[USER]

Tmi for the girlies but I feel like period products are so expensive these days I have a condition where I bleed a lot and I just had to pay $17 for a box of tampons that will last me maybe one cycle.

Not to mention all the harmful chemicals that have been found in them.

What is everyone else using? And which brands have you found work the best and are comfortable.

[Chelsea]

Buy a menstrual cup. Preferably from Amazon because it’s the same thing but WAY cheaper.

Has saved me a ton of money

[Linda]

Have you tried taking ibuprofen the first two days of your period? It helps to decrease the heaviness of your period.

This was told to me by my OB GYN because my periods were causing me anemia.

Also, I switched to using flex discs because it can contain more than a tampon.

One disc is the equivalent of 5-6 tampons.

This can also be covered by FSA.

[Megan]

I know this is going to gross some of you out but I was a super heavy bleeder.

At work I’d have a super plus tampon I’d have to change about every hour if not sooner and an overnight pad for when I couldn’t make it in time (9/10 would also be saturated) and clots as big as tea cup plates.

Id do what I had to to get through school or work, but when I got home I’d stay in bed because it took all my energy, for about 2 weeks.

I bought me some of those washable hospital chuks and laid a few on the bed while I slept (I also had special sheets and blankets for this time of month) but I would let myself free bleed.

Use nothing.

The thought behind it was to get those really big clots out as they came and hopefully there wouldn’t be so much while at work or school.

And I’d get up every morning and throw everything in the wash with bleach to sanitize and stuff and put on fresh bedding for when I got home.

It’s gross, I felt gross, I worried all the time.

But I saved money by not having to buy so many products.

That being said, I’ve heard good things about the menstrual cups but I’m not sure how it would handle if you have the abnormal clotting like I did.

[Christina]

Period panties and change partway through the day if I need to.

Cups can be uncomfortable for me on days where I am really cramping.

I like these a lot.

Never had any leaks.

[Callie]

I made my own reusable pads and I use those along with period underwear and a disc.

I have also used a cup, it I find I prefer the disc.

I have a tilted uterus so I can’t fully rely on the cup or disc, which is why I back up with period undies or a reusable pad.

Much more comfy, far more frugal and I find my periods are less intense.

[Sara]

I switched to a disk. It’s reusable, made from medical-grade silicone, you wash and sterilize it when you put it away between periods, then you pull it out and boil it when you start your period, use it for the week, rinsing between your changes.

Dump it somewhere like a tub or shower every 10-12hrs.

Super convenient, runs you $25-50 and never buy another one.

Since I have switched I have also experienced a dramatic reduction in cramps as well! Booyah!

There are several disks, so if you don’t like the first one you try, try a different shape or size.

The first one I tried was too big so I got a smaller one and things are all good.

[Megan]

I went to period panties and I LOVE them! I’ve also looked into reusable pads.

Where you just wash them.

I have severe PCOS and my cycle is very heavy and lengthy.

I decided to stop using the disposable as much as possible because the chemicals were throwing my hormones even more off.

When I swapped, my flow got a little lighter and more regular – which is wild with PCOS.

hope this helps.

[Rachel]

Check out Put A Cup In It if you’re interested in cups/discs. They have a quiz you can take and recommend a few.

There is a bit of a learning curve for some people and they end up buying multiple products sometimes before finding the right one, so sometimes its not always the most frugal in the beginning.

I tried diva cup first and it was too stiff and made me feel like I had to pee all the time so a few years later I tried saalt soft which was much more comfortable and then I switched to discs 4 years ago because I find them very comfortable and user friendly and I have the lumma disc.

It holds less than the cup for me though.

[Rachel]

I got Hanes brand period underwear from Walmart. Much cheaper than the “popular” brands advertised on social media and I find they work great.

No leaks, they don’t feel wet.

I got one 3 pack at first until I knew I liked them then bought a couple more.

On heavier days I use two pair a day (morning and evening).

I tried a cup for awhile but found it uncomfortable, especially on light flow days.

And I find the underwear way more comfortable than pads.

Plus they’re economical as they’re not disposable.

[Katie]

I JUST found out that our FSA/HSA account covers pads and tampons (I buy through Amazon). Maybe that can help someone else.

We’ve had this account for 3 years and they said it didn’t expire each year, they were wrong we’ve lost THOUSANDS of dollars each year so I’ve researched everything we can buy with it so we never lose another dollar.

[Gabe]

I’m a heavy flow (birthed 10, am 45 now) I have used a Diva cup for years, with a thin pad as backup.

More recent months I’ve switched to Flex discs and love them!

I hate tampons and bulky pads…

[Tina]

Period panties for the frugal win. My daughter had endometriosis and bled every day for three years.

The period underwear saved us thousands of dollars.

[Christine]

Also try drinking cactus leaves often. They are not bitter at all, a bit slippery but u can add some to a water bottle then top up with juice or water n drink all day.

They will help reduce the heavy bleeding to almost half of what u usually bleed.

U can find them in any asian or mexican stores in the fresh veggies section usually packed in packs of 4.

You use a sharp knife, wear gloves then chop off the thorns, wash in running water and then either chop n blend or just use like 2 leaves, blend it with water or an orange/ pineapple etc.

Pour into a jar or freeze into icecubes.

Drink often , better to start it after your periods so that u notice a difference in the next cycle.

It reduces PMS, cramps, heavy bleeding and so much more.

Not bitter at all. U can start off with half a glass topped up with warm water in the morning then switch to adding it to your water bottle with water or top it up with juice if u dnt like it plain.

If in doubt, google for yourself and read about it.

It really helps and u will see a difference within 4-6 weeks.

Drink if often for about 2 weeks or so before your periods.

Better not to drink it at night since it can make u urinate more in the night.

[Katie]

I started using the Diva Cup 10+ years ago and haven’t bought tampons since.

Best $40 I ever spent.

[Michaela]

I do not use them myself but you could try or look into a menstrual cup or the period panties! i’ve heard a lot of positive things from others.

could use the cup when at home or something and then save the tampons for when out and about.

could help a little without fully committing to reusable products

[Kelly]

I mostly used cloth pads that were washable and reusable, but also sometimes used a menstrual cup.

[Holly]

Grand daughter got told about the period products at Aldi – so much cheaper and now the only ones she likes (all the girls in her high school really like them)

No extra chemicals, no chaffing rubbing etc Because she is in an area with a lot of Families their Aldi sells out fast –

I am in a retirement area and usually go buy her a dozen packages at a time I was shocked at how much cheaper even than Walmart etc –

I dont remember the prices since I only buy them for her once a year but something you should check out

[Author]

Posts