Even if you get a flu shot — and I think you should — you still run a chance of getting the flu. According to Consumer Reports, vaccination prevents the illness 80 percent of the time in adults younger than 65.
But a non-flu virus — including the common cold — can make you feel pretty crummy, too. The insult to such injury is the price tags on cold/flu nostrums.
That’s why I put together a cold and flu package giveaway each year. Judging from the numbers of comments the package always gets, you folks don’t like paying retail, either.
This year’s winner will receive:
- Robitussin Cough+Chest Congestion (20 non-drowsy, liquid-filled capsules)
- Advil Congestion Relief 10 (non-drowsy tablets)
- Delsym Cough+Cold Nighttime hot drink mix — the previous two meds were for those who have to work even when they’re sick, but this product is designed to help you get some rest
- Facial tissues with lotion
- A Nivea lotion sample (in case your nose gets sore despite those soft tissues)
- Two Emergen-C drink mixes, to be used as soon as you think you’re coming down with something — can’t hurt, might help
- Spray hand sanitizer, courtesy of Chase Bank (from my recent trip to FinCon14) — if you’re surrounded by hacking, sneezing co-workers then you might want to spritz your hands after touching doorknobs or shared keyboards
- Chicken soup! It’s a can of Healthy Choice chicken with rice and it’s pretty tasty despite the word “healthy” in the title
- Teabags — hot tea is certainly soothing and may have some therapeutic value (two from Yogi Tea, two from Bigelow and two from Tazo)
- A teeny-tiny jar of honey and a few packets of Natural Brand turbinado sugar (to go with the tea)
- A mug from Alaska artist Marianne Wieland, created for the public television auction (courtesy of my friend Linda B., who has been donating for years)
- “Exile,” by Richard North Patterson — if you must take to your bed but you’re too restless to sleep, enjoy a good political potboiler
Here’s hoping that you and your household stay well this fall and winter. But if you do get sick, this collection will give you a head start on the stuff you’ll need to carry on.
To enter:
- Leave a comment below
- Subscribe via e-mail or Feedburner
- Sign up to follow Surviving and Thriving on Twitter or Facebook
If you do any (or all!) of these things, please leave separate, additional comments to get credit for each entry.
The deadline is 7 p.m. PDT Tuesday, Oct. 7. If I don’t hear back from the winner by 7 p.m. PDT Wednesday, Oct. 8, I’ll pull another name.
Note: Due to the high cost of international shipping, a winner outside the United States will receive an e-gift card.
Sounds like a lot of great stuff, hope I never have to use it. lol
These is totally great! I hope I can win, I already entered the giveaway!
My younger brother and sister always get me sick because their public school friends get them sick so this giveaway would help me and my poor Mom who takes care of us all!
What more could you ask for when your feeling ill. I like the ideas and may get some kits together to have on hand for friends and myself ( just in case). A nice little care package. Thanks!
Awesome prize….and I agree this is a lovely little care package 🙂
I need all the protection I can get between my homeless volunteer clients and non vaccinated fa!ily members. So not ready for winter!
Already following you on Facebook.
Already subscribing to your blog
I’d love to win.
I follow you on Facebook.
This would b awesome!!
Having grown up the daughter of a wholesale salesman AND having married another it is against “my religion” to EVER pay retail/shelf price for anything.
Would love to win this – about two weeks ago i had 3 of the 6 men in my department coughing and sneezing
I follow via email
Great giveaway, but good grief, I hope I don’t get the flu. Found out the hard way 2 years ago that I’m allergic to the flu vaccine. Good luck (and good health) to everyone! Thanks, Donna!
I do love a good political thriller, though….RNP is a master! Following you on Twitter….
follow you on email – I had the flu shot last year and got the flu in April – not fun but this would be make it less painful!
Enjoy your blog. Interesting idea, a Cold and Flu Package. Interestingly, (to me at least) years ago my doctor asked if I had received my flu shot, I told him no because I rarely if ever get the flu. He told me to get one anyway because statistically you are less likely to get respiratory infections if you get the flu shot. Double whammy!
I would love to win this.
I subscribe via e-mail
I follow thru a link to my blog, so a blog feed? Perfect timing a this teacher is fighting the first cold of the school year.
I’d love to win this — I’m suffering from a scratchy throat and post-nasal drip even as I write!
Hope I win!!!
Nice feel better package! Thanks for the opportunity to win!
I hope to not need this but would be nice to have on hand …just in case
Would love to win this and stash it away. Follow on email and Facebook
I could have used it all this week.
Already follow you on FB.
Follow your blog through Feedly.
I did just get my flu shot. But you are right, other colds and viruses can really get a person down. Your care package is well thought out. I hope Murphy’s Law will take effect, and the winner will only need the tea and book.
I got my flu shot, but people always come to work sick. So I will get at least one cold this winter, maybe more. UGH!
I follow you on Facebook.
I follow you on Twitter.
I subscribe via Feedburner.
(Using my fperkins2000 @ yahoo.com email address.)
Sounds like good insurance. Count me in.
I recently had my flu shot it this pa Kate would come in handy. HTe to have to run out because we aren’t prepared.
Follow by email and facebook.
Since I worked a job with no paid sick leave, I do get exposed to the flu and other bugs. This would make me more comfortable while I recuperate.
