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How to Save money on Formula + Rafflecopter Giveaway!

Babies = Expensive!

I’ve said it before… Babies are darn cute, but they’re also darn expensive. I was on a very tight budget while I was pregnant, and was really careful about what baby items I bought. There is SO much stuff, it’s all SO cute, and it’s all marketed as MUST HAVE items, it can be hard to know what you really need and what you can skip! I asked around to friends- What 3 items did you totally rely on, and what do you wish you’d skipped? That helped me prepare a nursery without overspending. {FYI- Boppy Pillow, extra baby sheets, a baby swing, baby medicine/first aid kit were the top must-haves, bottle warmer was the one I heard from EVERYONE that I could skip.}

Baby Arrives, Along with MORE Expenses!

Then, when baby gets here, there are even more unplanned expenses. A big one for me was formula. I had planned to breastfeed for at least 6 months, and was really committed to reaching that goal.

Unfortunately, things {as so often happens with a new baby in your life} did not go as planned. My little one arrived 3 weeks early, and had a lot of trauma during delivery. She spent a few days in NICU, then more time in the Pediatrics wing…And in all of the stress and confusion, no one ever brought me a pump or allowed me to feed her {I couldn’t even pick her up until the second night}, so we had a rough start. More complications followed, and after a month and a half of tears and frustration from both me and baby, we finally switched to formula.

The Switch to Formula

While I was really disappointed in switching to formula, baby was much happier with the change. But I could not believe how expensive formula was, or how fast we went through it! My oh my. We started out on Similac, and that worked great for her… Until she got sick for a week, and we found out about the Similac recall. They insisted that it probably wasn’t related, but many other moms were reporting the same symptoms! So we looked for an alternative.

Check out Parents Choice–

A wonderful choice for us, and your baby too, is Parents Choice formula. We switched to this line, and I was worried about how she would react to a new formula, but there was no change at all, and she loved it. But the big change for ME was that it was SO much more affordable. They have a really cool tool to help you discover how much you can save… Our savings switching from Similac Advance to Parents Choice is $634.91 per year. Wow, right? Try it yourself, Parents Choice $avings Calculator.

Great Quality at a Great Price

There are tons of other items for your baby in the Parents Choice line… My little girl is a HUGE fan of the banana puffs :) And, Parents Choice is generously offering a $10,000 Scholarship to one lucky winner in their new sweepstakes!

Win Your OWN set of Parents Choice Products!

Parents Choice Formula

One lucky winner will win this whole set of products:

  • 12.9 oz can of Parent´s Choice Premium to try.
  • 12.4 oz can of Parent´s Choice Advantage to try.
  • Two $3.00 off coupons for Parent´s Choice Infant Formula (redeemable at all Walmart stores).
  • Parent´s Choice Starter Set – a complete nurser system that includes a variety of bottles, nipples, liners, leak proof caps and retainer rings.

Rafflecopter Giveaway

{Disclosure:  The Parent´s Choice Infant Formula product sample, information, and giveaway have been provided by Parent´s Choice through MyBlogSpark.}

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FREE Help & Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis + Earn up to $650

Get FREE Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment:

I myself have had early symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, and have watched all of the women on my mothers side suffer from this. It is a surprisingly nasty disease, and seriously impairs your quality of life. I keep hoping that mine will take a very long time before really getting worse… You would be surprised at all of the other problems that this disease can cause! I wanted to share this study, in case some of you are skipping treatment due to lack of insurance. I don’t have insurance right now either, and I understand how tough it can be!

Details:

We’re currently helping a pharmaceutical company find people with rheumatoid arthritis who may be willing to participate in a research study in your area.

Additional Targeting Info: This disease is 2-3 times more common in women and occurs with increased frequency between the ages 30-60. Open to males and females 18+ (Only Certain Zipcodes Qualify).

Most people don’t understand what it’s like to have rheumatoid arthritis — or how limited medication can be at slowing its progression.  I work with Acurian, a company that recruits people for clinical research studies. We’re currently helping a pharmaceutical company find people with rheumatoid arthritis who may be willing to participate in a research study in your area.

Local research doctors are evaluating the effectiveness and safety of an investigational drug in pill form that can be taken along with methotrexate, a common medication for rheumatoid arthritis. If you or a loved one has rheumatoid arthritis and take methotrexate as one of your medications, we’d like to share information with you about this study. See if you may qualify. Click here: Rheumatoid Arthritis Paid Study Opportunity.

Qualified participants may receive the following at no cost:

  • Study-related medication in pill form.
  • Study-related care from a local study doctor.
  • Study-related health assessments.
  • Compensation of up to $650 may be available for your time and travel. Specific compensation amounts will vary by research site.

After completing this study, you may also be able to take part in a long-term continuation study offering study medication and ongoing monitoring. This research study is enrolling now. Take the next step and see if you may qualify. Click here today: Rheumatiod Arthritis Paid Study.

I hope that this reaches someone that can really benefit from it, so if you know of anyone who suffers from RA, please feel free to forward this to them!

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Have Allergies? Get Paid to Join New Study, Plus FREE Med’s.

