How we prep and budget for possible illness.
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- Опубликовано: 2 окт 2024
- We don't get ill often but we need to be prepared for when we do. Be prepared!
Frugal Queen in France
We are a British couple living in Brittany on a budget.
Frugal recipes, days out, home renovations and day to day making do in France.
We’ll give you hints, tips, advice and an insight into our life in France.
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I'm 70 and on Medicare. My plan gives me $90 every 3 months towards medical supplies. They send a catalog yearly to shop from. Tylenol, cold, flu, sinus, eye drops, bandages, vitamins and much more. Such a blessing.
@@justjet that's super
If you have Humana the extra card they send you can be used for over the counter meds at Wal-Mart, and even Wal-Mart online for a lot of them. At the store you get a better chance of choices. But the key is your money goes further.
@@elizaC3024 and @justjet. I am 70 as well and have neither of these. I think what you are both referring to is an Advantage plan. I have regular Medicare plus a supplement. These advantage plans are great if you rarely get sick. Just be prepared for copays if you do.
Imagine we are grateful for this and other countries give retirees FREE healthcare ! Be safe and be welln
Not everyone gets this on Medicare. You must have a supplement plan, secondary insurance.
I gather the herbs I grow to make teas, infusions and tinctures. I also do this with garlic that I grow.
@@reneegreen8708 thanks for sharing
Same here!
Afternoon everybody, from a cold West Yorkshire
In UK
Send some cold air to North Carolina. At least cooler air. Many are without power due to the hurricane and it’s so hot and humid
It's cold here too Pat. We have all our fires lit.
I rarely get sick, either. I exercise and stay active. I'm 73, feel like 53, and look like 65.
@@gladyschandler6724 well done Gladys
What is the secret ? Only active life ?
I go through the medicine cabinet regularly to see if anything is expired. We always have pain medicine, cold /flu medicine, anti histimine and antidiarrheals in the house. We also have a few prescriptions to keep up on, and my spouse and I take a daily multivitamin. We get our vaccines and try to stay as healthy as possible.
We also keep a small supply of paper dinner ware. Having been very sick at the same time it helps so much to have less cleaning.
Disposables…that’s a good prep for power cuts too.
All the retired people I know in my road are never ill and seem to be far healthier than me and colleagues/friends of my age. Apart from 2 years of chronic stress that impacted my immune system, having to sit in front of a computer 7 hours a day is so bad for the health. So Younger people tend to get sicker. But we should all be prepared, because never say never!!
Thanks as always Jane and Mike xxx
Agreed, never say never
Young people are around children, they are walking germs
Yep totally agree it's better to be prepared than wait until you're ill and don't have the ability to get food/medications! You've reminded me I need to get diarrhoea meds. Health is wealth as we get older so I make it my absolute priority now 🙂
You’re so right
Next to the medication that I get from my doctor I only use paracetamol and that is something you can buy freely here in the Netherlands. So I do have a lot of boxes with 50 500mg paracetamol pills in stock and every now and then I get some new if my stock comes down. I am living alone without a car so I always keep a good stock of food in my cupboards, fridge and freezer so that I can survive at least two months on that food if necessary. And in a real case of an emergency I can always ask my brother, who lives rather close, to get me some groceries 🩵🤍.
That’s great
Hi Jane,
I have a pretty stocked pantry, but not so much in our freezer. It is small, and we have lost it all several times due to storms and the electricity off.
I keep stocked up on paper products and cleaning and over the counter meds.
Keep my state, North Carolina, in your thoughts. 1/4 of our mountains counties have been devastated, and some towns were destroyed by Hurricane Helene last week. Recovery will take years. 400 roads block or destroyed and 2 major highways missing chunks.
❤❤❤❤❤❤
@@lynnhensley4326 Hi Lynn, our thoughts are with everyone affected by the horrific storms. Do you have back up generators for the future.
We have back up generator in Oklahoma. After a week without electricity three years ago. We purchased a generator as soon as we could get one.
Prayers to everyone impacted by Helene. I am in Nebraska and our electric company sent multiple crews to help with power restoration in West Virginia abd Charleston, just as others came here in late July when we had horrible storms.
I keep antihistamines and antacid tablets as well as a good first aid box with antibacterial and antifungal creams. Here in the U.S. decongestants are highly regulated due to the use of them in street drug manufacturing. But other over-the-counter medications can be bought in huge quantities (our warehouse club stores like Costco and Sam's Club) sell ibuprofen and acetaminophen [Tylenol] in bottles of 500-1000 tablets. Because of other medications I take I can't take some OTC meds. I am home most of the time so I have fortunately avoided many colds. I do get a flu shot and a Covid booster each fall.
