Debt Dumpers - 2017

[DLgal]

I'm not sure if yours is the same, but the Costco Kirkland formula here is made by enfamil and is the same product- it costs more than 50% less when you work it out and all the babies I know that have used it have done great on it. Good for you for giving breastfeeding a shot despite all the challenges, but IMP fed is best

We used Costco Kirkland formula exclusively for our two kids when they were formula feeding. They liked it and it was a great value. It actually mixed up better than Enfamil (less clumps). It is made by the same company but has a slightly different "recipe." It tastes a little bit different, but again, our kids seemed to like it better.

 

[DLgal]

I did not buy anything on Black Friday. Everything is 100% off if you don't buy.

 

[Tygerlilly]

We used Costco Kirkland formula exclusively for our two kids when they were formula feeding. They liked it and it was a great value. It actually mixed up better than Enfamil (less clumps). It is made by the same company but has a slightly different "recipe." It tastes a little bit different, but again, our kids seemed to like it better.

We use Parent's Choice from walmart and I think I actually like it better than the name brand kinds. It definitely mixes better and doesn't clump and at over 1/2 the price, definitely better on my wallet!

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

I'm not sure if yours is the same, but the Costco Kirkland formula here is made by enfamil and is the same product- it costs more than 50% less when you work it out and all the babies I know that have used it have done great on it. Good for you for giving breastfeeding a shot despite all the challenges, but IMP fed is best

I’ve also heard excellent things about the Costco brand formula and I’m in the states! It’s orobably what we will end up using if we need to supplement or formula feed.

We bought Enfamil Enspire, which has some added things that are supposed to make it more like breastmilk. We wanted to use this to transition and then we might consider switching to the Kirkland brand. I looked it up and the Kirkland brand is produced by Similac, which is fine with me. The Enfamil Enspire is almost 4x as expensive, so we plan to transition to something else once we use that up. So many things to think/worry about!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

If the same issues happen with my next baby, I would have a hard time considering going down the same route again. And if the next baby does decide to breastfeed and I hated it, I would probably ditch it. It has been stressful and I feel like I could have done things better over the past few weeks if I hadn't been so worked up over feedings. I have decided to reduce the number of pumping sessions each day, even if it does lead to a decrease in my supply and eventually wean when I get closer to the 3 month mark. I just can't keep up with this schedule. I want to spend more time enjoying my baby and less time worrying about how I am going to fit in one more pump session. It has just taken time for me to come to terms with everything and to overcome my disappointment.

This!!!
I'm still catching up on reading the last few pages but I had to reply to this now.
Omg, that first year goes so fast. Enjoy it. Enjoy your leave off work. Cherish it. You can't ever get this time back. Enjoy the fact that she stays where you put her. lol
Every mom at some point ends up crying/stressing/regretting/stressing/crying/stressing over feedings. You just can't help it. Add in sleep deprivation and one's entire life turned upside down and it's easy to lose your mind. My gosh, with #1 I was working in our main hospital and breaks/lunches were often off-schedule so I was afraid to pump at work. With all the regret I felt over that and with #2 I worked at a breast center so they were very supportive but it was crazy. He would feed at 4 am and go back to sleep but since I had to get up at 5 anyway, I'd pump whatever was left, wash all the parts, and start getting ready for work. I did this for 6 months: getting up at 4am and getting home at 6pm. I was like the walking dead.
I look back now and think *** was I thinking?! Why did I have to stress so much over trying to being perfect? When I should have been just enjoying their short time of babyhood. The guilt of working all fed into it too. I think back now and wonder how I did it. And wonder why I did it.
I guess we're compelled to be the best mom we can be but at some point you have to take a look at your sanity, lifestyle and what is truly important.
It will get better for you. This is all still new and I hate to say it but with parenting, just when you get over one hurdle and things start going smoothly, something else comes along. It's all a learning process and just do the best you can. NOTHING in life truly prepares us for this job.
Hang it there Mommy!!

