Flu season came early this year thanks to the unwelcome arrival of H1N1. After over a week of battling the pesky virus on my home front, I realized just how much money it can drain from your wallet if you are not careful.
With proper preventions and preparations, the impact of the flu on your family can be lessened with a few simple steps.
The flu hits without warning. If you have little ones at home, chances are they are picking up all sorts of lovely germs at school, church and various places. So of course, the unwelcome virus is more likely to come barging through your door. You may as well get prepared for it now!
Here are a few steps I should have taken you can take to be prepared for cold and flu season:
- Have supplies on hand. There is nothing worse than running out of tissues when you need them most. I personally prefer Kleenex Anti-Viral tissues, since my children have a tendency to leave used tissues lying around the house {eeww!}
- Invest in a cool-mist humidifier. These really do help! The flu virus thrives in dry environments, so keep the air moist. This will also help to open stuffy nasal passages.
- Stock up on Tylenol, Motrin, etc. before you need them. Since there are always coupons for health products, keep your medicine cabinet well stocked to avoid a rushed trip to the store for some relief. No one wants you out coughing all over shopping carts anyway!
- Check to make sure you have a working digital thermometer now, and keep it in a safe place.
- Make sure to have several cans of chicken noodle soup in your pantry. A nice warm bowl is so soothing!
- Have 3-4 days worth of meals in the freezer. You will thank me later.
Of course, the best medicine is always an ounce of prevention. So how can you prevent the flu from striking in the first place?
- Wash your hands with soap frequently and thoroughly. Insist that your children do the same!
- Disinfect touch-prone areas of your home, including telephones, doorknobs, light switches, the microwave, and fridge handles.
- Wash your hands. A lot.
- Get enough rest. This does wonders for your immune system!
- Eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables.
- Sunshine! Your body needs Vitamin D to fight off disease, and your immune system can become weakened in the winter due to less sunlight. Take a supplement in addition to a multivitamin for an extra boost.
- Did I mention hand washing?
- Get plenty of regular exercise and fresh air.
Of course, you can do all of the above and still get the flu. This usually involves a trip to the doctor and a co-pay. With 9 years of motherhood under my belt, I have learned not to rush to the doctor over every little sniffle.
Even so, I found myself at the doctor’s four times in one week. That was a lot of co-pays!
An emergency fund is crucial to help cover those unexpected medical visits. Thankfully we were prepared to absorb this extra expense.
If you are feeling the onset of flu symptoms, you might consider a supplement called Sambucol. Also known as black elderberry extract, it has been shown to speed up the recovery time of the flu. I have a friend who swears by it!
Finally, I cannot write a post about the flu without mentioning the flu shot. This year, there are two recommended vaccines which will cost you around $25 each.
I believe the flu shot is a personal decision between you, your doctor and God. In an effort to keep my blog positive and controversy-free, I am not stating my personal stance on the matter. If you wish to comment on this topic, please be respectful and kind.
Do you have any tips to add for preventing or coping with cold and flu season without breaking the bank?
P.S. I am not a doctor, and my tips above are in no way meant to replace the advice of your physician. I am simply a mom who has “been there”! 😉
For more frugal ways, visit Life As Mom.
I am very thankful that we have not gotten anything. It would be really scary getting sick and having a 3 month old (on Monday) in our home and not being able to give her anything because she is so young. I am trying to avoid places like Wal-mart near their pharmacy because you know that is where all of the sick people are hanging out and waiting in line, coughing all over the place waiting for their medicine. I had gone through this a week or so ago, so that is why I am choosing to avoid this.
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It is really important to have a medical kit at home. Keep clean your home and teach your kids to wash their hands after and before going to eat. It is important also that you always have sanitizer in your bag so if you were out you still clean and free from any bacteria.
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My two kids got sick recently as well. When my 8yr old daughter gets sick, I know my 4yr old son will get sick too. Thank God their better, but I sprayed alot of Lysol. One tip I have for grown ups is a tea. Boil the skin of apple then add lemon & honey to it. It is amazing. It’s best to drink before going to bed because it makes you sleepy. An easier way if you find a tea with apple in it you just have to put a little lemon & honey. I hope everyone is feeling better & thx for all the great info.
Liz, thanks so much for the tea recipe! I have never heard of that technique. It sounds super yummy!
Thankfully, my children are feeling much better this week. I appreciate your comment!
