My ideas on saving money while keeping my baby healthy.  There are lots of opportunities on eBay to save money for yourself as well as help others who use eBay to be able to stay at home with their children by making a few extra dollars selling items.

It's amazing in this day and age, that there are still many people that look down on those of that "decide" to use formula for our baby.  What their insensitivity fails to understand is that there are numerous factors that contribute to needing to use formula.  So after the decision was already made for me, because through a number of attempts at increasing my milk supply I had to turn to formula or watch my baby go hungry.

Of course my family income is in that fine line, where we do not qualify for WIC but the added cost of formula when I planned on breastfeeding was blow to our budget.  So I signed up for all the coupons and formula checks from all the companies.  They too soon ran out as the companies are not overly generous.

If you shop carefully and not buy every item that first shows up, you can successfully feed your baby and save money.

1.  Realize that every baby formula has to meet health and nutrition guidelines in order to approved by the FDA. Translation:  Get over the need to use Name Brands.  Store brands easily save on average of $5 a can and are just as healthy with the same levels of nutrition.  You might be saying, "well I use coupons and formula checks"   Me too, however they are in too short of supply.  Companies provide a handful and then many mothers feel like they have to keep using the same formula.

2.  Buying formula on eBay.  Great idea and can potentially save you a lot of money.  I  always like to read others About Me page so I can learn why the sell what they do.  I admire a family that is trying to survive on one paycheck with one parent able to stay home by making a few extra dollars here and there selling things online.

3.  Look at the complete cost.  When buying formula (or any item) consider the complete price.  When you find an auction that is selling a can of formula for a low price, your excited and begin bidding.  Then when all is said and done, you haven't considered the extra cost of shipping.  The eBay listing always shows the cost per item when there are multiple items (a "lot") in one auctions.  Example:  listing of 10 cans of formula my end at each can costing you $10 when in the store they would cost you $12 each.  Then someone adds high priced shipping options instead of using low cost methods.  A shipping cost of $30 dollars has now increased your per can cost to more that what you would buy for in the store.  This does not even reflect any fees.  Sure there are no fees on eBay to buy something.  However if you use a credit card, there are finance charges or depending on how your PayPal account is set up there are fees there as well.

4.  The end of auction bid war.  Resist the urge "not to be out bid"  I have seen last minute Bid Wars raise the cost of an item dramatically.  Your winning instict says "I will not loose" and then price is driven up much higher than you intended to pay.

The majority of the world is not trying to make an unhonest dollar, however the handful that are out there that do can really take advantage of people.

Do not be afraid to ask a seller to use a less expensive shipping method.

Ask for combined shipping.

Watch out for "handling fees"

Look for ways to save money is not always fun, however in the long run it can to more money in your budget to do fun things with your family.  We put all the money I "save" on purchase in a special (interest bearing) account and on average every two years our week long family vacations have been paid for.