 

[Judique]

I'm not sure if yours is the same, but the Costco Kirkland formula here is made by enfamil and is the same product- it costs more than 50% less when you work it out and all the babies I know that have used it have done great on it. Good for you for giving breastfeeding a shot despite all the challenges, but IMP fed is best

My daughter has used it for my two grandbabies in the last two years and both have done well on it. In addition to the regular price which was around $17 a can when I picked it up, it has gone on special a few times for $13.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

My daughter has used it for my two grandbabies in the last two years and both have done well on it. In addition to the regular price which was around $17 a can when I picked it up, it has gone on special a few times for $13.

We have decided to return the really expensive Enfamil formula and try starting baby on the Kirkland formula now, rather than waiting to transition later. I feel more comfortable with this because I want to make sure baby transitions with good results, especially well before daycare starts. Also, after calculating the cost difference between the two formulas, I just couldn't justify the cost of the Enfamil being 4x more expensive. Even if I bought it at a discount, it would cost almost $2k more over the course of the year. I feel like that money is probably better put into baby's college fund.

 

[Judique]

We have decided to return the really expensive Enfamil formula and try starting baby on the Kirkland formula now, rather than waiting to transition later. I feel more comfortable with this because I want to make sure baby transitions with good results, especially well before daycare starts. Also, after calculating the cost difference between the two formulas, I just couldn't justify the cost of the Enfamil being 4x more expensive. Even if I bought it at a discount, it would cost almost $2k more over the course of the year. I feel like that money is probably better put into baby's college fund.

This is probably a very good decision to start with. To me it seems that the decision is usually made by trial and error, to see what will work best for your baby. Try the formulas and you will learn what is sufficient for your child.

I have 2 girls and 1 boy. All were breastfed for some period of time. Yet I saw my daughter go through agony when she tried breastfeeding. If breastfeeding had been like that for me, I wouldn't have lasted as long as she did at it. Her lactation specialist said to her, 'It's okay to stop this. The baby will do fine on formula.' I'm glad I was with her through this, as I might have been a little judgemental if I hadn't gone through it with her.

One of my girls transitioned to formula at 3 months. My son transitioned at 9 months but couldn't tolerate the regular formulas and we had to use a soy based formula. If I could have predicted that problem I would have continued breast feeding. You never know what will work until you go through the experiences. We are not all the same.

 

[Eureka]

We have decided to return the really expensive Enfamil formula and try starting baby on the Kirkland formula now, rather than waiting to transition later. I feel more comfortable with this because I want to make sure baby transitions with good results, especially well before daycare starts. Also, after calculating the cost difference between the two formulas, I just couldn't justify the cost of the Enfamil being 4x more expensive. Even if I bought it at a discount, it would cost almost $2k more over the course of the year. I feel like that money is probably better put into baby's college fund.

I'd start with one can and see how it goes before you stock up. DS14 ended up needing to be on soy. We also ran into the same thing with diapers, always tried one pack before buying a ton (Huggies never worked for us but Pampers, Luvs and Walmart's White Cloud). Of course if you can return it, not a big deal but not having to go back out is worth it!

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

This is probably a very good decision to start with. To me it seems that the decision is usually made by trial and error, to see what will work best for your baby. Try the formulas and you will learn what is sufficient for your child.

I'd start with one can and see how it goes before you stock up. DS14 ended up needing to be on soy. We also ran into the same thing with diapers, always tried one pack before buying a ton (Huggies never worked for us but Pampers, Luvs and Walmart's White Cloud). Of course if you can return it, not a big deal but not having to go back out is worth it!

We were able to get a full refund on the Enfamil formula, so no worries there. I went out earlier and bought one box of the Kirkland. She has had two bottles of it today and seems to be doing well so far. Only time will tell.

While I was at Costco I found a cute onesie set and a great board book box set (has 8 of these books: https://babylit.com/collections/books/Classic-Lit) for baby's Hanukkah gifts. It isn't easy to find good gifts for a 2 month old. I am using a "holiday gift rule" that I came up with. Here is what I have so far:

Something to do: Activity bouncy table (can start using around 5 months old)
Something to read: Board book set
Something to wear: hat, gloves, onesie set, socks and thermal pants
Something to play: taggie blanket and soft toy set (works with her current play gym)
Something to watch: Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Blu-ray

I am going out on Saturday to look for a few more little things for her stocking. Will also buy a few things for DH's stocking too. The activity table was the big ticket item at $100. Overall, I probably spent $150, which is right what I had planned to spend.

