to set how often you want the products sent to you, and super easy to cancel when you don’t need the service anymore.

3.  Buy Generic

Store brand diapers are often much cheaper than name brand, but still a great quality.  Try a few different generic brands to find the ones that work best for you and your baby.  I highly recommend trying the Target brand!

Remember to pay close attention to price per unit to make sure the generic brand that you buy is cheaper than the name brands.

4.  Buy In Bulk

Another great way to get diapers for cheap is to buy them in bulk.  Again, calculate the price per unit when buying diapers, most of the time the bulk diapers will be cheaper, but not always.  It’s important to always double check!

Buying diapers in bulk is a great way to get name brand diapers for a much cheaper price.

5.  Use Coupons

One of my very favorite things to do is to pair a coupon with a sale.  This is the way to get your favorite items for dirt cheap!

Search regularly for diaper coupons to help you lower the price of your favorite brands (especially when you match it with a sale!).  You can find coupons on manufacturers websites, and coupon websites like coupons.com.

Another way to get coupons is by contacting the manufacturer directly and ask for them!  Send your favorite diaper brand an email asking if they have any free samples or coupons, and they will more than likely send you a few in the mail.  Yay!

6.  Try Cloth Diapers

I know (trust me, I know!), the idea of using cloth diapers is not always the most exciting option.  It requires a little more work and effort, but it can be a HUGE money saver!  According to this Forbes article, cloth diapers will save you around $1,000 in your child’s lifetime, that is a huge savings!

There is some expensive upfront costs for cloth diapering.  You will need to stock up on cloth diapers, but once you have your stock, the costs will go down significantly.

7.  Use Rebate Apps

Never, and I mean NEVER, throw away a receipt before scanning it into a few rebate apps.  Many of these apps give cash back on diaper purchases.  So, if you can, match a coupon with a deal, and then get a cash back rebate!  Cha-ching!  We’re talking big savings here!

A few of my favorite cash back apps for diapers are:

Fetch Rewards:  Fetch Rewards is so easy and quick to use!  All you have to do is scan your grocery receipt into the app and you’ll automatically earn points based on the products you bought.  Lastly, you can redeem your points for gift card to your favorite places!  Yay!

Ibotta:  Ibotta is another great rebate app that consistently offers cash back on diaper purchases.  To use Ibotta, select the store you shopped at, click on the items you bought, and then scan your receipt into the app.  You will be reward with cash back into your account within just a few hours.  Easy, peasy!

8.  Join Rewards Programs

Many of your favorite diaper companies (I’m looking at you pampers and huggies!) offers reward programs where you can earn points to use towards free diapers and other fun stuff.  If you are going to be buying diapers anyways, you might as well get rewarded for it, right?  Right!  

It is possible to save money on diapers!

I know just how stressful finances can feel when you are raising young kids, the expenses just never seem to end!  But, I also know that there are some tricks you can try to get diapers for cheap!  I hope this article helped answer some of your questions.

 

Related Articles:

Baby on a Budget: A First Time Parents Guide to Saving Money

How To Start A Babysitting Co-op To Save Money On Childcare

15 Baby Items You Dont Need

 

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How do you save money on diapers?  I would love to hear in the comments!

How To Start A Babysitting Co-op To Save Money On Childcare

November 16, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Tips for setting up a money saving child care co-op!

I am so excited to share exactly how to start a babysitting co-op to help you save money on childcare!

Let’s be real here, being a stay at home mom is hard!  It’s late nights, crying babies, fighting kids, zero alone time, and so so many messes.  And….it’s 24 hours a day 7 days a week.  It is a long, tiring and lonely job. 

Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE being a stay at home mom, but it isn’t easy at all.  Which is why I think it’s SO important for moms to have regular time away from the kids.  We need those stress free moments to run errands, go to doctors appointments, meet up with a friend for lunch, or just to have some peace and quiet to recoup. 

The only problem is that it can get really expensive to pay for child care for each of these outings.  And that’s where a neighborhood babysitting co-op can come in.

