Save $$$ on Diapers
Because I have three young children, diapers are a hot topic of conversation in my world: what kind, how many and, most importantly, how much? If you assume a child goes through seven diapers a day (more as a newborn, fewer as a toddler) and is in diapers for an average of 30 months, and you average a price of $0.17/diaper (my target price for purchasing)—the cost of diapers for one child can mount to more than $1,085.
My target price is $0.17/diaper, and I will stock up when I find anything below that price. Stores like CVS, Walgreens and Target often offer promotional incentives, such as earning money off your next shopping trip or earning gift cards through specific purchases. When combined with manufacturer or store coupons, these promotional offers can save you a ton of money! Target’s Cartwheel phone app typically provides additional cost-saving offers for diapers and wipes. One of the biggest regrets I have is not giving store brand diapers a chance sooner. We have recently found that Aldi sells the cheapest diapers, and they happen to be our favorite for our toddler!
When I was expecting my second child, I was introduced to the world of Amazon Mom. With a subscription to Amazon Mom, you receive 20 percent off of diapers and wipes shipped directly to your home. There typically are also coupons you can click and use through the Amazon website to save you a few extra dollars. Often Amazon will change its prices, so watch to make sure you are getting the best deal. Another online option for purchasing diapers is www.Diapers.com. Similar to Amazon, this site ships products directly to your door and offers various incentives, such as $10 off your first box of diapers, 20 percent off of your first three months and other additional coupons.
By far, however, we have saved the most money by using cloth diapers. For as little as $100, a family can create a very basic stash of cloth diapers (one-size prefolds and covers) that can get them through the diapering years. We have used a variety of styles of cloth diapers. The initial investment of some styles can seem daunting; however, the savings over time and the ability to use them through multiple children or re-sell them has saved us an incredible amount of money. Starting cloth diapers can seem incredibly intimidating, but there are many local resources to help get you started. For example, Itsy Bitsy Bums is a local store in Brookside that offers classes, consultations and rental programs that give you a chance to test out cloth diapers for a small fee.
We have used a mixture of all of these approaches to save money in different seasons of our parenting journey. A little research can go a long way in helping you secure the most bang for your buck!
Rachel Boese is a blogger from Gardner, where she raises three young children with her husband. She is always looking for the best deal and enjoys a blend of using cloth and disposable diapers. She blogs about her adventures at www.RachelOnRewind.com.