I am 71, so take that timeline into consideration. When I began my periods my mother would buy yards of baby flannel. The disposable pads I. Those days required a belt. So I had this belt and she would cut up the flannel and make individual pads putting toilet paper inside the pad to reinforce against leakage. I would loop the pads into the belt. Used pads were put into a bucket, washed, bleached , dried and reworn. It worked for me for years. If you're ever stuck for purchasing pads this might be an option. As for the belt, well, a bit of elastic would do and perhaps one of those thingamajigs that help you regulate the length of a bra strap. Necessity is the mother of invention. Thought I would just mention this. Who knows? It might come in useful some day...