Years ago my friends organized a child care co-op for our neighborhood and it was such a blessing for each of us stay at home moms.  I’m so excited to share the details with each of you today so you can start your own!

how to start a babysitting coop - free babysitting tips for sahms

What Is A Babysitting Co-Op?

A babysitting co-op is a group of parents who take turns watching each others kids.  A co-op uses tickets to pay each other, instead of money.  The more you babysit, the more tickets you earn!  Use those hard earned tickets to pay someone else in the co-op to watch your own kids.  It’s really a beautiful system!

Why Form A Babysitting Co-Op?

I loved being apart of a babysitting co-op.  It helped me and my family in so many ways, and I think it can help you:

  • Save money on childcare
  • Help your kids make new friends and develop social skills
  • Give you alone time to run errands or get things done around the home
  • Helps you get to know the neighborhood kids better

It is truly a win-win for everyone!

How To Start a Babysitting Co-op

You can start your very own babysitting co-op, it is really easy and I’m here to walk you through every step!

1.  Find Members

If you want a co-op, you’re going to need a few more members!  Take a few minutes and brainstorm who you would like to invite to your babysitting group.  It will work best to invite those that you are already close to, such as friends, family members, neighbors or moms from your church.  Being able to trust each other to watch your kids is so important!

Personally, I wouldn’t want to bring a group of random strangers met over the internet together for a child care group.  Try to brainstorm a group of like minded parents that are all familiar with each other.  Aim for 8-16 families; to few means not enough babysitters and to many can get confusing.

2.  Set The Rules

The babysitting co-op rules will be different based on your groups needs and preferences, but here are a few you might want to consider:

  • Sick Children:  Children who are sick should not be dropped off at a babysitters home, and a babysitter should not babysit when they have sick children at home.
  • Be On Time:  All group members will be expected to respect each others time by picking up their kids right when the shift ends.  If you are late picking up your child you will have to pay double tickets.
  • Call Ahead:  Everyone will need to call ahead before dropping their kids off.  If nobody calls by the time your shift starts, you will have the day off from babysitting!
  • BYOD:  Parents must provide a few clean diapers and wipes when dropping off unpotty trained kids.  
  • Switch Shifts:  If you are unable to complete your scheduled shift you will need to find another co-op member to cover for you and then let all group members know of the change.
  • Discipline:  Decide as a group if there will be discipline allowed while babysitting and what forms are acceptable.
  • Kid Limit:  You might want to make a limit of how many kids can be dropped off at each babysitter at a time.  Somewhere between 5-7 kids per parent is a good rule of thumb, depending on ages.

3.  Make a Schedule

Next, set up the babysitting schedule shifts.  Shifts will vary depending on what works best for your group.  My group was mostly stay at home moms wanting childcare to run errands during the afternoon, so all of our shifts were on weekdays.  But, other groups could have weekend and evening shifts available if that is what they need.  Do what works best for you!

Here are an example of what the daily shifts could look like in your group, remember it’s okay to adjust them in whichever way will be best for you!

Monday:  9-12 and 1-4 and 5-8

Tuesday:  9-12 and 1-4 and 5-8

Wednesday:  9-12 and 1-4 and 5-8

Thursday:  9-12 and 1-4 and 5-8

Friday:  9-12 and 1-4 and 5-8

Saturday:  12-3 and 5-8

Have each person in the group sign up for one or two shifts each week.  For example, I might have the Wednesday 9-12 shift.  So, every Wednesday I will set aside my morning to babysit any kids that need to be watched at that time.

Feel free to use my provided babysitting co-op schedule here to set up a calendar of each shift and who will be babysitting when.  Make sure everyone has a copy of the calendar so they know who is available and when.

coop schedule

4.  Ticket System

Now for the fun part, setting up the ticket system!  To keep the babysitting fair and track babysitting hours, I suggest using tickets as payment.  Each family will begin with 10 1-hour tickets and 10 1/2-hour tickets.  These tickets are good for one kid at a time.  So, when you ask someone to babysit for 2 hours for 2 kids, you will need to pay them 4 1-hour tickets.  The babysitter can then use those tickets to ask someone to watch their kids for them.  The more you babysit, the more you tickets you’ll earn!

