What can't you afford?

[Marleymerm]

Last week at work my colleague told me her recent eye test showed she needed glasses, but she couldn't afford them, she's known she's needed them for a couple of years but said she doesn't have the money. We both work full time in office jobs and neither of us have expensive hobbies or social lives, we're both pretty boring.
I realised this morning I haven't bought new shoes for months despite the ones I have coming apart, because I can't afford them. I've picked up pairs but put them back down when I've thought of what else I need instead.
When I asked this question to my friend about what she couldn't afford she told me her monthly prescription! She hasn't got it for 3 months.
It's a weird time we're living in so everyone's doing without something. But do you have any necessary things you need but can't afford?

I do wish people would recognise that "Here is how to get this thing cheaper" is not as helpful as they think when the money spare for said thing is £0 because someone has hit the bottom of the credit card/overdraft.

Definitely dental- like previous poster I had a phobia and didn't go for 25 years- consequently I've lost a load of teeth , and can't have a payment plan as would need about £6k of implants minimum to even be accepted. My own fault I know

For the sake of others though I do think the whole system regarding dentistry needs a massive overhaul .

I second the British Heart Foundation furniture shops.
They have great stuff so good luck and hope you can get something suitable

So sorry @ChookityPok - the dental services in the UK (England for me) are dire. Our dentist is going private-only in a couple of months and have tried without luck to get another. More for DS than anything.

My friend (she has unfortunately moved away) is a dentist and I know she she was training they accepted patients to 'practice' on. But it may be an option for you?

I do think it’s worth discussing.
With wfh and less in person socialising things just don’t come up in conversation.
In past in office young colleague would ask if anyone had headache tablets. If they asked a few times one of us would say you need your eyes testing it was always news to them they could claim it back. Go to x optician they are good at ticking vdu use etc.

@Marleymerm

Lawyer here, if you’re based in the UK (which I think you are) and if your friend uses her glasses for her work, your employer needs to provide vouchers or pay for an eye test. Check your employee handbook/contract as there could be support available to your friend via work toward the cost of her glasses.

Only if they are for VDU use only. That's the legal requirement that employers have to give. A free eye test and then money towards frames and lenses for VDU use only.

I use selectspecs.com - if you put in your prescription (you dont need to upload it if you check the box to take the risk yourself) then you can get frames from £6. Its not ideal but it helps.

Good for you.

I've never been at skint as I am since being too ill to work. (Yet not ill enough to get any extra help)
Funny thing is id probably have been better a lot quicker and back at work already if i wasn't constantly stressed about money.

If it’s a new prescription and required for working on a computer than the company should pay for it.

Our car will be going soon as with our mortgage going up soon we can't afford the increase.
we are feeding ourselves but skipping lunch or breakfast so food is left for kids.
Dental appointments and glasses I've also had to stop attending baby groups they soon add up over the month. Removing the kids from their beavers/rainbows groups as the extra activities were racking up. It's such an awful situation at the moment

Yes, I think many people aren’t aware that we have to pay for the lenses in the second ‘free’ pair, because the offers don’t include extras such as thinning, which is essential (and not for vanity reasons) at -12. I have to have a spare pair of glasses - I literally couldn’t do anything without my glasses - so this adds to the cost. I’ve never had prescription sunglasses as I’d be paying for three pairs of complex lenses every time my prescription changes (every year), yet being exposed to the sun will not have helped my eyes.

Please speak privately/email leader at rainbows/scouts. They may have access to funding. Extra activities are optional

Fresh veg. We now eat frozen whenever we can.

The dentist . I need work done but way beyond my budget and can't get NHS

I was referring to the person who is in full time employment and coming out with probably just over £1600 per month then I don’t believe savings cannot be made.

£10 is 33p per day over a month

Or 11p per day over a period of 90 days

For the person who is saying they can’t afford glasses and is working full time
There is always somewhere that you can save money on something even if it is going by bus and not train or walking the extra bit to get you further into work and save money on the commute costs or changing to a cheaper alternative in food.

For the person having cup a soups
Surely a couple of slices of bread and a can of 22p beans are cheaper and more filling than 2 or 3 cuppa soups and cups of tea after you have boiled the water 4 or 5 times over the course of the evening.

Please don't use a ladder it's very very dangerous. Find the money if it's absolutely urgent or leave it as it is. Dying or suffering a serious injury just isn't worth it.

A daily ketamine habit

most companies will only pay up to a certain amount.

If you honestly believe that Specsavers are as good as it gets, you either have a very simple prescription or you've never tried a really good lens. I have a complex prescription and was gutted at how much my local independent optician was charging me for lenses. So I went to Specsavers and splashed out on the best that they offered at the time. That was when I learned that, even at their best, Specsavers only offer a 'good enough' option — but not an excellent one.

I will say dentist, the work I need is going to cost thousands - cracked tooth during lockdown now not salvageable so will need extracting and replaced with an implant, clicky jaw - a brace needed to correct and a wisdom tooth that needs extracting. However, I can't get an appointment anywhere.

My son has severe eczema - bleeding, infected etc and doctor refuses to see him in person, so we will have to probably see a specialist privately - again costly.

Smear test again can't get an appointment through my GP, I will have to go private so I've also put that off.

You can also buy remoulded tyres for a lot less. Basically refurbished carcasses with new treads. They don’t last as long. But are much cheaper and could be a good solution.

If she works full time and uses a computer most employers have help to pay for eye tests and a basic lenses, has she asked her employer?

Definitely do this. I'm a cub leader and in our district we've all recently been sent information about how to help families who can't afford to pay subs etc.

Dental treatment
car service
house maintenance
although all must be paid for somehow Luckily prescriptions are free here