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)
finalyearsofhate 22
I agree with the cup idea. They're really cheap on amazon and reusable. Also really help with cramps and shorten my period.
Rabite 28
In my company we have tampons and pads in every bathroom stall for free. I think it's a great idea and every company and also restaurants etc. should offer it. So apart from OPs current problem people who read this could maybe suggest it to their employers, too.
OceanLady 1
You can get cloth pads on etsy, some of them for only like $2-3 each. Doesn't really help you right now, but if you buy some with yout next pay you won't run into this issue again. Even if you choose to use disposable most of the time, they're good to have just in case. If you can sew, you can also make your own fairly inexpensively. Look at second hand stores or local classifieds for cloth diapers people don't need anymore, and cut/sew them into pads. And I second the menstrual cup suggestion, if you're comfortable with it and can afford it. It saves in the long run and is so much more comfortable, but if you're that broke you might not have the $50-60 to pay to get one, especially since you might need to try a few before finding one you like. I did not like the diva cup, which is the most widely available, but I love my sckoon cup.
OceanLady 1
You can get cloth pads on etsy, some of them for only like $2-3 each. Doesn't really help you right now, but if you buy some with yout next pay you won't run into this issue again. Even if you choose to use disposable most of the time, they're good to have just in case. If you can sew, you can also make your own fairly inexpensively. Look at second hand stores or local classifieds for cloth diapers people don't need anymore, and cut/sew them into pads. And I second the menstrual cup suggestion, if you're comfortable with it and can afford it. It saves in the long run and is so much more comfortable, but if you're that broke you might not have the $50-60 to pay to get one, especially since you might need to try a few before finding one you like. I did not like the diva cup, which is the most widely available, but I love my sckoon cup.
manuwish 9
I need a menstrual cup too..wiping off the pad won't hold out for long op :(( sorry to hear you're going through such a smudgy bloody phase..trust in life, it's bound to get better
faifai_fml 21
Ugh, I'm sorry, that's horrible. That's just horrible.
vegantreegirl 26
Speak your mind, but please try and be respectful.
vegantreegirl 26
I know you're in a tough spot,but you could get sick from that. Not sure where you live but 99 cent store, dollar stores sell pads. You can find free patterns to make cloth pads online and as someone else mentioned invest in a cup. Even wadded toilet paper is better than reusing a dirty pad. Good luck.
kellyem2 20
I'll echo what a lot of other people here are saying. Reusing the same pad through your whole period could make you very sick. See if you have access to a local women's clinic like Planned Parenthood. They'll often give out supplies for free if you need help financially. You can also use rolled up toilet paper or paper towels, or if you want to go really old school, cut up an old t-shirt and use pins to attach it to your underwear. It'll be a bit messy, but definitely better than an infection.
BeccaSedai 7
If you have a (clean) old rag or t-shirt you're okay cutting up, you could wrap a scrap of that around an old sock, then safety pin it in place in your underpants as a makeshift pad. It's not an ideal solution, but it's more absorbent than toilet paper and can be re-used if you're willing to wash it out. Or just find a store bathroom where they stock really decent toilet paper and steal a roll for sanitary purposes.