How much did your last period cost?

[MrsCipo]

Out of interest, what did your last period cost you in monetary terms? Including san pro, pain killers, time off work, ruined clothes and anything else you had to pay for? I had a conversation about period poverty the other day, but those involved have reusable san pro, not particularly heavy periods, etc, so didn't really 'get it'. I thought a cross section sample from a lot more women would be a bit more representative. Also wondering what other costs, in addition to those above, have been missed out

Yes, chocolate! Didn't even count that!

No time off work, don’t know anyone who does miss work because of a period. No ruined clothes and less than a pound on tampons.

Menstrual cup and reusable towels. I've had both since 2013 and still going strong. Total cost was about £40. So about 50p.

About £3. Pads, tampons, and painkillers.

£0.00 I use reuseable sanitary pads.
They originally cost £15 or so for 5. Bamboo and charcoal.
I dont use pain killers often but very occasionally a couple of ibuprofen. I think they about 30p at morrisons

Less than £1. I have heavy-ish (to start with) five day periods.

Sainsbury’s Super Applicator Tampons - 95p for 20 (use about 12 per period).

Wilko sanitary towels - 25p for 10 (use half a pack).

50p pack of ibuprofen, lasting for a year (I rarely suffer from period pain).

Stained knickers and pyjama bottoms are soaked in cold water. And hydrogen peroxide if needed.

I can't remember but I haven't been rolling round in extra dosh since menopause so I'm guessing not much!

Mooncup, reusable pads and underwear with a special leakproof bit were all a big outlay initially, in the region of £100.

Washing, bedding and towels on 90, pads on 60, plus a pack of salt for stain removal.

Painkillers - I get migraines, but my own brand ibuprofen/lysine for about 1.50 per pack.

I've never thought about how much is involved and how it still adds up.

I forgot to include the cost of extra loo roll in my figure, which probably adds another 25p each month. So my total cost is probably about £1.

£5 on Tena Lady Extra Plus However the rest of the time i have to wear Tena Lady Extra due to other issues.

No ibuprofen lysine required this time luckily.

Can anyone recommend a good brand of reusable pads and/or period pants for a newbie?

Very little. Mooncup user, plus about 3 night time pads in case of leaks. Under 50p

66p for one pack of pads from tesco, just own brand ones.
Already had night time ones, and a few panty liners for days 4 and 5.
No extra costs involved. Probably £1 tops?

Been using a moon cup for nearly 15 years, on my 3rd. So a few pence for that. Maybe £2 on painkillers at most. When I used tampons I would use just under 1 box of the mixed sizes per period, so a few quid max. Growing up my mum and I didnt have a great deal of money but never so poor that we couldn't afford sanpro. That must be awful.

However I have been suffering increasingly with breast pain in the 2 weeks prior to my period. So have been buying ibuprofen gel and non wired bras to help with that. That's been a bit pricey, although only quite recent - and definitely an age thing (post 40).

About £1.50.

Possible stupid question.
I've had my mooncup for ten years, it's still perfectly fine so would there be any reason I'd need to replace it?

2 packs of Lil-lets ultra tampons £4.38
1 pack of Lil-lets super plus extra tampon £1.90
1pack Lil-lets super tampons £1.90
2 packs of bodyform ultra goodnight extra large pads £2
2 packs bodyform ultra goodnight pads £2
So £12.18 in total.

I take lots of painkillers for other reasons anyway, and have stain remover and whitener in for sheets too. Didn't have to replace any underwear or sheets this month, have in the past though. Was particularly heavy this month, perimenopause fun.

£2 for sanitary towels
80p painkillers

I bought 2 menstrual cups for £1.50 in 2016 and have used them since.

Painkillers that are kept in the house anyway so maybe works out at £1 a year so so.

For people asking about reusables, I like these. The starter pack is helpful
www.honouryourflow.co.uk/

2 pairs of period pants I bought several years ago. Less than 5 pant liners.
Probably 50p?
Light periods, 2-3 days.

I bought a pack of pads for about £1.50, I have pretty light periods so wouldn’t use more than that. I also buy a pack of liners every few months (£1 maybe?) as I often get spotting a day or two either side. Didn’t buy painkillers as I take prescription ones (free here in Scotland) every day anyway. If not I’d just buy generic paracetamol / ibuprofen.

Last period was probably about 16 months ago, but even so, nothing as far as I remember.

I use (preloved) CSP, they're washed with nappies that I'm washing anyway, I don't tend to need painkillers, and I've never destroyed clothing. My CSP was a cost, but I forget how much exactly. I also used CSP postpartum, so the only disposable products I used were the pads the hospital gave me immediately following my section/still catheterised.

So, a bit of washing powder and a bit of extra water and a few pence on paracetamol if needed.

Before the CSP, probably about £1.50 a cycle - best part of two packs of pads, usually between 80p and £1 from bargain type shops or the supermarket. When I do take painkillers, it's the cheap paracetamol at a couple of pence a tablet.

£1.50. Pack of tampons. I realise I am lucky.

Normally, I buy sanitary towels from Aldi at 49p per pack. I use less than 2 packs so 98p per month otherwise £2, if I buy another supermarket own brand.