 

[dayvewc]

We were able to get a full refund on the Enfamil formula, so no worries there. I went out earlier and bought one box of the Kirkland. She has had two bottles of it today and seems to be doing well so far. Only time will tell.

While I was at Costco I found a cute onesie set and a great board book box set (has 8 of these books: https://babylit.com/collections/books/Classic-Lit) for baby's Hanukkah gifts. It isn't easy to find good gifts for a 2 month old. I am using a "holiday gift rule" that I came up with. Here is what I have so far:

Something to do: Activity bouncy table (can start using around 5 months old)
Something to read: Board book set
Something to wear: hat, gloves, onesie set, socks and thermal pants
Something to play: taggie blanket and soft toy set (works with her current play gym)
Something to watch: Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Blu-ray

I am going out on Saturday to look for a few more little things for her stocking. Will also buy a few things for DH's stocking too. The activity table was the big ticket item at $100. Overall, I probably spent $150, which is right what I had planned to spend.

Your list reminded me of a Christmas Shopping List for Children I ran across a few years ago that I really liked:

Something to wear,
Something to do or read,
Something they want,
Something they need.

Short, simple to the point, and keeps me from overspending while still getting them a variety of gifts.

 

[Eureka]

We were able to get a full refund on the Enfamil formula, so no worries there. I went out earlier and bought one box of the Kirkland. She has had two bottles of it today and seems to be doing well so far. Only time will tell.

While I was at Costco I found a cute onesie set and a great board book box set (has 8 of these books: https://babylit.com/collections/books/Classic-Lit) for baby's Hanukkah gifts. It isn't easy to find good gifts for a 2 month old. I am using a "holiday gift rule" that I came up with. Here is what I have so far:

Something to do: Activity bouncy table (can start using around 5 months old)
Something to read: Board book set
Something to wear: hat, gloves, onesie set, socks and thermal pants
Something to play: taggie blanket and soft toy set (works with her current play gym)
Something to watch: Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Blu-ray

I am going out on Saturday to look for a few more little things for her stocking. Will also buy a few things for DH's stocking too. The activity table was the big ticket item at $100. Overall, I probably spent $150, which is right what I had planned to spend.

Yeah, holiday shopping for an infant is interesting to say the least. We got off easy when DS16 was born. He was 10 days old for his first Chanuka and two weeks old for his first Christmas. We got him nothing. But wait a minute, I gave him life, didn't I? LOL.

 

[mco65]

my goal is to not put a single dime on a credit card this christmas.. that's my goal anyway. Wish me luck.

 

[Eureka]

Kohl’s is making it so easy (and dangerous) to do holiday shopping! I used the 25% coupon and a $5 reward along with great sales to get my adult nephew two dress shirts (we pick names so I only buy for two of them), one of my kids a tie, some socks that both my kids (and DH for that matter) can wear, and a pair of clearance underwear to boost it to free shipping. Paid $57, will get $10 Kohl’s cash and 6% back through Ebates. Go me!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We were able to get a full refund on the Enfamil formula, so no worries there. I went out earlier and bought one box of the Kirkland. She has had two bottles of it today and seems to be doing well so far. Only time will tell.

While I was at Costco I found a cute onesie set and a great board book box set (has 8 of these books: https://babylit.com/collections/books/Classic-Lit) for baby's Hanukkah gifts. It isn't easy to find good gifts for a 2 month old. I am using a "holiday gift rule" that I came up with. Here is what I have so far:

Something to do: Activity bouncy table (can start using around 5 months old)
Something to read: Board book set
Something to wear: hat, gloves, onesie set, socks and thermal pants
Something to play: taggie blanket and soft toy set (works with her current play gym)
Something to watch: Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Blu-ray

I am going out on Saturday to look for a few more little things for her stocking. Will also buy a few things for DH's stocking too. The activity table was the big ticket item at $100. Overall, I probably spent $150, which is right what I had planned to spend.

Great plan!

It isn't easy to find good gifts for a 2 month old.

