Expense reduction
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Use a menstrual cup to sleep through the night without changing protection.
It allows you to go 12 hours without worrying about it.
2 people, independently
Use a double-edge safety razor, badger brush, bar shaving soap, and bowl for shaving.
The razor lasts at least five years before needing replacement.
one person who lived it
Select the 'surprise me' pattern option when buying cloth pads.
It saves a couple of bucks.
one person who lived it
Buy Stayfree pads and use coupons to reduce cost.
Coupons make them very cheap.
one person who lived it
Try menstrual discs instead of cups if you experience strong suction or bruising.
Discs rest on the pubic bone and do not use suction.
one person who lived it
Look for menstrual cups designed for lower suction if standard cups feel too tight.
Some users dislike the strong grip of certain brands like Diva Cup.
one person who lived it
Dump and reinsert menstrual cups directly without wiping them off in public restrooms; rinse later at home.
Trying to wipe it off between your legs is asking for trouble.
one person who lived it
- Carry paper towels or wipes when emptying a menstrual cup in public restrooms to manage messiness.2
Use a menstrual cup to control what you put in your body.
It feels amazing and empowering to use a product from a company you can trust.
one person who lived it
Insert the cup when you expect your period to start, rather than waiting for bleeding to begin.
This prevents the mess created by waiting until bleeding starts.
one person who lived it
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Combine period underwear with an overnight pad or menstrual cup for heavy flow days.
This combination helps avoid staining regular underwear with gushes and is considered the best combo by some users.
5 people, independently
Check college bathrooms for free menstrual products.
Some colleges provide them there.
one person who lived it
Use your library card to access free resources like tool rentals, streaming services (Kanopy/Hoopla), and language courses (Rosetta Stone) to avoid subscription fees.
Library cards are free and offer these services without cost.
one person who lived it
Apply hydrogen peroxide to lift blood stains, then launder and repeat if needed.
The fizzing reaction indicates it is working to remove the stain.
one person who lived it
Use a menstrual cup to swim or wear light-colored clothing without worrying about leakage or visible strings.
It eliminates worries about leaking through swimsuits or light pants and avoids hanging strings.
one person who lived it
Switch to cloth pads and pantiliners if you prefer changing products during the day.
One person found this allowed them to quit tampons entirely while enjoying cute prints.
one person who lived it
Track your symptoms to identify general cycle patterns, even if your cycle length varies.
Tracking helped one person figure out their general pattern despite cycles varying between 30-50 days.
one person who lived it
Choose black period underwear to hide stains and look like regular underwear.
They are discreet and indistinguishable from normal underwear.
one person who lived it
Clean your menstrual cup with mild dish soap or baby soap instead of expensive branded cleansers.
baby soap leaves no residues that can lead to infection
one person who lived it
Avoid fabric softener when washing cloth pads or towels.
Fabric softener lessens absorbency.
one person who lived it