Money saving in perimenopause and menopause

MSE_Jenny_H

Are you in perimenopause or menopause and have a money saving tip or trick to share? 

Maybe you have a favourite beauty product, item of clothing or way to keep symptoms under control. Or is there a hack you've mastered to keep the symptoms at bay like a certain way of exercising? 

I'm Jenny at MSE and writing a guide on money saving in menopause, and would love to include your tips - hopefully I'll learn from your experience, too!

lisyloo

definitely the HRT prepayment certificate
Get a prescription prepayment certificate: If you’ve been prescribed hormone replacement therapy (HRT) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Brambling

I was warned against buying a memory foam mattress by the middle aged woman assistant in the bed shop as they can make you hot, which isn't what you need when you are menopausal.  As I left the shop she was explaining why to her young male colleague who was puzzled how she knew to warn me that!

kimwp

Brambling said:

I was warned against buying a memory foam mattress by the middle aged woman assistant in the bed shop as they can make you hot, which isn't what you need when you are menopausal.  As I left the shop she was explaining why to her young male colleague who was puzzled how she knew to warn me that!

Haha! Subscribing to this thread for other hints and tips, hopefully won't be peri for five years or so, but it's looming!

Sarahspangles

While it’s good that nowadays there is more openness about menopause, there’s also a lot of marketing hype targeted at menopausal women about products and treatments that just aren’t necessary and probably don’t work. Be prepared to rethink your skin care routine a little, experiment with trial sizes. You may need to adapt your wardrobe too if you carry weight differently. Maybe buy a couple of lighter layers you can take on and off if your temperature fluctuates.

ShinyStarlight1

I found flowing clothes in cotton, linen or viscose good. Anything polyester or wool was a sweat fest nightmare.

A light summer duvet helped at night. As did fans, handheld or room-sized.

Red wine or coffee was such a trigger for sweat outbreaks that even saying the words would cause it!

kittydfw2012

Not necessarily recommending this but my night sweats are worse a couple of nights before my period is due (I take HRT). I found out by accident that if I take a paracetamol before bed, I don’t wake up hot and have a much better night’s sleep. It was sleep issues that finally took me down the HRT route. All symptoms have improved since I started slimming world and eating healthier. It’s hard to do but perimenopause has brought raised blood pressure and cholesterol so I had to tackle my diet even though it’s hard to do when so many other things going on. I’d advise anyone from 40 ish to tackle weight and health before perimenopause really kicks in. It will save a lot of hassle and money in the long run. 

Need2save

I’m not there yet…but because I spend a huge amount on around the clock painkillers every month and four packs of sanitary pads monthly, at the cost of near £15 for my ten day monthly supply, ran out of clothes and underwear, so more washing needed, plus the 3/4 days off work. Also not forgetting the unlimited amount of hot water bottles and unable to cook for a few days….Well I say I’ll be saving by not having a period after all. 

Wyndham

I did invest in some 'menopause nightwear'. Not cheap, but pays dividends in terms of dealing with night sweats. It works in a similar way to sportswear, so deals with sweating and moisture in a helpful way.

While there is potential for money saving, it's actually an area where I feel comfort is more important. But I do agree with @Sarahspangles about the number of products out there which are more about money making than helping with symptoms.

More widely, I wish more money had been spent on research in order to understand it better than we do. For something that affects half the population, the knowledge level is still quite disappointingly low. It's improving, partly because women are now actually valued as full members of society and also because we are making a noise about it! For years we were told to keep quiet and just get on with it without a fuss! I felt this was reflected in my own dealings with the NHS about my symptoms, where I really didn't have a good experience, unfortunately...

I think I'm almost through, and things are getting better for me. To those of you still in there, you have my best wishes and I hope things improve for you soon. It does suck, but there is light at the end of the tunnel!

olgadapolga

Wyndham said:

More widely, I wish more money had been spent on research in order to understand it better than we do. For something that affects half the population, the knowledge level is still quite disappointingly low. It's improving, partly because women are now actually valued as full members of society and also because we are making a noise about it! For years we were told to keep quiet and just get on with it without a fuss! I felt this was reflected in my own dealings with the NHS about my symptoms, where I really didn't have a good experience, unfortunately...

Slightly OT but this is how things are in general regarding women's health. Or has been in my experience. 

Wyndham

olgadapolga said:

Wyndham said:

More widely, I wish more money had been spent on research in order to understand it better than we do. For something that affects half the population, the knowledge level is still quite disappointingly low. It's improving, partly because women are now actually valued as full members of society and also because we are making a noise about it! For years we were told to keep quiet and just get on with it without a fuss! I felt this was reflected in my own dealings with the NHS about my symptoms, where I really didn't have a good experience, unfortunately...

Slightly OT but this is how things are in general regarding women's health. Or has been in my experience. 

It is off topic, but I do agree. In the past I was a lot more accepting of it, these days I'm too angry and hot to put up with it in the same way. And I'm not alone in that. I am seeing it as a change overall, in terms of 'this is where my next phase of life starts, and it's going to be different, because I know I'm different'.

I'm probably more likely to stand up for my rights though. Which can take us back to money saving, as I feel I'm more savvy and much less likely to put up with poor service or bad products.