Best deals on Formula (by ounce)?

mama&baby

So I know that the most economical thing would be to go for the non-name brand formula since it's probably almost identical to the name brands anyways. However, for whatever irrational reason, it doesn't sit well with me to buy that for LO yet. I am sure once LO gets a little older and we've realize how much formula is costing us (right now I am BFing primarily but we've been supplementing with all the formula samples we've gotten in the mail)we may switch to the generic. LO seems to like Similac the best. So my question is-- where can you find the best deals on formula? We are definitely going with the powdered since LO is up to 4 oz of formula per feeding and that would cost a ridiculous amount for the pre-mixed formula! Come on ladies spill your secrets!

JMack1117

BabyCheapskate.com does a weekly formula and diaper round up, where she posts the best deals. 

mbgreenwalt

With DD#1 I used Similac Advanced.  I always got the coupon books from BRU and they usually had a coupon to save $5 if you bought 2 (it was the best when they ran a buy 2 get a $10 giftcard for your next purchase sale).  I would buy 2 lg. tubs and get $5 off + use 2 $5 Similac checks.  It came out to about $33-34 for 2 lg. tubs. 

emma&katiesmom

I've really only compared Walmart, Target, and our grocery, Kroger.  That's the order that they're the cheapest for me here in OH but even saying that there's really only about a $1.50 difference between the cheapest (Walmart) and the most expensive (Kroger).  Even Sam's Club isn't a deal.  Unless I have a coupon AND a check for Similac brands I buy the big container of Sam's Club generic formula.  I use the Similac checks for the pre-made bottles (one per check) and get a day's worth of formula (about 30 oz) for $1.55. 

emma&katiesmom

For what it's worth, here's the price comparison (at least for where I live)

Similac 23.2 oz can @ Target - $22.99 for a 23.2oz can, assuming you have a $5.00 gift check you'd get the formula for 77.5 cents per powdered ounce. (not per ounce of formula after it's made, just the powder as it is in the can) (Oh, and no gift check for the formula makes it 99.1 cents per ounce - yikes!)

Sam's Club's generic brand is $19.98 for a 48oz can which breaks down to 41.6 cents per powdered ounce. 

 Sam's Club has Similac in a 34oz can for $28.98 which is 85.2 cents per powdered ounce.

kclear

i didn't want to buy DS generic formula either at first. he was on enfamil newborn for a while. he always seemed a little gassy though and one day i broke down and bought the target brand. DS was perfect on up&up...no more gas! i had no excuse after that, generic brand it was!

i'm not much help as far as what the best deal is on name brand formula. i was getting the enfamil wherever i found it on sale that week. it seems like getting the formula checks is the best way to go if you can get them.

good luck!

MrsBini10

Once I saw how cheap (and nutritionally identical) Target brand was to Similac, I couldn't bear to buy name brand anymore. It's $19.99 for a 44 ounce can. Never seen Similac for anything even close to that, even with sales and coupons.  And LO seems happy with it  

funkyfrog

When I bought formula for #1 I often used Target.   I used Similac and regularly they would be $23.  But often they had sales for $20 or $21 (Simple Pac - not sure how many ounces that tub is)  But then you can you a Target coupon, Manufacturer's coupon, and a check!    So sometimes I would get a tub of formula for $9 (of course not always... just when I had all three coupons)   

Make sure you sign up for formula checks and see if you can trade with people on here to get ones that you need.   I had friends and family save them for me... or look for coupons in paper. 

 

Ooh and I shop at Shop Rite and they offer a Baby Bucks program... so I would use that as well to earn money back.

 

tonychelle

Not sure about Similac but I get Gerber, and I mostly get it at BJs (like Sam's/Costco) for between $21-24 for the big container of powder. I never see BJs coupons for it, but I can use mf coupon and usually the big $ checks Gerber sends ($5-10-ish).

Also Gerber sends smaller checks too for like $2.50, so I use those for these single pre-mixed packages at Kroger that are like $4 or bigger packages at Publix or Walmart for $6 that I sometimes get a coupon for too.

You will find the best method that works for you to use coupons and checks (like Target or BRU has coupons for certain things and with certain promotions, you'll get gift cards back)...

The most important thing you could do is sign up you and all of your family for all formula sites, so you can trade checks for other brands too. Check coupon sites often too for printable coupons, and my grocery store sometimes puts out formula coupons, so I always make a trip down the baby aisle even if I'm not buying anything from there.