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Original poster

How do people manage on little money?

167 replies

istheheatingonyet · 08/02/2025 17:11

Ive just spent the best part of £300 on getting my teeth cleaned by the hygenist, a weekly shop for 2 ( adult son also here temporarily) and getting my hair done.
Now I know the third is a total extra but it's one of my few extras.

How do people manage? it's madness.

OP posts:
StormingNorman · 08/02/2025 18:06

Overthebow · 08/02/2025 17:16

Well they wouldn’t spend £300 getting their teeth cleaned, hair done and their shop would be cheaper. If people don’t have the money to do those things then they don’t, all of those are luxuries apart from a small grocery shop.

Edited
Show quote history

Sad that dental hygiene is seen as a luxury these days.

JollyLilacBee · 08/02/2025 18:07

Shocked at the prices, I live in the NW and this would cost me:

Teeth - £26
Hair - £50
Weekly shop for 2 - £50-70 depending on if I need to buy pet food

Meadowfinch · 08/02/2025 18:11

OP, Last year I was redundant so I didn't go to the hygienist, I cleaned my teeth carefully at home and cut my own hair. If I don't have the money, I don't spend it. Simple.

Now I'm earning properly again. I have an NHS dentist. My hygienist appt is £68, cut & colour is £92. I'm in Hampshire.

Today I spent £55 on a week's food for me and ds(16). I cook from scratch and we eat well.

So while I am in work, my equivalent Saturday would cost £215. Maybe you need to shop around.

Westfacing · 08/02/2025 18:13

I understand what the OP is getting at - asking how people manage was rhetorical.

A visit to the hygienist shouldn't be a luxury but it is for those who simply can't afford it - no wonder as a nation we have rotten teeth.

biscuitsandbooks · 08/02/2025 18:13

WhoisRebecca · 08/02/2025 17:51

People suggesting you can save money by not going to the dentist obviously don’t have gum disease 😂

I think the point is that some people just don't have a choice, gum disease or not.

If you don't have the money, you don't have it.

spikefaithbuffy · 08/02/2025 18:14

I have denplan so pay monthly
Haircut is once a year (curly so it lasts anyway)
Food shop budget is £240pm for me

TheEllisGreyMethod · 08/02/2025 18:15

I go to the dentist when we visit DH family abroad. I don't get my hair done and we have a monzo for our food shops which only has £300 a month on it. Not particularly fun.

Ivalueloyaltyaboveallelse · 08/02/2025 18:15

I saw the dentist today SE had to pay for a hygienist appointment, it cost me £70. The last time I saw the hygienist was 6 months ago but apparently have slight gum disease now so needs must. Never have my hair cut but I do spend a fortune on food unfortunately has have a ASD DC with ARFID who only eats certain foods and brands. Fortunately we do get DLA which helps cover some of the extra costs.

Original poster
istheheatingonyet · 08/02/2025 18:17

Being able to keep on top of the situation is also, sadly, a luxury

I'm afraid you're right.

I have made some spectacularly bad decisions around finance and now I am where I am.
I don't want to lose my teeth, so I pay.
As I said the other 2 are my own foolishness.
Poor MH, big back story.
I do think it's an absurd state of affairs.

Thanks

OP posts:
invisiblebark · 08/02/2025 18:19

Seeing a dentist and hygienist shouldn't be a luxury, but sadly, it is.

I would like to see both but I can't afford it so I don't. Simple as.

Haven't seen a dentist for years. I go when I end up with an infection. I find a random dentist, get an emergency appointment, and pay them to pull it out.

I also don't go to the hairdressers or get my hair done.

Original poster
istheheatingonyet · 08/02/2025 18:20

Westfacing · 08/02/2025 18:13

I understand what the OP is getting at - asking how people manage was rhetorical.

A visit to the hygienist shouldn't be a luxury but it is for those who simply can't afford it - no wonder as a nation we have rotten teeth.

Yes, partly rhetorical , partly incredulous and worried.

I used to work in a comminity project and very few people had many teeth. They were in their 50's .Appalling.

OP posts:
Original poster
istheheatingonyet · 08/02/2025 18:20

@invisiblebark Really there is something seriously wrong with this country.

OP posts:
Mangoesintoapub · 08/02/2025 18:21

Some very literal people on this thread. It’s quite clear that OP is expressing concern for people on low incomes.

Dental hygiene is hardly a luxury item and yet it’s unaffordable for so many.

OnaMatUpHere · 08/02/2025 18:34

Why is no one more annoyed that the cost of living is so high???
We live in one of the richest countries in the world.
Be more french!

Original poster
istheheatingonyet · 08/02/2025 18:38

OnaMatUpHere · 08/02/2025 18:34

Why is no one more annoyed that the cost of living is so high???
We live in one of the richest countries in the world.
Be more french!

Perhaps that was what I was trying to say. The cost of living is off the scale.

OP posts:
Original poster
istheheatingonyet · 08/02/2025 18:40

Mangoesintoapub · 08/02/2025 18:21

Some very literal people on this thread. It’s quite clear that OP is expressing concern for people on low incomes.

Dental hygiene is hardly a luxury item and yet it’s unaffordable for so many.

I suppose i am expressing concern for others and **ing it about my own state.

OP posts:
HoraceCope · 08/02/2025 18:42

i see the hygienist every 6 months and the dentist, but the last hygienist said i should go more often, every 6 months, so that was annoying, because i was going every 6 months.
very tempted to go to a different hygienist.

Chewbecca · 08/02/2025 18:43

Hygienist is a weird one actually, never existed when I was little and now is a must-have. The (NHS) dentist would do a clean and polish as part of your regular check up. No extra appointment or ££ needed. Shame.

Ilovemyshed · 08/02/2025 18:44

Hygenist £50 (NHS dentist), weekly food £60, at a push £75, hair £35.

HoraceCope · 08/02/2025 18:45

Chewbecca · 08/02/2025 18:43

Hygienist is a weird one actually, never existed when I was little and now is a must-have. The (NHS) dentist would do a clean and polish as part of your regular check up. No extra appointment or ££ needed. Shame.

the dentist does nothing, apart from check now

BobnLen · 08/02/2025 18:45

Maybe rather than spend so much on your hair, spend the money on a dental plan which is better value than a one off hygienist visit

YourAzureEagle · 08/02/2025 18:46

Breakfastofbiscuits · 08/02/2025 17:31

I don’t go to the hygienist. I have a dental scraper I got off Amazon, tepee, floss and brush 2 to 3 times a day and just prey that I don’t get an infection or lose part of a tooth. Cut my own hair and live on a food budget of £50 a week.

Same here, my late uncle was a dentist and taught me how to do my own the old way with a mini sickle scraper and explorer when I was at uni, he gave me the instruments, which I still use - easy when you know how!

Original poster
istheheatingonyet · 08/02/2025 18:49

BobnLen · 08/02/2025 18:45

Maybe rather than spend so much on your hair, spend the money on a dental plan which is better value than a one off hygienist visit

Something to consider when i don't have brain fog,Thanks

Yes @Chewbecca no such thing as hygeneist back in the day. A pink paste and a brush round was it. Also recall vets were not permitted to advertise.But thats another story.

OP posts:
sunshineandshowers40 · 08/02/2025 18:50

My hygienist is £65 (SE), I only go regularly now as I can afford to. If I had less money my hair would be done less often or I would do it myself at home and I would food shop differently. You manage with what you have.

NovemberMorn · 08/02/2025 18:52

Some people don't actually have £300 a week to live on.
How they manage to live, eat. pay bills, is the real mystery.
I suspect teeth and hair maintenance is way down on their priority list.