Rape eakenics=j0-8e Save A Bundle On Your Bundle Of Joy (NAPSA)—Thenext time you or someoneyoucarefor is about to have little addition to the family, a few helpful hints may prevent a lot of subtraction from the family budget. After all, parents spend on average about $14,000 during their baby’s first year, making baby products a $9.8 billion industry in the U.S. annually. Helpful Hints Raising a baby doesn’t come cheap, but there are plenty of ways ] to save. These money-saving tips from Sandra Gordon, one of the nation’s leading baby products experts and author of the new book “Save a Bundle: 50+ Ways to Save Big on Baby Gear,” can help make the difference: Shop Midweek—Often, the best deals on baby gear are available during the week because retailers want to generate con- sumertraffic. Join the Club—Geton the email list of your favorite baby stores and keep your eyes peeled for notices about in-store sale events or online-only promotions. Also, sign up on manufacturers’ websites for coupons. Make a List—As with grocery shopping, write down what you really need and stick to your list. Impulse buys on stuff you really don’t need can wipe out your savings. eLearn to Share—Ask friends if their kids have outgrown anything and consider con- Small children can mean big expenses—but smart shopping canhelp. signment shops andyard sales. Shop Store Brands—While breast milk is best, for moms who choose to formula-feed or want to supplement breast milk with formula, store-brand infant formula can be a great option. Store-brand formulas, such as Walmart’s Par- ent’s Choice and Target’s Up & Up, are nutritionally equivalent to the name-brand formulas yet cost up to 50 percent less. This can help parents save up to $600 a year. Learn More For more information about store-brand formula, you can visit www.storebrandformula.com. For other money-saving tips, visit www.babyproductsmom.com.
