What to do with Enfamil/Similac "checks"

[snowy76]

Hey all...

I breastfeed my baby but when I was pregnant my OB and my son's ped each signed me up for those clubs that send you free samples of formula, baby magazines, etc. I got free diaper bags out of the deal and I knew I wouldn't need the couple of cans of formula so I dumped them. Yes I know now that was pretty costly.

Anyway, I keep getting these "checks" in the mail from them that are basically coupons for formula. Problem is, I don't need them because I breastfeed and I feel like I am wasting them by not using them. Even when DS starts on rice cereal in a few weeks, I'll be mixing it with my own milk since I have a hospital grade pump.

One of my friends is a new mom and she's starting to supplement with formula because she can't pump enough at work. What I want to know is whether I can give these to her, even though they have my name on them and they supposedly need to be endorsed by me?? Can I sign them and give them to someone else? Or do stores have to have the person whose name on them use them? Does anyone have experience with this?

And if my friend can't use them I'd gladly share with someone here!!

 

[pweyl36]

I would give my old checks to friends and they never had any problems.

 

[puffkin]

A lot of people give me their checks and I have never had a problem using them.

 

[snowy76]

Thanks for the quick responses!!

 

[rt2dz]

They are not actually written out to you; they simply have your name on them to help the formula companies track usage. The check is made out to the store. You use as a coupon, and the store deposits them (and gets paid from them) like a check.

You can pass them off to anyone. I've given them to family & friends & vice versa. I've even handed them to complete strangers at the store who are in the process of buying. I breastfeed also, but keep a brand on hand in case anything were to happen that would require a switch to formula. I'm very precautionary.

When I'm done nursing and formula is no longer an issue, I donate all my unopened formula to our county's foodbank. They are always in need of more formula for those in need.

Whatever happens, I never let those checks go to "waste". Someone should always get some type of use out of them.

 

[rgmartin]

I also breastfed, but then switched to formula at 5 months. With first DS, he was on Similac, a friends baby was on Enfamil, so we would swap coupons/checks. With next DS, I took any checks I couldn't use to a local children's shelter. They could either use them or hand them to needy parents.

 

[monorailsilver]

My dh takes all my checks that I get to work & hands them over to who ever needs them.

Lots of them are so curious as to why I am getting them yet I am BFing. And here they are using formula & get so few.

 

[las3888]

Nestle's had some really good checks (higher dollar amounts than the others it seemed), but we didn't use Nestle's. I sold them on ebay. Some of them were even expired (I put that in the description). Got a good price for them nonetheless and all it cost was a stamp to mail them.

 

[Luvdancink]

My brother in law just had a baby last weekend, and they are trying to figure out how to make ends meet. His wife is attempting but so far unsucessful to breast feed. If you get any of those coupons and would like to pass them their way let me know. They wont turn them down.

~Kristy

 

[snowy76]

I love some of the ideas I'm reading here.

I will keep a few, just in case I need to start using formula. However, many of the coupons I have expire at the end of September so I want to make sure they're put to good use. And thanks to my pump, right now I have about 50 2-oz bottles of pumped milk in my freezer... so even in a pinch I've got a few days' worth of milk for my boy! I like nursing for the health benefits but I also love how easy it is on the budget!

Editing to add: I will let you know if my friend turns down the offer -- if she does I'll definitely help folks out here!

 

[ilovejack02]

I took all cans of formula to the local shelter and usually i took the coupons and bought formula with it and donated it to shelter. You can right it all off on your taxes as a donation.

 

[AngieWin]

I kept the formula samples of one brand(just in case) and gave the other brand samples and checks to a friend of mine. Some of them I freecycled, some I ebayed.

I did have to use a few of the sample cans to supplement for ds1, and ds2 has made it 12 months with no supplementing at all! Woohoo! When he was 10 months, I gave away the rest of the samples to friends of mine.

 

[ICF]

Give them to someone, or sell them on Ebay.

 

[dreamalittledream]

I BF my girls but would take the checks and before they expired, get the biggest formula can I could and give it to Church food bank, daycare or a friend. I know I ended up with a few cans a month and it really was great to be able to pass it on to someone who could use it. I actully needed it for my second DD for a few months but I only used one kind and passed on the others.

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

I BF my daughter also, and I give the Similac checks to a friend who feeds her son Similac. She's never had a problem using them. I usually Ebay the Enfamil and GoodStart ones. They sell for about 60% of face value. It seems like the same people always buy mine.

Also, I donated the free cans of formula. If you get any more cans in the mail, you can give them to the foodbank because they can definitely use them.

 

[becca011906]

I sell all mine on ebay, i've never let any of my kids have formula at all, never will if i have more kids, so i figure if these companies want to keep sending them to me, i'm going to keep making myself some extra spending $$ From disney on ebay! LOL

 

[RN01]

I sold my formula and checks on ebay. You can sell them seperate or together. Good luck and congrats for breastfeeding your baby!!!