How to Save Money on Diapers

Even as packaging shrinks while prices rise, you can find ways to save a lot of money on diapers and wipes. Here are some great tips that have kept me from breaking my budget while using disposable diapers:

• Calculate out the cost per diaper and figure out your how much you’re willing to pay. Divide the price paid for each package by the number of diapers in the pack.

  For example, a jumbo pack of Huggies size 1 diapers costs $11.99 and has 44 diapers. Cost per diaper at full price is $.27. I not paying more than $.21 per diaper (about 25% less than regular price).

• Stockpile! I can’t stress this one enough! When you find diapers at or below your “bottom line” price, buy up as many as you can afford! Keep bigger sizes in mind and hold onto your receipts.

  Most retailers will let you exchange your unopened packages of diapers for the next size up if your baby outgrows them before you open the package. If you don’t have adequate storage space in your home, get creative! Store diapers under the crib, under your bed, and behind furniture if you have to.

• Shop around! Weekly and monthly sale prices at drug stores are generally competitive or even beat prices at big box retailers like Wal-Mart. Keep an eye on the deals and jump when you see one that works for you!

• Give store brand (generic) diapers a chance. Almost all store brands are equal in quality to the name brands at a fraction of the price. My sister and sister in-law both swear by Target-brand diapers.

  In the past, I have bought CVS and Walgreen’s brand diapers for $1 or $2 for a jumbo package. At that price, I couldn’t afford to not try them out!

  Regular sale prices with no coupons usually allow me to buy store-brand diapers at my bottom-line price. It’s easy, and there’s usually no complicated deal to work out!

• Rainchecks. If there is a smoking deal, stores often run out early in the week. Instead of running around trying to chase down deals, ask the store manager for a raincheck so you can return and make your purchase when the products are back on the shelf. This also allows you more time to round up more coupons to sweeten the deals.

• Store Baby Clubs. Many grocery stores have baby clubs where they’ll mail you coupons. If your store has a loyalty card, it may give you coupons at the register for baby products. Most deals can be combined with manufacturer coupons. See what your store has to offer.

• Store coupons. CVS and Walgreens frequently release coupons that can be combined with manufacturer coupons and store deals.

  Recently, Walgreens had a coupon for $5 of $20. Use this when you’re buying your diapers for additional savings! These coupons are often available online and can be printed multiple times. Break your purchase into a few transactions to multiply your savings!

SAVING MONEY ON NAME BRAND DIAPERS

• Get coupons in the mail! Get on diaper companies mailing lists. Use babygoodbuys.com master list of baby mailings to get signed up! They will often send samples along with valuable coupons that can be combined with store sales and store coupons to get you to the bottom line cost per diaper.

• Look in the Sunday paper for coupons. In addition to the “$ off diapers and/or wipes” coupons you’ll usually find, you may also find coupons that give you a free product when you buy diapers. Combine these with store sales for big savings!

• Look in stores for coupons. There are often coupons stuck to packages of diapers and wipes that you can peel off and use when you make your purchase. In addition, there may be a coupon dispenser near the product that might make the deal for you! Look for store-specific coupons, too! These can often be combined with manufactuer’s coupons for super savings!

• Get creative with your coupon gathering! If you’re brand loyal, you can buy multiples of coupons for a few cents each on Ebay. You can also trade coupons at sites like PinchingYourPennies, or work out a deal to give the person you’re trading with stamps or a gift card in exchange for tons of coupons!

• Look for rebates and incentive programs. The Caregivers Marketplace website gives you a $.75 rebate per package of Huggies jumbos when you buy five or more packs. These can be separate purchases.

  Save your receipts and mail in the form when you’ve purchased enough. Pampers Gifts to Grow program allows to to enter codes from diapers and wipes on their website for points that you can exchange for coupons and gifts! Finally, Huggies has the Enjoy the Ride Rewards program to earn points to exchange for sweepstakes and instant-win games.