I keep a well stocked pantry and freezer and have grocery delivery from 2 grocery stores, both of which have pharmacies so I can easily get anything I may need. I don't drive any longer since my stroke so I can shop when I need things with delivery service. My pharmacy also delivers my prescription medication. Many prescriptions can be filled for 90 days worth at a time in the U.S.
I keep a small amount of shelf-stable milk as it is not the most common or affordable way to buy milk in the U.S. I will look into freezing eggs. I seem to have them go bad before I use and most of the time I eat them scrambled or use them in baking so beaten eggs are fine. I wasn't aware milk could be frozen but it makes sense.
@@rosemarydoran9907 you could also keep dry milk powder. I keep for thickening my homemade yogurt. It’s also good if you run out of milk
An autumn flu jab is a priority for me and part of preparing for winter. Like some other posters I too dry herbs for winter tea.
Thanks so much
Me too! Well stocked pantry, refrigerator & freezer. I get my flu shot in the fall.
That's great
In Australia 🇦🇺 some medications are required by law to be prescribed but others can be purchased from a pharmacy or supermarket, just depends on what it contains.
Hopefully you are recovering from the cold as it can be very tiring.
Sounds you are sorted for the coming winter months 👍🇦🇺
Thank you both for the video and lovely to see the pooches 🐶
We can't buy most medications without a prescription. There's very little we can actually buy.
@@FrugalQueeninFrancedo u find yourself buying some medications in the UK when you visit?
Thank you Jane and Mike! I never knew you that you could freeze milk, butter and eggs. Excellent tip 👌🏽
I am getting my flu and covid vaccines next week. Happy to hear you recovered well from your cold!
You’re welcome
Hi Jane and Mike, I was completely blindsided (no pun intended) with a diagnosis of bilateral highly dense cataracts, this past July. I had surgery for both eyes in August and am now enjoying wonderful results in September and October. My out-of-pocket expenses for any deductibles for the procedures as well as eye meds was over $1,000.00 which I did not specifically budget for. I was happy to have the money in savings to cover it. I did not have to resort to the use of credit cards. This was like your unplanned trip to the UK-and the benefit of being a saver.
Sorry to hear that.
Hi Jane. I keep an extra bottle of Tylenol, diarrhea meds, cold/flu meds, and allergy meds in the house. Your lifestyle is so healthy! We should all be living like you! Saying a prayer that your cold is gone, lickity-split! ❤
Thank you, it'll be gone soon
@@juliemoore6957 how about aspirin recommended for possible stroke or low dose for heart attack
Happy you are feeling better. Very useful info. Thank you, Dolly, Mary, Jane and Mike. Keep well.
Thanks Sandra
Hi something I like to always have in my medicine box is Vicks vapour rub, if you go to bed with a runny nose Vicks will dry it up and the same with a cough keeping you awake I rub some vick on I always put a little under my nose and sure enough I sleep though the night.
@@sylviahuburn1977 It's great. I can't find it here.
Vicks on your chest at night with a warm towel covering it makes you feel so much better...
Hope you feel better Jane. Another great informative video. Thank you ❤
Thank you so much!
Some excellent ideas Jane. Thankyou. I want to say that its so important to stay on top of preventative tests (eg colonoscopy, skin checks) esp for high risk people. A big bad diagnoses can cost not only lives, but 10s of thousands to treat and in lost wages. Bowel cancer is one of the most preventable diseases if you get regular checks and working in this area i have to say its heart breaking to see the prevalence of it. The reality of this has hit a bit to close to home for my extended family in recent years so i want to mention the importance.
We pop a sample of poop in a pot each year and that is tested for bowel cancer. We have all our annual tests and blood tests.
I usually keep a small bottle of cough syrup on hand as well.
The European system of limiting access to OTC drugs makes so much sense. I become frustrated here in the U.S. because the smaller packages are exponentially more expensive per dose than the “giant economy size”. I have finally learned to pay more for less than to pay less for more and have to discard much of it. The only med I would add is Benadryl (diphenhydramine) - essential to have quick access for unexpected allergic reactions (and can be given to the pups for their allergies, too.) Since the kitchen in my little post-war house is small. I keep a dual pantry, one in the kitchen that I cook from daily and one in the spare bedroom. They have the same amounts of frequently used items. When the kitchen supply of something is used up, I fetch the next one from the spare pantry and put the item on the list for the next shopping trip.
