This post may contain affiliate and/or sponsored content. Please read our Disclosure for details.
Getting sick costs money. Of course, this is certainly the case if you require direct medical attention, which is why having a good insurance plan or living in an area with readily available healthcare is a plus. Let’s explore how to keep costs down when you’re feeling under the weather without sacrificing your health or recovery.
Yet it’s true that even moderate illnesses you expect to recover from, such as the flu, can take quite the hit to your wallet. This is especially true of the recent pandemic wave that is currently rippling through the population and making many people sick regardless of age or previous infection.
But how can this affect your wallet? Well, in many ways. Some of them aren’t quite so bad. For instance, investing in the best throws for home can help you lay on the sofa with much more comfort and relaxation – ultimately helping you speed up how quickly you recover.
But when you can’t work and you’re struggling to be as financially productive as you otherwise might, especially if you’re living paycheck to paycheck, how can you save money at this time? Let’s consider that below:
Redeem Sick Pay You’re Entitled To
It’s good to make sure you claim all of the support you’re entitled to. After a few days, your employer may require a sick note so that they can affirm that your doctor has recommended against working. This will also allow your place of work to use their insurance to help manage sick pay requirements so that they can temp replace you and still pay you where appropriate.
Any longer than a period of a few weeks and it may be that a certain policy or additional measure is triggered depending on the country you live in. For some, it might be that the disability welfare system comes into play, for others it might be that implementing disability support for you to come back to work given your new normal is important. Don’t feel ashamed of claiming every piece of financial support you’re entitled to when ill – this is what you get when you’ve been paying into a system your entire life.
Negotiate Later Bill Payments
It’s good to negotiate certain bill payments if you can, just so you have some affordability coming up. For some, this might mean canceling unnecessary subscriptions – like transferring a timeshare allowance you have so that someone else can make use of it at that time of year.
In some cases, you may be able to suspend your membership or pause it for some time. For instance, gym memberships will often have ‘pause’ options listed on their website, meaning that if you don’t plan to visit the gym that month you can pay a fraction of your membership fee and avoid the cancellation fees of your contract for quitting and then rejoining.
It’s worth having a quick look at these measures – because if you’re not using a service then you’re within your rights to see if you can temporarily move the payment date or suspend it temporarily.
Subscribe To Premium Monthly Services
Reducing spending doesn’t necessarily mean going without buying anything at all, but focusing on what would offer the best long-term value so that you don’t spend overly on items you don’t need. For this reason, the services that matter, like delivery services that bring your pharmacy medication to you, can be a wonderful approach to take.
Of course, for some a free trial to an entertainment or streaming service can certainly provide some relaxation while they’re dealing with the effects of an illness – just because you’re trying to save money, it doesn’t mean you have to stare blankly at the wall for ten hours at a time.
Buy Off-Brand Over-The-Counter Medication
If you look, you’ll notice that a vast majority of the ‘branded’ over-the-counter medication like aspirin or ibuprofen tend to have the exact same ingredients as the off-brand versions. The off-brand versions tend to be at least three times cheaper than their branded counterparts, even if they do exactly the same thing. Just make sure the medication you purchase is legit and approved by the proper regulatory agencies. But, if the ingredients are identical, you can make an educated decision as to whether or not purchasing it for your road to recovery is better than going with the costly brand name.
Of course, don’t take this advice if there is specific advice your doctor has given you, that must always take priority. But if you’re just opting for a quick painkiller or an item to help soothe your allergies, it can be worth cost-cutting in this way.
With this advice, we hope you can overcome your illness with comfort, care, and reduced spending. Wishing you the utmost best in your recovery – get well soon!
