Ever since I started working in a cubicle environment instead of offices, I’ve found myself getting sick more often. I used to get sick maybe twice a year and now I find myself getting sick once every couple of months. I dragged myself to work this morning and now I’m starting to regret that – I thought I felt good enough to come in but I definitely should have stayed home.
So to amuse myself, here is the cost of being sick:
- Tissues – $6 for 3 boxes. I always “splurge” on tissues and buy the ones with lotion. And chances are, I’ll use up all 3 boxes before I get better.
- Nyquil & Dayquil – $13. I need this to survive both at night and during the day if I have to go out.
- Advil – $8. If I’m at home, I’ll take this during the day to bring down my fever instead of Dayquil.
- Zicam – $10. I usually try to take this right when I start getting sick but I forgot about it this time. I’m going to regret that.
- Zinc – $4. I find Zinc really helps you to not get as sick if you take it right when you start seeing symptoms.
- Gatorade – $17/24 pack. When I’m sick, Gatorade is the only thing I want to drink.
- Food – $30/3 days. I don’t have the energy to make food for the first few days when I’m sick so usually G will end up picking up food for both of us to eat. I’m going to estimate about $10/day.
This brings the total cost to: $88.
Obviously, the medicine can be stretched across time – I’m not going to finish a whole box of Nyquil during one round of being sick. But if I don’t have any at home, this is the cost.
Of course, I’m not even mentioning the sleepless nights, the days spent with fever, the hours missed at work – and yes, I’m assuming there are sick days when calculating these costs. Actually, I think I’m running out of sick days at work which is a problem – my last job, we had unlimited sick days so it’s still strange for me to try to track how much time I’ve taken off because I’ve been sick.
Anyway, my point is – if you can help it, don’t get sick like me. It’s not fun at all.
How often do you get sick? What are your go-to remedies?
LifeInTransition says:
I totally get being sick all the time and how much it sucks. I started getting sick a lot when I moved into a dorm. Nyquil & Dayquil are my go-to remedies too
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Modest Money says:
I bet your coworkers aren’t happy about you coming in sick
It’s just a matter of time until they catch it too. I noticed the same thing when working in cubicles. You are just too close to a bunch of other people all day that you’re just recycling each other’s air.
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YPFinances says:
Yeah, that’s why I usually try to stay home when I’m sick. I really dislike the idea of having a limited number of sick days – it makes people think they have to come in when they’re sick (like me, obviously).
WorkSaveLive says:
I’ve been extremely fortunate that I RARELY get sick. I really attribute it to our lifestyle and trying to eat healthy. There is a high correlation between diet and getting sick so we’ve tried to be very conscious about what we eat.
I’d say I get sick maybe once every two years (at most). The only time I get hit is during fall allergy season…which does suck. But I don’t know the last time I had the flu or common cold.
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Michelle says:
I hardly get sick, but my bf gets sick at least once a month. Thankfully his insurance is free and so is his medicine. But the cost of him missing work definitely adds up!
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Liquid Independence says:
Gatorade, it’s got electrolytes which is suppose to good for you! ^_^ We only get 6 sick-days at work, but it’s usually enough for most people.
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From Shopping to Saving says:
I hate getting sick!!!!! Also don’t forget the costs of going to the doctor or urgent care. I always end up going last minute. Then paying for prescriptions or antibiotics is not fun.
Last Christmas (2010) I had to fly home but I was literally sick and dying. I upgraded my ticket to first class just so I would feel comfortable. So it costed me sooo much money!
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bogofdebt says:
I splurge on the tissues with lotion in them as well. Otherwise, my nose hurts and gets chapped. My boss is pretty leniet so I can work from home if I have to but I hate being sick.
I have found that I recover a lot quicker now that I’m exercising and eating healthier. My go to foods when I’m sick are crackers, ginger ale and chicken soup.
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CultOfMoney says:
I’m a big fan of the full strength sudaphed, the type that you need to go and show your driver’s license to the pharmacist in most states. When I get sick, it’s usually because I haven’t slept enough, so when I start to feel myself getting sick, I’ll head to bed as early as I can.
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MyMoneyDesign says:
My work has got one of those great medicine cabinets that has literally every single medicine you can imagine. I don’t think I’ve bought my own in years! LOL! Fortunately, I haven’t been seriously sick enough to stay home from work in a long time.
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Well Heeled Blog says:
When I’m sick, it’s hot tea, lemon, and honey (and lots of naps). Oh, and you can never go wrong with chicken noodle soup.
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MoneySmartGuides says:
When I worked at a large company (over 2000 people) I would get sick all of the time. My remedy was just to take something at night so I could sleep along with loading up on Vitamin C. Other than that, I would just suffer through it.
Now that I work in a small office – there are less than 20 of us, I get sick less often. In fact, this past winter was the first I can remember where I didn’t get sick.
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GB @ In Budgets We Trust says:
I completely agree… when you work in an office environment, colds get passed very quickly. This year, it seemed like the same cold that everyone was suffering from made its rounds several times. Hope you’re feeling better this week!
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Christopher @ This That and The MBA says:
I work at a hospital so I am always getting sick. I was my hands so much but still seem to acquire the illness…grrr..I work in the finance section, but germs still find their way in there!!
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