I have included Sitter Buck tickets in my free babysitting co-op printables here!  Make sure to print the Sitter Bucks onto cardstock and laminate each ticket.  These will be passed around to many hands, so the more durable you can make them, the better!

babysitting coop tickets

5.  The System

You are just about ready to start your first babysitting co-op, I’m so excited for you!  The system is simple really.

First, have everyone choose their shifts, fill out their contact info provided in my babysitting co-op freebies, and handout tickets (10 1-hour tickets and 10 1/2-hour tickets for each family).  Make sure everyone has a copy of the contact info and schedule.

Then, if you need a babysitter for your kids, just look at who has a shift that day, call them up and ask if they can watch your kids.  Now all you have to do is drop your kids off during their shift and enjoy a few hours of kid free time!

When you pick up your kids, pay the babysitter with your tickets.  Easy Peasy!

 

You got this!

Feeling intimidated about starting a babysitting co-op???  Because you shouldn’t!  Grab my free babysitting co-op printables here, grab a few friends and get started!

babysitting coop printables

 

Related Articles:

Free Summer Reading Programs For Kids 2021

How To Save Money On Kids Clothes

Budget Friendly Birthday Traditions for Kids

 

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Baby on a Budget: A First Time Parents Guide to Saving Money

June 17, 2020 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Money saving tips when having a baby on a budget.

Are you about to be a parent for the first time?  Or maybe you have done the parenting thing a few times and are expecting again?  Either way, chances are you are probably busy preparing, reading and learning new tips to help you find success as a parent.  One of the things you are probably looking into are tips for having a baby on a budget.

Babies are expensive, but there are some tricks you can do to save money on new babies and cut down on costs of raising a child.  Today, I’m sharing a few of the money saving hacks that have worked for me and I hope will work for you too!

money saving tips when having a baby - budget tips for new parents

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

I am a member of online affiliate programs.  I will be compensated for purchases made through links in this post.

Before Baby Comes

Preparing for baby can get expensive as you buy new items, prep the nursery and begin regularly visiting your doctor.  Here are a few ways you can eliminate these expensive costs.

Buy Pregnancy Tests at The Dollar Tree

The first hack to having a baby on a budget actually comes before the baby.  Pregnancy tests can get expensive (especially if you are like me and want to take 5 of them….just to be sure…;) ).  To help decrease the costs, buy all of your pregnancy tests at The Dollar Tree. 

Each one will only cost you $1.25!  This is much cheaper than the alternative!  (and don’t forget to grab a few tests…just to be sure….)

Shop Around Before Choosing a Doctor

Always shop around before deciding on an OBGYN and hospital to deliver at.  Even if you have insurance, the amount you pay will vary.  It’s OK to interview a few different doctors before you find the one that fits best for you and your budget.

I’ve delivered 3 kids and have been cared for by 5 OBGYNs (we moved a lot).  Each doctor was so different.  Looking back I can see that the more expensive doctors weren’t always the best.  It truly came down to personality and experience.

Skip Maternity Clothes

Instead of spending a ton of money on clothing you will only wear for a few months, buy non-maternity clothes that can grow with you.  

For shirts buy stretchy or flowy shirts that will be able to cover a growing belly.  For pants buy a few elastic waist extenders, or just wrap a ponytail holder around your pant button to give it more stretch (that’s what I did!)

Buy Second Hand

Babies grow fast (to fast if you ask me!), and a lot of the things you buy for them now will be tossed aside in a few months time.  To help you save money on all the baby supplies, furniture, clothing, etc. buy these all second hand. 

My favorite places to look for used baby items are local thrift stores, Facebook marketplace, and garage sales.  These will all have the best deals.

Remember to be patient when shopping second hand.  You will look through a lot of old, worn items before finding the like new favorites.  Also, don’t forget to look beyond the dirt and grime.  Sometimes all it will need is a little elbow grease, some paint, or a good stain remover to be just like new again.

