If you seriously prefer name brand diapers as I do you can save quite a bit with this little known quirk of coupon redemption. I have two girls, 2 years and one day apart in age, so I was buying diapers for two for 6 or 7 months. It was putting a real bend in our grocery budget. I clipped coupons and waited for sales to stock up. Quite by accident, I learned that a coupon for Huggies Pull Up’s worked on a purchase of Huggies Supreme. This is only significant because although diaper coupons are common, they are not usually more than $1.00 to $1.50 of the retail price. However, training pants coupons are usually $2.00 to $2.50 off the retail price.  I do not know if this works the same way with Pampers diapers and Feel N' Learn coupons but it can't hurt to try. 

I have been using Pull Up’s coupons when purchasing diapers for almost a year now and not once has a cashier even noticed that the coupon was for a different item. I send the diapers through first then the groceries and hand over the coupons when it’s time to pay. This would probably not work at a store where items are rung in manually rather than scanned but the bar code readers in most grocery stores are none the wiser. I know for a fact this works at Wal Mart, Food Lion, Bi Lo, CVS, Target and Kroger.

To maximize savings I solicit coupons from friends, neighbors and family members and wait for the diapers to go on sale. You can also buy coupons here on E Bay for 10% to 50% of their face value. I buy large quantities of small packs to get more bang for the buck. This goes against the ’buying in bulk is cheaper’ train of thought but here is how it works.

• These are the prices at our local drug store

                                                 Q    Cost      Each

Store Brand                  Jumbo    40   $7.99     0.200

Store Brand                   Mega    60   $10.99    0.183

Huggies Baby Shaped   Jumbo    40   $11.99    0.300

Huggies Baby Shaped    Mega    60   $16.99    0.283

Huggies Supreme          Jumbo   36   $11.99    0.333

Huggies Supreme           Mega   54   $16.99    0.315

• And then they go on sale for $1.00 off each pack

                                                 Q    Cost      Each

Huggies Baby Shaped   Jumbo    40   $10.99    0.275

Huggies Baby Shaped    Mega    60   $15.99    0.267

Huggies Supreme          Jumbo   36   $10.99    0.305

Huggies Supreme           Mega   54   $15.99    0.296

• Diapers at regular cost using a $2.00 off Pull Up’s coupon

                                                 Q    Cost      Each

Huggies Baby Shaped   Jumbo    40   $9.99     0.250*

Huggies Baby Shaped    Mega    60   $14.99    0.250*

Huggies Supreme          Jumbo   36   $9.99     0.278*

Huggies Supreme           Mega   54   $14.99    0.278*

• On sale for $1.00 off AND  using a coupon for $2.00 off

                                                 Q    Cost      Each

Huggies Baby Shaped   Jumbo    40   $8.99      0.225*

Huggies Baby Shaped    Mega    60   $13.99     0.233*

Huggies Supreme          Jumbo   36   $8.99       0.250*

Huggies Supreme           Mega   54   $16.99      0.259*

This is where the math comes in.  Once you get past a certain amount off either by coupon or because they are on sale you are actually getting the smaller packs at a better deal.  I used to take my calculator with me to check cost per diaper in the store.  I also reccomend signing up for your local grocery stores' weekly ad to be delivered to your email.  This eliminates the expense of driving around looking for deals.  And let's face it, if you have a child in diapers you don't have time to shop around.  

• I wait until they go on sale for $3.50 off which happens several times a year, use the $2.50 off coupon for Pull Up’s, and buy Jumbo packs instead of Mega packs which comes out to be.. 

                                                 Q    Cost      Each

Huggies Baby Shaped   Jumbo    40   $5.99     0.149*

Huggies Baby Shaped    Mega    60   $10.99    0.183*

Huggies Supreme          Jumbo   36   $5.99     0.166*

Huggies Supreme           Mega   54   $10.99    0.203*

So to make a long story short, you CAN buy name brand diapers for less than store brand with just a little clipping and shopping ahead.  Every little bit helps when it comes to saving money. 

*these charts do not factor in sales tax because it differs from state to state.  when you use a coupon the discount is taken off after the sales tax has been calculated.  if your sales tax is 5% and you use a coupon for $1.00 off a $10.00 product the total with tax is $9.50 as opposed to a total of $9.45 if you buy a $10.00 product on sale for $9.00.