The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and the weather is finally getting warmer. All of this can only mean one thing: allergy season is officially here.
It’s bad enough that seasonal allergies turn you into an eye-watering, congested mess, but the cost of allergy relief medications only rubs salt into the wound. The good news is that, by following these tips, you can find relief for your allergies without breaking the bank.
Compare prescription and over-the-counter medications
Oftentimes, prescription medications and over-the-counter medications have the same ingredients but have different price points. Make sure to do a price comparison before assuming one is cheaper than the other. In some cases, prescription nasal sprays may be cheaper than over-the-counter sprays.
To compare prices without going to the store, check with your insurance company to determine just how much your prescription allergy medications would cost. Then, check online for how much over-the-counter versions are at your local pharmacy.
Revamp your yard
With the COVID-19 crisis keeping us indoors already, the last thing you want is not to be able to go out into your own yard. Fortunately, you can actually revamp your garden to include shrubs, grasses, flowers, and trees that are allergy-friendly so you can spend less money on nasal sprays and saline solutions to flush out pollen.
Allergy-friendly grasses include female cultivars of buffalo grass, male-sterile hybrid Bermuda grasses, and St. Augustine. Hydroseeding is the most cost-effective method of seeding your lawn in this case, and your allergy-friendly grass ought to start growing within seven days.
Use your own saline rinse
Your allergy-related congestion comes from narrowed nasal passages. It’s important to keep this kind of congestion at bay as regular mouth-breathing can actually cause issues with your teeth and jaw alignment, and some 4 million Americans wear braces to fix issues like these. But prescription and over-the-counter nasal sprays can get pricey.
The good news is that you can actually make your own saline solution right at home. Just mix one-half teaspoon of salt with eight ounces of distilled water. If you use tap water, make sure to boil the water for three to five minutes and wait for the water to cool to room temperature before use.
Visit your allergist before heading to the pharmacy
Visiting your allergist might be anxiety-inducing considering there’s a staffing shortage of 7.2 million healthcare workers right now amidst the COVID-19 crisis. But it’s important to remember that your allergist is there for you.
Allergists can help you figure out the best treatment options for your seasonal allergies. That way you can put your money where your allergy solutions are instead throwing money at the pharmacy.
Allergy season is one of the worst times of the year. But by following these tips, you can at least save yourself some of your hard-earned money while fighting back against pesky pollinating plants.
