Cold and flue season can not only lay you out, but it can also make your monthly budget “sick.” There are doctor visits, expensive prescription medication, over the counter medication, tissues, special food, extra heat and other unexpected expenses that can crop up. Don’t forget about the expense of missing work or special “sick” child care facilities if needed.
So, how can we make cold and flu season have less of an impact on us and on our wallets? Read on.
Prevention First
Obviously, if we can prevent getting sick in the first place, we’ll not only have a better season, but we will also save money. Make sure that everyone has all of their shots up to date. This not only includes the flu shot, but also whopping cough and in some cases the Pneumonia vaccine. Adults should make sure their shots are up to date, too. Boosters are usually needed for several diseases and illnesses, including the whooping cough I mentioned, plus measles, mumps and more.
Of course, there is no vaccine for the common cold, so good hygiene must suffice, as well as keeping your immune system up by eating well. Wash hands often, use your own pen, teach kids to keep their hands away from their faces, apply hand sanitizer frequently, etc.
Stock Up Cheaply
Start to stock up on items that you might need during the cold and flu season, while you can get them on sale and with coupons. This way, if you do need these items, you won’t have to pay full price. That is one way to save. No coupons? Compare active ingredients in over the counter medications, and see if a generic version might work just as well.
Beside medication, stock up on food and other comfort items such as soup, crackers, frozen orange juice, crackers, ginger-ale and whatever else your family might like. You can also make a big pot of your own chicken soup and freeze it ahead of time, to save even more money.
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