One thing I learned when my kids were very small was to buy gifts that would apply to later in the year. Ds20 was due on Christmas Eve but he was almost 2 weeks overdue so he has a Jan birthday. He would get a lot of winter/indoor toys all at once but then nothing for a whole year.
So I started shopping for July too and would buy weather & age-appropriate toys for summer. I'd store them in the attic until the right time.

By Sept your daughter will be all over the place, either crawling or walking, so push toys or ride on toys would be useful too.

 

[AmyAnne]

Listed some things on eBay yesterday - nothing that is likely to make a lot of money but if I can get a few dollars and get it out of my house I will consider that a success. I do need to stop checking my eBay account every five minutes to see if anyone has bid yet!

 

[pblack]

Kohl’s is making it so easy (and dangerous) to do holiday shopping! I used the 25% coupon and a $5 reward along with great sales to get my adult nephew two dress shirts (we pick names so I only buy for two of them), one of my kids a tie, some socks that both my kids (and DH for that matter) can wear, and a pair of clearance underwear to boost it to free shipping. Paid $57, will get $10 Kohl’s cash and 6% back through Ebates. Go me!

Kohls is always my downfall. I spend far too much money there lol.

 

[Alexle2007]

Listed some things on eBay yesterday - nothing that is likely to make a lot of money but if I can get a few dollars and get it out of my house I will consider that a success. I do need to stop checking my eBay account every five minutes to see if anyone has bid yet!

My DH thinks it is better to list as buy it now and not bid on eBay. Although he is constantly then checking for watchers. And usually when there are X # of them, it sells. I think he sold 4 items yesterday and, of course, shipping on one of them was cheaper through FedEx so I had to drop that off at lunch time and the others will go to our post office this afternoon.

 

[Tygerlilly]

My grandfather passed away on Thursday. We live in Oklahoma and the funeral is in Pennsylvania. I knew I'd be coming up with the kids on my own, so I left Friday afternoon. The funeral was supposed to be tomorrow, but someone didn't file the right transport permits and now the funeral won't be until Thursday. I'm lucky to be staying with family, but the later funeral date means I now have to take 2 extra days off work unpaid.

We stopped for the night on our way here ($103) and have filled/topped off twice ($60 total), so im guessing we will have another $200 in travel expenses to get home. I've spent under $100 on things since I've been here, including formula and a few christmas presents from Ikea for the girls since we don't have an ikea near us.

I'm just glad this check had some overtime and my bonus on it. It definitely made it easier to manage. I also realized the missing 2 days of my check will be on my check after Christmas, so I have about 2 weeks to try and make that up by picking up another shift or two.

 

[DisneyMandC]

My grandfather passed away on Thursday. We live in Oklahoma and the funeral is in Pennsylvania. I knew I'd be coming up with the kids on my own, so I left Friday afternoon. The funeral was supposed to be tomorrow, but someone didn't file the right transport permits and now the funeral won't be until Thursday. I'm lucky to be staying with family, but the later funeral date means I now have to take 2 extra days off work unpaid.

We stopped for the night on our way here ($103) and have filled/topped off twice ($60 total), so im guessing we will have another $200 in travel expenses to get home. I've spent under $100 on things since I've been here, including formula and a few christmas presents from Ikea for the girls since we don't have an ikea near us.

I'm just glad this check had some overtime and my bonus on it. It definitely made it easier to manage. I also realized the missing 2 days of my check will be on my check after Christmas, so I have about 2 weeks to try and make that up by picking up another shift or two.

So sorry for your loss.


We had a nice weekend and took a family trip to Christmastown at Busch Gardens, which is only about an hour and fifteen minutes from us. We had a great time! This was our first year going and we were very impressed. DH and I shared a meal for dinner to help with costs, but did take advantage of the $1.79 refills on a hot cocoa mug somebody let us borrow for the day. We arrived right at opening and were pleasantly surprised that BG gave away free parking at opening, so that was $15 saved!

Of course, the only downfall was when I pulled into my parking spot and discovered my car was making a not so great noise when I made a sharp turn with my steering wheel... Guess I'll be going to get that looked at soon.