Today, I was reminded what poverty is like when I had to choose between buying food and buying pads. Now, I have to take constant bathroom breaks and wipe off my pad. I don't get paid until after my period ends. FML
Collection
Fall
Dead leaves, the first cold of the season and an umbrella flipped inside out: fall, the season of grace.
Today, while sitting on the toilet, I noticed there was no toilet paper left, so I dug through my purse to use my one and only pad as a substitute. It clogged the toilet, and I started my period ten minutes later. FML
Today, I've been debating all day on whether I'm going to have to sell some of my video games to afford pads. FML
Today, I realized that every time I hear running water, I have less than a minute to find a toilet or I'll pee my pants. FML
Today, I woke up to realize I got my period a week early. The day of the after-wedding brunch. In a sort of remote area. Without pads or tampons. I need to be at the breakfast in a half-hour. FML
Today, I had to decide between buying medicine and buying food. FML
Today, I invested in some menstrual underwear to save money on sanitary products and for environmental reasons. I got to wear them only once before they were accidentally washed too hot and completely ruined. FML
Today, I got my period early. While traveling. For a funeral. I had to walk through two entire airport terminals to find a shop that had any period products, and the only option was an $18 box of tampons. Six tampons, to be precise. FML
Today, I ran to a public bathroom because of explosive diarrhea. In the middle of it, I noticed there was no more toilet paper nor paper towels remaining. The smallest bill in my wallet was a 5. I had to pay 10 dollars to wipe my own butt. FML
Today, I got a diaper rash from a pad. FML
Today, I came home to my boyfriend wearing one of my pads on his hand, because he didn't want to pay to go to the hospital for stitches. FML
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Top comments
Welshite 40
Invest in a menstrual cup. The cups are reusable and pay for themselves over just a few months.
laurellkawes 31
You could always use toilet tissue as a pad or a cloth. Not the best option, but better than not eating
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Comments (227)
XboxSqueaker 15
this is one of the reasons that I will never be a capitalist.
TabooSushi 24
Been there. I suggest investing in a menstrual cup or reusable cloth pads. It seems gross, but it really isn't that bad once you get used to it. It can be a bit expensive to start, but they pay for themselves within a few months once you have them, and they last a long time as long as you care for them properly. That's what I did, and you would not believe how much money I've saved by not having to buy lady time supplies anymore.
lucygwen 5
If you go to libra and carefreeness ect website there's a part where you can get free samples of all sorts of pads and tampons mailed to you. Legit every pad company does it. Helpful for when you're short on cash!
shepardkinz 19
I use toilet paper when I don't have any. It works just fine. You just need to go more often, which is a bit annoying, but TP works just fine.
ourtneyc 14
Can people stop saying poverty makes you stronger and a better person in the end? It does not. It traumatizes you. Going through poverty with my mother many years ago I still can't stand by the cash register with my dad because I don't want to hear how much he's spending bc I'm so scared I'm gonna make him go broke, even if that's unrealistic, that's what poverty does to you. it makes you absolutely scared to spend money.
NoOneElse999 8
I know exactly how you feel, love. That shit sucks, and I'm still going through it. My mom and stepdad still constantly fight over money and credit cards and they're raising a two year old. Mom keeps using the cards and spending money, my stepdad doesn't get paid enough, and I don't have a job.
Loremaster 23
I understand that pain. I grew up very poor. I have a severly hard time throwing away clothing, even when it is shredded and stained, because when I was a child we got new clothes only once a year for christmas. If that often.
Nazaress 13
Some people never get out of it, like myself. I'm 26, disabled, and I'm having to fight the government for years to give me SSI, even though I need to use a cane and I'm in constant pain. There's absolutely nothing positive about not knowing where your next meal will come from and being this close to living on the street.
olinphal 3
If this is for real. pm om on fb. /famontas.
moocowmilk0 19
I feel really bad for you ;-;
jennilm1816 9
I am not trying to be creepy, but if you want to, let me know who and where you actually are. I can help a sister out with some feminine hygiene products. No one should have to choose between food or pads. Also, try the health department, they can help.
Trapgirl747 11
Really this is why I believe that pads and tampons should be free. If it's something that women need then it should be provided, plus it's not like guys need them so really it's not fair that we have to buy them
stangbang92 17
Curious who then pays for the product to be made, packaged, shipped? I mean we all need food why can't that be free? Or oh college is a good subject we all need college why can it not be free? Because some one somewhere has to PAY for it. Or does tampons and pads just grow out on a tree somewhere ready to be picked? If so then sure send a charity group out to pick all the needed products and send them out to the woman of the world.
DoomedGemini 38
College is free in plenty of places, actually. Well, kinda. Taxes pay for it. Same with free healthcare..
Sharpshooterisle 18
It's strange how condoms are given out for free then isn't it? I wonder who's paying for those.
RabbitOfAurora 28
#124, the term free bleeding LITERALLY means to bleed freely. A group of woman actually protested the taxes on sanatary products doing this. Google it. Also, how many women do you think have a period at once. You wouldn't be able to sit anywhere public ever again. I know that you can't get HIV just by touching infected blood, it was just an example. My main point was that any bodily fluid that isn't your own is a biohazard. Besides, how many people do you think are silly enough to accidentally get someone elses blood (which is now everywhere) on a finger, wipe the finger somewhere and then eat something or rub their eyes without washing their hands? I'm guessing a lot.
brezzyanna 17
They never said anything about free bleeding.
embarass 14
I believe knowing that there's people going through the same thing as OP, we'd be okay paying for it.
CrusherKitty 17
Nah, they shouldn't be free. They're disposable, there are alternatives (the diva cup) that mean you don't have to pay for your pads/tampons. Also, toilet paper isn't free, you have to pay for that and it's pretty damn gross if you don't use that, so why should we have pads and tampons for free? Not like we're entitled to free pads and tampons either.
Shalnar 6
May you never have to endure this again.