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My kids are more likely to need it than me, but like a good Scout, I would love to be prepared! Thanks for the giveaway!
I subscribe by email
the crud is making in thru out house right now….
follow on fb
People are having upper respiratory infections and colds here already. Don’t know about the flu. The other day I was in the pain section at Walmart and there were two women coughing and sneezing. I got my advil and took off quick. Glad I am back on here after 2 years, as I always loved your columns!
I hope we won’t need it, but a flu kit would be nice to have. Thank you.
What a great prize! Murphy’s Law says if I win it I definitely won’t get sick so I hope I win.
Very useful…bracing for winter…thanks for the giveaway!
Certainly nice gift to have just in case !!!!!! TY
I also follow by email..
I follow on Face book also…
Been fighting off a cold now…I could use some of this!
I subscribe to you via e-mail
and follow you on Facebook, too.
Very nice giveaway! I stalk you on many sights and also look up old articles. I was hooked from the start. Keep up the good work.
This is a great giveaway and will come in handy. Thank-you for offering it.
Gosh, where was this last weekend when I was battling the flu. Oh well, I’ll save it for the next time! 😉
i follow u on facebook
i follow u on twitter too
i love this collection of misc items for cold/flu items. such a fun assortment. you’re so thoughtful.
I’ll be getting a flu shot this week, so perfect timing.
Wach me get sick before I get my flu shot.
Watch me get sick before I make it to the doctor for my flu shot.
Oops! Duplicate entry. Disregard this one if you want.
I subscribe via email. Perfect package for the Michigan winter we are coming upon.
I follow you on facebook as well.
Would really appreciate winning this stay well/get well package!! As someone else also mentioned, several people I know have already gotten sick this fall…I would like to be one who stays well this year!
I also subscribe by e-mail!
What a wonderful (and generous) giveaway! If anyone gets sick, we’ll be ready to fight and ease it.
Thank you!
I am an email subscriber
I follow on facebook (Jackie Villano)
I already feel like I may be getting a cold! This pack sounds very useful.
I also subscribe by email.
I am also a fan on Facebook.
This would be an awesome package to have in preparation for the winter months ahead. Thanks, Donna!
I subscribe via email.
I follow you on Facebook.
Colds stink, but at least this giveaway package might ease some of the symptoms. Thank you 🙂
I subscribe via feedburner
I follow your tweets (moeyshay)
Yay! SOMEONE in my family will get sick!
Great kit. I would love this for the family.
What a well-thought-out collection! You can never have enough in your cold/flu “toolbox”!
What a thoughtful winter care package. The weather is turning colder here in Georgia.
We are all suffering from the flu and I had a flu shot 2 days before it hit! This would be great!
I am an email subscriber
Facebook fan
This sounds great. We need to learn how to care for ourselves and family at home without going to the doctor’s office where we will be subjected to more germs, possibly worse than what we already have.
I’m always disheartened whenever the talk of the flu(and other common ailments) rears up because the discussion is usually regarding what to do after you get it and not on the most frugal way to prevent it; the food we eat. Most people would rather risk developing cancer and watch their children suffer while consuming medications/treatments, than consume diets that are most if not all plant based. Eating the most nutritionally optimal foods will always be the cheapest, most effective preventative! I haven’t had the flu(or the shots) in over 10 years despite exposure to others that were sick. Tea and honey, YUMMY anytime!
Wow – I need this – caught a cold already this season!
I receive your postings via email.
And I follow you on FaceBook.
Being a senior citizen going back to Community College and exposing myself to god knows what, having already received a flu shot,I need all of the help that I can get. Would love to win this package.
Hoping you avoid the flu: If not, here is the fix.
I subcribe via email
I follow you on Twitter
Hoping not to have to use it – but nice to have on hand!
A book comes with the package? Pick me, Donna!
Of course, I follow you on Facebook.
Nice deal, great for a starter pack. Add cayenne pepper to make a tea, works well.
i followed you on Facebook and Twitter. I like your articles too”
Great giveaway! I subscribe via email.
Tea, honey, and extra sleep help me when I am sick. Thank you for the giveaway.
I subscribe via email.
hope I win. I just subscribed.
this is a great idea. kudos
Started one for our household. I add the normal red/white label chicken noodle soup as well as ramen. That’s the only time I want them. I also buy a 12-pack of ginger ale. Check the batteries in your thermometer.
Great prizes…good luck to all!
You’re always so helpful—in more ways than one! 🙂
Hi Donna,
Got my FREE flu shot yesterday here in St. Louis! Hope you come back to St. Louis!
I learn so much from you- Thank you!
Awesome giveaway! Fingers crossed.
I take care of two of my sisters 1 who has cancer and 1 who is a blind deaf mute. It would be a big help to win this.
When my friends started giving up FB for Lent, I decided to learn from their addictions, so I read you the “old-fashioned” way, via email, lol! Thanks for providing such a thoughtful and timely giveaway. More importantly, you’ve reminded me to get a flu shot, which I will do this week.
Sounds like a fabulous package just in time for flu season!
Despite getting a flu shot, I’d love to have a cold and flu package on hand…just in case…Thanks for another great giveaway!
Come on lucky number 116!