Formula cheapskate

Eli's fussy milk drinking has always been frustrating. I've always wanted to provide enough through bottle feeding since nursing is obviously not enough for him. I'd prepare these 4 or 6 oz. bottles only to have him not finish them half the time. I can never tell when he will or won't take a whole bottle. And I kick myself when I prepare less for him and he sucks it all down (at least now he'll take more if I add to his bottle whereas previously, he wouldn't)

It was just slightly irritating before but now that he's more dependent on formula, we use so much more of it. And at $22-25/lb. can of expensive hypoallergenic stuff, I can almost hear the "cha-ching" everytime he leaves a significant amount in his bottle. I'm not usually a frugal cheapskate penny pinching type of person (I do NOT use 4 cans of water to make OJ that calls for 3 cans). But this day in day out waste of formula just feels like it's costing us. I've never sat down to calculate how much, but it seems like a lot.

So of course the formula instructions will say to never reheat and serve formula once served already. But at the back of my mind is the idea that the formula companies are trying to con us. Eli is 9 months -- it shouldn't hurt too much to serve again, no? I wouldn't do it for a newborn but I find myself using remaining 2 oz. amounts for the subsequent solids feeding (to make cereal out of). Or even a leftover 4 oz. for the next feeding. I'm more heebie jeebie about the rule that you can leave the milk out at room temperature for an hour. I figured refrigerating right away and reheating well should keep the milk fresh enough, especially since they won't say WHY we can't reheat and serve. This isn't scientific; it's my "xiang ban fa" mommy instinct.

I know some nutrients might be killed in the reheating but as long as Eli isn't getting sick, I'm hoping it's okay. Never did this with Tobey with the frozen breastmilk. But alas, the "new" things we do with a 2nd child. Our budget can't wait for whole milk. Even the organic stuff is a lot cheaper than this formula!