  • Related:  15 Baby Items You Don’t Need

Check Free Cycle Regularly

One of the best resources for having a baby on a budget is to check out your local Free Cycle to find free baby items in your area.  This is a great website that gives people a place to list items they want to give away for free.  Look at the website regularly as new items are always being added to the site.  This should be the first place you check when you start shopping for a new baby.

Collect Free Samples

There are many, MANY free samples available to pregnant and new moms.  Take advantage of these, all of them!  You will find samples for formula, baby food, lotion, diaper, etc.  Collect as many as you can, and use them all!  If you find you don’t like or can’t use any of the samples, give them away to another mom that could use it.

Here are a few places you can look for free baby samples:

  • Amazon Gift Registry:  To get a free box of baby samples shipped right to your door simply fill out a gift registry on Amazon.  These free samples are worth $35!
  • Target Gift Registry:  Fill out a Target Gift Registry online and then stop by your local Target to receive a free baby Welcome Kit.  It is full of coupons and samples worth $80.  PLUS!  Target will give you 15% off on any item you didn’t receive from your registry!  A great deal!
  • Enfamil:  Enfamil is great source for free formula samples.  Simply sign up on their website and you will be sent your samples.
  • Similac:  Another great source for free formula samples is Similac.  Fill out the easy registration form and you will get samples sent right to your door!

After Baby Comes

The expenses never seem to end after your newborn arrives.  Remember to focus on buying what you need, rather than what’s trendy.  There will be so many smart marketing messages trying to tell you to buy “this” or “that”, but so many of these items are not necessary and will cause you to spend a lot of money.

Breastfeed

I completely understand that not everyone has a desire or is able to breastfeed, and that is fine!  Fed is best, always, and you have got to do what is best for you!  However, since we are talking about money saving tips I must mention that breastfeeding your baby will save you hundreds of dollars.  This is free food made specially for your baby.

Buy Diapers in Bulk

Admittedly, buying off brand diapers WILL be much cheaper than buying name brand.  However, in my experience cheaper diapers had more leaks and were not worth the money saved.  I personally prefer name brand diapers, so that is what I will suggest to you.

The cheapest way to buy name brand diapers is to buy them in bulk.  Shop at big box warehouse stores, such as Costco or Sams Club to find bulk diapers for cheap.

Another great option for bulk diapers is on Amazon.  When you order diapers from Amazon sign up for the Subscribe and Save option.  This will save you an extra 5% off!  Which is a great deal, especially because this is something you will be buying regularly for years.

  • Related:  How To Save Money On Diapers

Make Your Own Baby Food

Save money on your new baby by making your own baby food.  This is much cheaper than store bought and really easy to do!

All you need to do is boil the fruit or vegetable, mash it up, and store it.  I liked to store the baby food in an ice cube tray for later use.

Check out this great tutorial teaching you how to make baby food at home.

  • Related:  8 Foods You Should Freeze in an Ice Cube Tray

Skip The Toys

Truly you do not need to buy all the flashy expensive toys you will find in the stores.  Babies are so easily entertained with items you already have laying around the house.

A few of the favorite “around the house toys” for my kids were:

  • Measuring Spoons and Cups
  • Baby Wipes Container
  • Mirror (babies love to look at themselves)
  • Silicone ice cube trays
  • Laundry basket (they love to be pushed around the house)

You can definitely buy a few teething toys or rattles, but don’t go over board  It’s just not necessary.

 

Ask Family Members to Babysit

Whether you are working full time or choosing to be a stay at home mom, you will need a babysitter from time to time.  You will need a break, a few hours out with a friend, or a special date night with your love.  It’s good and healthy to spend a few hours away from baby throughout the month.

Instead of paying an expensive babysitter to watch your baby, ask a family member or close friend if they would be willing.  Most anyone would be thrilled at the opportunity to snuggle a little one, I know I would!  And I’m betting they would be happy to do it for free!

  • Related:  How To Start A Babysitting Co-op To Save Money On Childcare

In Conclusion

Having a baby is expensive, but there are steps you can take to lower that cost.  Being a mom was the best decision I ever made.  I would personally spend triple what I paid to be able to do it all over again.

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What tips do you have for having a baby on a budget??

Hello! I’m Melanie!

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