Thanks for sharing. Our meds have fixed prices too so they're the same in every pharmacy.
In addition to medications, over time we created a very well-stocked first aid kit. When someone is bleeding, that's not when you want to have to go to the store for something to take care of the problem! Fortunately first aid items tend to last longer than meds.
We do too, plus we’re both first aid trained.
👍👍👍
Feel better 😊💜
Thanks
We should buy what we want. However just be considerate of others.
Hello there!! Here in Greece we buy our medicines even the simple pain killer from the pharmacy. Sometimes, for a minor illness is good to take advice from your pharmacists! We as a family stock in pain killers, disinfectant alcohol for rubbing the chest and back when feeling poorly and can't breathe properly. Also,we stock vitamins such as a combination of vitamin C and echinacea which boosts our immune system.we also use bee propolis diluted in alcohol which is good for sore throats and it also boost the immune system and cod liver oil which is another good source of oil for our health. A final thing is alcohol iodine , it is not only good if you hit yourself to put some on the wound but also if you apply some behind your ears with a cotton pad it heals minor ear infections that you might have caught from a cold and it stops the pain! I think you are right when you said that we have to eat less prossessed food and mild exercise as walking and being out in nature can prevent some of the basic colds and flu! Thank you for all your lovely advice. I don't really comment ( alas ! The time came for me to comment😂!) I really enjoy all your videos you are really good and you have given me lots and lots of ideas! If you like more frugal meals try the Greek cuisine. ( I have watched you making musaka and I was impressed! Well done!) You can find many Greek recipes from scratch especially the vegetarian ones, consist of two or three ingredients! Such as lentil soup,bean soup even our fish soup is frugal but delicious! Sorry for the long comment! Keep up the good work! All the best.Anastasia.
@@tearose1800 thank you, I shall look up more Greek recipes
I only make sure I've got plenty of paracetamol and plasters in the house. Can't think of anything else that is needed. Its only my husband that needs to collect his prescription every month and that is free for him. My kids have recently left the house and when they were here, on the rare time I was ill and staying in bed, the rule was, " if you can find it, you can it eat it" I think I have a reasonable stock of supplies. At the beginning of every month, I stock up on the non perishables and cat food.
That’s perfectly organized
I don’t stock up on medication and only take what is prescribed by a doctor when I occasionally have something wrong with me. And I had something really wrong 8 years ago and was on medication for five years.
Day to day I live with a pack of 8 paracetamol tablets that I carry in my purse in case I have a headache somewhere, and I replenish it if, when and as needed.
Thanks for watching and commenting
Apart from paracetamol and one soort of medicine prescribed by a GP, no stock at home. In the past I used to stock up on some medicine, and then, as it expired, I had to get rid of it - what a waste, I thought and stopped.
As for food, I freeze a lot, mainly meat, vegetables and bread. I was surprised to hear, Jane, that it is possible to freeze milk and eggs. Thanks for the tip.
Thanks for your feedback
Glad you are on the mend. We stay appropriately stocked of all goods and also some natural remedies to lessen the severity of colds since we are both still working amongst people on a daily basis and are entering cold season. I have to wonder if all the people panic buying because of the longshoreman's strike here in the US have nothing in their homes.
I never need to panic buy as we’re always prepared and we’ll stocked
I keep seasonal allergy medicines,Advil(ibuprofen), polysporin to use for small cuts, some alcohol swabs, anti diarrhea medications , some cough drops like ricola, decongestant and a cough syrup as well as the one prescribed medication that I use. I always check the dates on what I buy and make sure it is the farthest expiry date possible. Like you well stocked up food and household items so no need to run out. I eat quite healthily like you it helps keeping well. Always have tea and lemons on hand for a soothing drink . We are lucky in that after a video call medical appointment if I am too sick too go out the doctor will send the prescription directly to my pharmacy who will then call me and ask if I want it delivered or if I will pick it up. There is no fee by my local pharmacy for the delivery it helps I am about a 3 minute drive from it! Question is the limit that you can buy individual or per address. In other words can Mike buy one packet and you buy one packet? Hope you will feel in tip top shape soon!
Thanks so much
I keep a supply of Germolene in our supplies cabinet. I learned about it online and learned I could purchase it through Amazon. We tried it, liked it, and ordered a back-up supply of it.