If you suffer from Allergies, check this out:

Research study needs volunteers with seasonal allergies.  I work with Acurian, a company that connects people with clinical research doctors. We’re currently helping a pharmaceutical company find people 5 to 65 years of age who suffer from seasonal allergies that are willing to participate in a clinical research study in many areas. This can be a really effective way to get affordable treatment, especially if you don’t currently have insurance.

Seasonal allergies may result in additional health problems, including asthma. Research doctors are enrolling today and health insurance is NOT required. All information is kept strictly confidential.

If you or your child is burdened with seasonal allergies, contact us right away to learn more about the benefits and risks of the study. Click here: Allergy Study to learn more.

Qualified participants may receive at no-cost:

  • Study-related doctor visits and examinations up to 15 months.
  • Investigational oral medication.
  • Allergy medications during the 2012 pollen season.
  • Compensation for time and travel. {This means that they will PAY you to participate in this trial!}

I’ve never been a part of a research trial, but I have some family members who have, and they thought it was WELL worth the time they spent, and have all said that they were very safe and would do them again. If you participate, {I wasn’t in the right area} let me know how it goes….

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Extreme Couponing Help for Busy Moms

My Coupons...

Love the idea of saving with coupons, but feel like you just don’t have the time?

SavingsAngel helps busy moms dramatically cut their grocery bills. The best of all the blogs and websites with game-changing technology in one easy-to-use system. Personalized shopping lists from hundreds of weekly sale-coupon matchup deals. Search for specific products or coupons.

PLUS personalized help for beginners and great tips for experts. Click Here to join me at SavingsAngel, and start cutting YOUR grocery bill in half.

SavingsAngel

So far, I’ve LOVED SavingsAngel. Seriously.

Some of the best parts of the membership:

  • You get assigned a Mentor that helps to coach you and answer your questions. Take the time to connect with them, it’s so worth it!
  • There is a really extensive and inclusive forum, where you can chat with other members to share tips, learn new tricks, and get help.
  • SavingsAngel does the work for you… They match up all of the coupons and deals for you each week. They have links to guide you right to where you can print out coupons to match your local sales, to get items each week for free or almost free.

If you’re a busy mom on a strict budget {which is EXACTLY who I write this blog for!} then you will really be able to benefit from the services that you get a SavingsAngel. They do the majority of the work for you!

Check them out and get started here: SavingsAngel Sign Up. If you use my link today, you’ll get a BONUS of FOUR weeks of the service for FREE! How does this work? Well, when you sign up for a 4 week subscription, {and trust me, no lie, pinky promise you!!} that the low subscription price is MORE than worth it. If you sign up for that subscription here with my link, then you’ll also get a bonus of an additional 4 weeks for FREE! Imagine how much money you will have saved by then….

If you’re already using them, I’d love to hear what you think! I’ve only been a member a little over a month now… How have they helped YOU save?? Share in the comments!

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FREE Norton 360 Antivirus Download- Keep your family safe online

Norton 360 Antivirus

Are YOU protected?

I had always used free antivirus downloads on my computer, since I thought that they were enough to protect me. I don’t download songs or movies, and felt like I wasn’t doing anything very risky, so I had nothing to really worry about.

I was wrong!

I didn’t know that you can get a virus just by visiting a website that has been compromised, or a million other things I would have thought were totally “safe”. I had a few big problems, but luckily, nothing that was too complicated to fix.

Free Product Trial

As a Vocalpoint.com member, I got the opportunity last year to try the Norton Antivirus program for free… And it was pretty amazing. Super easy to set up, and it’s always super easy to use. It lets me know, {via a little warning box in the bottom corner} if I’m doing something that could put my computer at risk.

FREE Download!

Take advantage of this free Norton 360 Antivirus Download today… I’m not sure if this will be really quick freebie offer or if it’ll be around for awhile. But it is awesome, and I don’t want you guys to miss it! This is better than the version I have now, so I plan to upgrade mine with this freebie too!

Are you using Norton?

If so, share your stories of how it’s helped you too!

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11 Free Things that New Moms Need Today

Babies are super cute… But they can be super expensive too!

I was already a freebie junkie before I got pregnant, but I really jumped into it more when I knew I had a baby on the way. There are SO many great free samples and coupons to be found for things like diapers, formula, wipes, food, toys… Really, everything you need to get ready for a little one. This is one of the best ways to try things out before investing in full-size products, so you learn what you and your baby like best. And you can rack up some major savings by stocking up on this stuff while you’re expecting – and it’s also an awesome way to build a frugal baby shower gift too, by filling a diaper bag with great samples, coupons, and trial sizes of baby stuff for the new mom to try out. Love it.

Samples, Coupons, Giveaways:

These are all resources that I have used myself to get great coupons, freebies, samples, and savings. The more mailing lists you get on – the more free stuff you’ll start to see show up in your mail too – Love it!

