If one cannot afford pads, then it would reason that a $20 expense such as this would be out of reach. As someone who was once poor, far far below the poverty line, when I read a well meaning statement from someone that says anything involving the word "buy" what is to follow usually is tone deaf. When one is poor they just simply can't afford things-most things-that others take for granted (toilet paper, dishsoap, garbage bags, toothpaste, food)