I should have mentioned that, we use that for insect bites
Recently read online a news article, many places decided to plant male only trees, such as some commercial parking lots and newer neighborhoods. They chose not to plant the female trees because if the trees cross pollinated, fruit will grow, then drop and get messy. By doing this, there is more science than I can explain, but groups or areas of male only trees cause more people aggravation in allergies.
What a stupid planning idea
l check and restock my washable med baskets every Sept. im glad iv done it as my daughter & son in law have been ill for 2 wks and we think they have caught the new strain of covid :( One baskets is for thermmetor , eye mask, tissues , soft warm neck scarf, hot waterbottle etc, items that dont expire, other basket for paracetamol, herb teas, lavender ess oil for putting on brow when head colds, vick vapor, high strength vit C etc etc. The baskets then can be lifted from shelf & placed on bedside table if ill. l do this now as both my husband and l was very ill together with covid 2 yrs ago and it really helped. In October l make pantry mixes ie dried onion soups mix, ( good for when have head colds ) biscuit and cake mixes etc etc as they last months, easy to make up & free's my space in my freezer as November l plan my freezer meals for use all through the Winter, mostly for December as l dont want cook that month only for xmas day.
That’s super organized and thanks for commenting
I have money withheld from my paycheck pre-tax that goes into a fund just for medical expenses. I can use that money to restock any over the counter medications I like to keep in my first aid kit. Every August, I do an inventory and purchase anything that needs replenishing. Then every January, I go through my first aid kit and check all the expiration dates. I don't purchase a lot, since I'm generally pretty healthy, but I like being prepared before official cold/flu season hits because it's pretty common that stores here will run out of those types of over the counter medications because some people tend to panic-buy whenever there's a virus going around.
That's very sensible
I hope you get over your cold. We had the grandchildren over and one just started a cold the night we pick them up so my husband got sick Sunday night and I got sick Last night. I’m in USA and there is no limits on over the counter medication and we live out of town by 30 minutes so we always stock up. Our freezers and basement is stocked and I will be canning more as the summer garden season closes and hopefully we get a fall garden in. We decided not to sell our home for now. The fireplace in the living room doesn’t heat our1500 main floor, so we are installing our wood cookstove that we bought for our cabin then sold before installing it.
@@donnabarham2353 thanks so much for your reply
the only prescription meds Im on is HRT, and I get 6 months at a time. Usual culprits I keep stocked up - paracetamol, Ibuprofen, imodium, plasters and a nasal decongestant for me as I have damaged Eustachian tube/deafness so a head cold can be particularly painful for me - like you, very little processed food, all home cooked, plenty of protein, veg & fruit, plenty of variety for a good gut microbiome, walk at least an hour a day, and always take the stairs as an option
It’s great to keep active
@@FrugalQueeninFrance it is 🙂
I have next-to no medication on hand other than prescription meds. I need to get some headache and cold medication and Kleenex (facial tissue). Watching this, I think I should pick up some anti-diarrhea medication as well.
Thank you Jane and Mike!
Thanks so much
In the US, we are allowed to purchase whatever amount we think is necessary of tylenol (paracetamol) , ibuprofen, and other over the counter medicines. The climate has become more and more unpredictable; I think France should allow people to purchase extra medicine in case of emergencies that last more than a few days. The only over the counter medicine that is very strictly regulated is pseudoephedrine (Sudafed). You need to show your driver's license to purchase it, and your purchase is entered into a computer database that is shared among pharmacies. Some people were using the pseudoephedrine to make illegal drugs, so all purchases are now monitored. The best cold remedy I know of is to order hot and sour soup from a Chinese restaurant. It is not expensive, and it really helps. (You could make it at home, but I doubt that I could . I make really terrible soup.) Hope you feel better soon!
My Chinese soup remedy is two servings of tofu and spinach in chicken broth. If I have a bad cold, I’ll head to the restaurant! (Sitting 6 ft from others )
Thanks for your reply
I live in allergy prone area. Keep antihistamines and antihistamines/decongestant mix. Also chest congestion med, mucinex in addition to your list. In US expiration date means med only 90 % potent so use best judgment. Ginger ale is a good pantry item for stomach problems. If you don't need it, then just enjoy it if you've had a while. Hope by airing date you've fully recovered
Thanks for the tips!
We keep a stock of acetaminophen, ibuprofen, decongestant, vitamin C, D3, nasal spray, meds for diarrhea and vomiting on hand.
Very organized
There are many good suggestions in the comments. I keep meds separated into bins between internal and external meds. Generally, I check med expiration dates sometime between March and June, before hurricane season.
