Megan's Baby Madness: Changing My Name

Changing My Name

For about a week, I've been contemplating my goals for this blog. It was started because I was constantly telling friends about great deals I'd read on other blogs and they suggested I collect the information on a webpage.

I decided to give it a go, and realized that I'm just not able to dedicate the time to all the coupon match-ups and other grocery deals that make sites like STLMommy or couponstl.blogspot.com so invaluable to me.

As a result, I've decided to fine tune my focus and therefore change my name to Megan's Baby Madness. My child is still in diapers and eating baby food, so I'm regularly seeking out deals on diapers, baby food, baby toiletries, toys and other needs for the under 5 set. Those deals are the ones I'm going to be bringing to you.

Instead of breaking down deals by store, I'm going to break them down by category for quick comparison. I'll have sections dedicated to diaper deals, formula deals and so on.

I've already looked at diaper deals for this week and will get that information posted as soon as possible. In the meantime, please be patient while I adjust the format of my blog to reflect this new direction. My blogspot address will not change immediately. I'll give everyone adequate notice before it happens.

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Saving on Baby Food, Diapers, Formula and Toiletries

Most manufactures of baby "consumables" offer pretty great coupons and freebies to parents. Register each time your expecting because I believe they'll send you the coupons and freebies for each little one.

Register on the formula websites even if you're planning to breastfeed. They'll ask and send you goodies specifically geared toward breastfeeding mothers. Their incentive of course is to convince you to supplement your nursing with formula. Don't do it until you're ready to start weening.

Beech Nut
Beech Nut has upped their ante since I signed up, so be sure you sign up here. I received emails with information on feeding that included some generous printable coupons. Now when you sign up you also get a "starter kit" by mail with coupons for a free cereal and 2 free jars of baby food.

Ebates
Use ebates or other cashback sites when you shop online and you'll earn money on your online purchases. Read my FAQ here to learn more.

Enfamil
Register here and receive a diaper bag and other goodies FREE! You'll also receive "checks" in the mail good toward formula purchases. Read more about checks. Also, save points from packages. See the "Points Saving" section below. For breastfeeding moms, disregard any of their "advice" as I found it to be mostly propaganda and/or made breastfeeding more difficult than it really needs to be, likely to encourage the use of their products as a supplement.

Facebook
Every day more and more companies are utilizing social networking. Even better, many of them offer coupons and giveaways exclusively to their facebook fans. Search Facebook for the name of products you use often and become a fan. Look for a coupon tab on the fan page, above the comment bar.

Freecycling
Use freecycle.org to make room in your house, garage, basement or attic by getting rid of things you no longer have use for. You post an offer, someone in the group who wants it will email you and then come at a time you agree upon to pick it up. On the flipside, you can pick up baby gear, toys and other misc things people need to get rid of. I got a fantastic bouncy-seat from freecycle. It would have been close to $50 new or $20 in a resale shop. Read my post on Freecycling here.

Gerber and Good Start Formula
Gerber and Nestlé Good Start formula have teamed up to create Start Healthy Stay Healthy. Register here and receive coupons for Gerber food, Good Start formula and Gerber feeding utensils and cups. They are very generous with their coupons.

Huggies
Sign up here to receive coupons by mail for diapers, wipes and toiletries.

Johnson's Baby Toiletries
Go here for printable coupons for a variety of Johnson and Johnson brand baby toiletries, such as Head to Toe body wash or Desitin diaper cream.

Similac
Sign up here. They've changed their freebies since I had my baby, so I'm not sure what you'll get. I does say you'll "receive savings delivered right to your door," which I assume are formula checks. Read more about checks. For breastfeeding moms, their information was pretty accurate but still encouraged the use of their products as a supplement which should be a last resort.

Point Saving

Many companies offer "points" when you enter a code from their product, that can later be redeemed for products or other prizes. I've gotten magazine subscriptions, gift cards, digital camera and sweepstakes entries (though I've never won).

My favorite points sites allow you to redeem points for merchandise. Others allow you to redeem points for things like sweepstakes entries for a chance to win prizes that tend to be bigger ticket items than the things you can get with cumulative points. I have redeemed points with all the sights listed below unless otherwise noted.

Coca-Cola
Submit codes under any Coke product bottle cap or printed inside cases of canned soda at www.mycokerewards.com or by registering your phone and sending a text to 2653.

Redeem for merchandise - I use it to get my subscription to Parents for free each year.

Enfamil
Submit codes found in Enfamil products at rewards.enfamil.com

Redeem for sweepstakes entry - especially sweepstakes with prizes for kids

Huggies
Submit codes found on packages of Huggies products or by watching videos, answering surveys or participating in polls at www.enjoytheriderewards.com

Redeem for sweepstakes entry - especially sweepstakes with prizes for kids
Donate - points can also be donated to Kaboom a charity that builds playgrounds ($0.05/point)

Pampers
Gifts to grow on.

Make it Yourself

One of my favorite ways to save money is to make things myself. I'm a renaissance woman when it comes to crafting. I have a basic understanding and skill level with many types of crafts. Others I do moderately well. I don't consider myself an expert on any one craft type. Anything I post here I believe can be done by anyone with a little experience with that type of project.

Play Food
My daughter got a play kitchen for Christmas. I was inspired to google "felt food" by bow-tie pasta I saw in the Pottery Barn Kids catalog. I was shocked at what I found. It's pretty scattered, so each word listed will link to a different web page. Strawberry, Persimmon, Fried Egg, Cupcakes, Easter Eggs, Cherry Pie, Carrots, Bow-Tie Pasta, Ravioli, Lolipops, Tomato Slice, Lettuce Leaf

Partridge Ornament
Need a teacher's gift for Christmas? Try this felt partridge ornament from Retro Mama. Too Cute!!!