I just learned a lesson about keeping the medicine cabinet well-stocked when my daughter got sick this week. Of course, we were just about out of her cold medicine, and I had to pay full price for it! Fortunately I had some extra ECBs from CVS, and I didn’t really have to pay for it. But I used WAY more ECBs than I wanted to! I’m now on the lookout for sale-priced medicines to fill the gaps in our medicine cabinet!
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..CVS Deals – Week of 10/11 =-.
This is a GREAT post – You never know when the flu will strike and it’s always good to be prepared! I would add that buying store brand medications can save you a lot of money (in case you don’t have any coupons…. gasp!)…. and a netti pot can be wonderful if your head is really stuffed up!
.-= Christina @ Northern Cheapskate´s last blog ..Everyday Coupon Book: $500 in Savings for $14.95 =-.
Who could forget the faithful Netti Pot? It has saved me many times, I totally agree!
I would always try to keep a good stock of things in the medicine cabinet for cold and flu season but it seems like I end up throwing it all away. I have everything I need “on hand” but when the symptoms present themselves I find my stock is out of date……. UGH! Since this always seems to be the case I am really trying to be more proactive. At the first signs of symptoms and in order to keep our sicknesses from becoming overgrown we up doses of Vit D, Emergen-C, and other immune supplements from http://www.beeyoutiful.com. Seems like these items don’t expire quicker than I can use them plus they are helping the body learn to fight off illnesses. Keeping yourself on a good daily supplement does wonders for your immune system too! I really like the Supermom vits by beeyoutiful. (No I don’t sell them or have stock in their company but just love their products!)
Specifically for the H1 N1 virus, our group of preventative mommas did some research and came to conclusion that a steady supply of Omega 3 fatty acids, Olive leaf extract, as well as a good amount of Vitmin D & C in the system was the best prevention. These things have kept out house from getting it even after my hubby brought it home from work! Happy cold and flu season! :o)
.-= Theresa´s last blog ..An additional puzzle piece =-.
Theresa-
I always hear great things about beeyoutiful.com! I really want to try the Supermom vitamins. Thanks for the reminder!
Its a good to have the disposable plastic thermometer covers if you have several kids that end up sick. Also, we have two thermometers, one is dedicated as a rectal thermometer, and the second is oral.
Also, though they aren’t the most frugal item out there, I have become a huge fan of keeping some of those disposable antiviral cleaning wipes (like Lysol or Clorox). I got several containers when they were on sale and I had coupons to put in our anti-sick stash. Since I have an almost 2 year old, and I am pregnant and due in the middle of flu season, we can’t be too careful.
.-= Rebecca´s last blog ..Ice is Possible =-.
Great post, Alyssa!
I second your tip about stocking up on medicines. And I would add Pedialyte to the list. I learned this the hard way when my baby was sick a few weeks ago. We went through 4 liters of generic-brand Pedialyte in less than a week, costing us over $20. Since I didn’t have any on hand, I just had to keep running to the store for it. From now on I will keep a Pedialyte stock in addition to the Tylenol and Motrin.
.-= Dana @ Frugal in VA´s last blog ..Super Savings Saturday =-.
If you do end up sick, make sure you drink plenty of water. Staying well hydrated will help thin out all that crud that makes you feel stuffed up and cough, and you will feel better faster.
Start taking zinc supplements at the first sign of illness. It really does help shorten the duration of illness and the severity of the symptoms. But you have to start taking it as soon as you feel ill, or it won’t be very helpful.
I also start taking Lysine supplements this time of year. Lysine has anti-viral properties. We use it very often in veterinary medicine for cats that are prone to viral illnesses. Works for people, too! Again, it’s better to start it before you need it. If you start it before you are sick, it won’t help so much, but starting it *before* you need it will help boost your immune system.
And of course, wash your hands, and stay home if you are sick! Your co-workers don’t want your germs, plus you’ll heal faster if you rest!
We have been fine here so far, but that is such great advice to be stocked up! And one thing that has helped us before when we’ve had the flu is called oscillococcinum and you can buy it at Walmart. It’s most effective if you start it immediately when you start flu symptoms. So glad everybody is doing better!
“Sunshine! Your body needs Vitamin D to fight off disease, and your immune system can become weakened in the winter due to less sunlight. Take a supplement in addition to a multivitamin for an extra boost. ”
I’d love to get some sunshine. If you could just bring the sun back here to N. TX…. sheesh.
Good post, Alyssa.