I budget an amount quarterly. My inventory system lets me know at a glance what is needed.
Thanks for your tips
I always keep paracetamol, ibuprofen, cold and flu sachets, and anti histamine tablets at home. We are restricted to buying 2 packets of paracetamol or ibuprofen in any one transaction. So have to get some from different shops if you need both they contain 16 tablets a pack. Over here in UK. prescription medication is given in 56 day doses. No more no less, unless a specific request is made to the GP. We can now get some antibiotics from chemist for minor infections.
There must be a bad head cold doing the rounds her as both my daughter and I have had it. It's the 2nd one in as many months.
@@johart8922 sorry to hear about the cold
We rarely get sick. I used to buy medicines when they were on a great deal. The last time I needed pain relief medicine. I found everything had expired!
I get hormone headaches, migraines and I have arthritis so need help with pain.
I keep Tylenol and ibuprofen or their generic equivalents. Cold and flu meds, cough drops or peppermints, eye drops, upset stomach meds
Thanks so much
Here we are limited to a few cold medications that have certain ingredients (can be used in conjunction with other ingredients to make illegal drugs). Other than that we can buy whatever as far as over the counter drugs. Obviously we only get a months worth of prescription drugs
Thanks Lee
Nothing is worse than feeling bad/ill and having to go to the store for meds. We also keep a stock of antacid meds.
@@susieguyton1781 thanks for the reply
It was interesting to learn that you can not buy medications in the grocery store. Also that you need to ask a pharmacist for said meds. It is so fluid here in Canada, you can buy meds in grocery store( most have a pharmacy) and you can buy groceries etc in pharmacies. There is not a limit to amounts or size bought either.
Thanks for your reply
I stock up on Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Antihistamine, cold medicine, and pepto or immodium. Usually use flexible spending so i can hit sales and no tax. I loathe going out to get meds when im actively sick but I also keep up on immuno health vitamins. An ounce of prevention!
Good tips
Another great video!
Everyone in the UK has a cold at the moment, including me. Sorry!
It’s lingering too
Yeah COVID doing the rounds again!
We have a helios homeopathy kit for everyday ailments, and a bottle of colloidal silver . The colloidal silver is the best thing ever for colds, sore throats etc .
Thanks
We can't get small packages of acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Our packages are 100, 500, 1000. It is so ridiculously wasteful.
That's crazy
Hey Jane and Mike, what kind of workouts do you do to stay healthy and fit? Just curious😊
Daily 50 body squats, press ups, lunges, 50 seconds wall sit and plank, 30 minutes static bike, plus 30 minutes walk in the morning.
@@FrugalQueeninFrance You are amazing!
@@luba-healthywithluba6866 that's only 90 mins of movement a day which is the bare minimum requirement
@@FrugalQueeninFrance amazing that'll keep all of us fit. Thanks for the reply!
@@FrugalQueeninFrance On top of all that, you are cleaning and cooking. 😊
We keep stocked up on Tylenol, Ibuprofen, vitamins, and cold medicines from Costco. Most bottles are 250-500 tablets. I take advantage of getting prescription meds like pain and nausea medications when offered. Recently, I had to go to the emergency room for what turned out to be a kidney stone. I was prescribed nausea and pain medication. The pain medication took 2 weeks to get filled! Thankfully, the pain was controlled with OTC meds after the first few hours. At least I have the pain medication at home now because there is a stone in my other kidney just waiting to make an appearance 😡. We have companies in the states that will prescribe you an emergency kit of commonly prescribed antibiotics. Why would you do this? Look where our antibiotics come from....China, India, etc. What if tensions with those countries cause an embargo? I don't want my family to suffer and die because they lack the right medication. Studies from the US military show most medications last far beyond the expiration date. Being a prepper-type person who lives 30 minutes from civilization, I have nearly all bases covered. Epi-pens ( had bees in the past) antibiotics, pain, allergy and nausea meds, antibiotic and steroid creams, nebulizer with meds, bandages, tourniquets, suture kits, crutches, leg braces, arm slings, neck braces, a neck traction device, wheelchair, commode chair, shower chair, etc. I have lots of storage, and my family can donate it when i am gone. May seem excessive to some, but many of these items have been used in the last couple of years. One item I regret getting rid of is my mother's walker. As someone who entered my 60's this year and had a broken leg last year, it would have been physically easier on me than the crutches.
Thanks for your reply
Do you and Mike take any vitamins?
No, we eat properly
@@FrugalQueeninFrancethe very best way 😁