  1. Formula: Free sample of Simply Right baby formula- Sample Here. And then sign up to have a free sample of Members Mark baby formula  shipped to you too. If you plan to use formula, trying a few samples first is a great way to figure out how your baby will tolerate them. They’re all very similar, but there were a couple that Abby just couldn’t handle well at all. They’re so expensive, you definitely don’t want to purchase a brand that you’ll end up throwing away!
  2. Baby Magazines: These are SO awesome – they have fun articles and helpful tips, but they also have loads of high-value coupons! Some of my favorites are KIWI, Parents, & Family Fun – but here are two totally free options – American Baby Magazine and Baby Talk. Or, get one for you – Free subscription to Ladies Home Journal.
  3. Walmart: Find new updated samples a couple of times a week, with lots of great baby options like diapers or lotions.
  4. Travel Mug with Photo: Ok, this one is almost free. Get a super cute travel mug customized with a picture of your new baby. Perfect when you’re away from them during the day, or as an awesome gift for grandparents.
  5. Free Baby Book: Create a free online baby book to privately share photos, movies, and more with friends and family.
  6. Free Photo Canvas: I’m sure you’ve seen this Canvas People free offer before… But if you haven’t used it yet, check it out today. I promise you, you will LOVE the print when you get it. The quality is amazing, and it is such a beautiful way to remember your favorite baby moment…
  7. New Printable Diaper Coupons: Check out Planning Family for tons of fun freebies, advice, and a great community to chat with other new moms. But my favorite part is the printable diaper coupons section!
  8. Amazon Mom: Sign up for Amazon Mom to get FREE 2 day shipping on almost everything, plus big discounts on diapers and wipes! And, to earn FREE Amazon gift cards get a FREE account at Swagbucks!
  9. MySurvey: I’ve had really good luck with product tests from MySurvey, and have gotten diapers to try out two times now. They seem to have a lot of great opportunities for moms to sample new products for name brands.
  10. Free baby tshirt: There are so many great baby tees with funny sayings on them – think up one of your own, and put it on a tshirt you customize yourself, for only $2 bucks. Or make a super cute big brother or sister tshirt, to wear when you bring baby home for the first time. Love it.
  11. Zulily: Sign up for a FREE account at Zulily to get access to deals of up to 80% off designer baby, kids, and mom items.

If you have a little one on the way, already have a kiddo or two, or are an auntie or grandma, then these goodies will help you a ton. If you know other momma’s looking to save some money, feel free to use the social buttons to share this to your Facebook or Twitter – everyone loves a freebie.

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Your music, heard round the house, wirelessly.

Remember when top quality speakers were the size of a wing chair and about as portable? Not to mention they required an explosion of wires to connect with your stereo? Well, since most of us play or stream our music digitally nowadays, those systems seem downright Flintstone-ian.

Sonos

The perfect solution?

The Sonos S5 (a.k.a. the Play:5), part of Sonos’ wireless music system. This all-in-one player (speakers and receiver in one cute box) pumps out unbelievably high quality sound and can be controlled by your iPhone, Android or computer. To take your tunes wherever you want, just add The Bridge, which plugs directly into your router so your S5 is free to roam anywhere in range (including out in the backyard). And, if you buy additional units, you can listen to your music in one place while your kids listen to theirs in another— a key feature as far as we’re concerned considering what passes for music nowadays.

Check out this week’s twirl and join the party! Plus we have a suggestion on how to repurpose all those CD’s you have stacked somewhere.

The best of everything..

I’ll tell you what I think… I think I’m going to have to put this on my “save for” list!! The Sonos Play:5 is a little spendy, and I’m not usually one to fork out that type of money for technology stuff. But I LOVE music. I have some type of music playing all day… I use Pandora at the computer, the radio in the kitchen, and a Party Cube out on the patio by the pool.

I LOVE Pandora, because I love the not having commercials, and that it’s my favorite music picks. I love the radio, only because it plays on a really great sound system. And the Party Cube is awesome: it charges when it’s plugged in, so then you can unplug it to set it outside, and easily hook up an iPhone or iPod to listen to your music.

BUT… This Sonos gadget kind of combines all of my favorite elements from the others into ONE simply uh-MAY-zing little box! How cool that it can be controlled with your phone, and works wirelessly to pull music from all of the places where you’ve got it! Super cool, right? It’s a bit on the pricey side, but with the great speakers, portablility, and amazing access to your whole music collection, this bad boy is SO worth it!

What do YOU think?

Do any of you ladies have one of these super cool music masters?? Do you looove it? I’d love to hear from you!

Carley's Byline Pic

Digitwirl is the weekly web show that offers simple solutions to modern day problems. In 3 minutes, Digitwirl brings busy women the very best time, money, and sanity-saving technology, and then teaches them how to use it, step-by-step. Digitwirl was created by technology lifestyle expert Carley Knobloch, who uses lots of technology to manage her busy life as mom of two and entrepreneur. Become a subscriber to get weekly show alerts and exclusive deals at Digitwirl.com, or follow Digitwirl on Twitter at @digitwirl.

{Disclaimer: I am in no way associated with the Sonos S5. I’m a Digitwirl Syndicate Partner, and share my own personal opinions on their weekly twirl!}

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