Tell me about it! I miss the sun… sigh. Thanks for commenting, Donna.
@ Christina (Northern Cheapskate) I love that you mention the Neti Pot. I have a cold right now and I got stuffy a few days and bought a Neti Pot and it is AMAZING.
Tips to add to the cold and flu fighting army:
* Gargle with warm salt water to ease sore throats
* Drink honey (soothes sore throat and is antibacterial)
* Use those bath bombs (mentholated to clear your head in the shower)
* Use Vicks vaporub
I am writing a similar post on this on my blog as well later in the week!!!!
.-= Lulu´s last blog ..Why I Am Keeping My Budget The Same After A Salary Increase =-.
I have a super easy recipe for making your own Purell type hand sanitizer here
http://frugalityinthemaking.blogspot.com/2009/04/making-your-own-purell-type-hand.html
We have been using it since last winter!
.-= kristen´s last blog ..Happy 13th Birthday To My SOn =-.
This is brilliant, Kristen, thanks so much!
I hear you! Some kind of nasty respiratory infection has been making its way through me and all six of my kids (one by one, of course, so it lasts longer). That is where a stockpile of cold/flu medicines and food is so nice!! Our pediatrician strongly suggests handwashing and even went so far as to recommend each child have their own tube of toothpaste (germs on toothbrushes touch the tube and pass on to the next person who uses it).
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I know you didn’t go into the flu shot thing, but also check your local county health department before you pay $25. At ours the shot is only $5, so we got the whole family shot for the cost of just one at the doctor or CVS.
Thanks for the tips.I am so glad that your little one is doing okay.
I can’t agree enough with your post, especially since I have nursed my husband and 2 sons through the flu and bronchitis this week. Forturnately, I had cut out a checklist of flu supplies to have on hand that ran in our newspaper about a month ago. My freezer was stocked with homemade chicken broth and my drugstore stash was stocked with lots of free/cheap fever reducers and the like. I went out once for Vitamin Water for my hubby since it is his favorite and I wanted to pamper him a little. The kids also drank it when nothing else sounded good to their upset tummies.
My husband went to the doctor and had to get a couple of RX’s which cost about $100 total. The pedicatrician’s office urged restraint and patience and we avoided two more co-pays and more RX meds. Thank God it’s Friday and everyone has returned to health!
I am also a big neti pot fan! They can’t be beat for sinus congestion and cleansing.
Besides soup and meals in the freezer, have some food in the pantry so that you do’t have to go anywhere and spread the sickness (or make yourself change out of pajamas!) Applesauce is a great thing to have on hand when you are sick.
Yogurt helps as well when you’ve been throwing up. The good bacteria help tremendously. So that you don’t have to go to the store to buy yogurt, you can keep liquid or powdered acidophilus on hand (from the health food store; you keep in the refrigerator). You can use this to add to applesauce instead of yogurt, or to baby food for a baby, or even give it to a child in a medicine spoon (my toddlers have no trouble just drinking the liquid form).
Thanks for the tips! I would like to add a few things. Someone else commented about Pedialyte…it can be expensive! Watered down gatorade can do close to the same thing, it has the electrolytes and carbs that can help from getting dehydrated, and it doesn’t cost as much. Also, I know this sounds crazy but right when you feel a soar throat coming on, gargle lysterine (or some other generic brand). It helps kill the germs and really does shorten and cut back on the severity of a soar throat. I’m also a believer of Airborne too.
I have to mention the difference between homemade chicken stock and storebought chicken broth for you: the store stuff will feel great going down and be a nice, easy, soothing meal, but there aren’t very many other redeeming factors. I try to stay “stocked” up on homemade stock – because of the difference in preparation methods, there are genuine health benefits to HM stock, including immunity boosters (to prevent or fight those bugs)! Find more info here: http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2009/03/26/food-for-thought-health-and-nutrition-of-traditional-homemade-chicken-brothstock/ with a link in that post to my post on “how to” make the stock. It’s so simple, and frugal! I saved $34 last time I made a pot, compared to the sale price of store broth.
Hope you all feel better/stay better!
Katie
.-= Katie @ Kitchen Stewardship´s last blog ..Monday Mission: Pare Down the Polys =-.
Katie,
Thank you for the tip, I actually had no idea there was any difference, health-wise. That is very good to know. I think we all need immunity boosters this season, so that is a great idea to keep HM stock on hand. I am off to check out your post!