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?

You can microwave potatoes from raw - not quite the same as baked because the skin comes out soft, but it is so much cheaper than the oven.
Generally microwaving is one of the cheapest ways to cook.

Thanks @Mummyoflittledragon my big concern is right now and doing what we can to keep her safe and legal on winter roads in the Dales so remoulded tyres are another option for us to explore 👍

Are you in receipt of any other benefits?

Because I have complex lenses (-11 and astigmatism), had similar all my life (my first prescription was - 6 at age 6!) and I have never been entitled to any more than a token £14/15 from the NHS.

Thanks for that info @FlourPowered 👍

We are fairly low income pensioners, but our big saving is having no mortgage or rent. We have had some lean times in the past, DH had serious health issues which stopped him earning, then severely reduced it. Because of that, we moved to a cheaper house, and paid it off.

I’m grateful that unlike some times in the past, our income is guaranteed. We can be pretty frugal, rarely buy new clothes, cook from scratch (I bought a slow cooker) and always ensure our fuel bills are well in credit by the end of the summer by paying the same every month. Our adult DC don’t need financial help, they are both in two earner households.

I don’t think we’ll have any more holidays, or replace our aging car, but we can afford basic essentials like food. Free travel and prescriptions are a big help. My worry is that when two becomes one, whoever is left will really struggle on one income. We have depleted our savings since we retired, new boiler, roof repairs and other home maintenance. Not all baby boomers go cruising.

I put of having haircuts - just tie it back, stick to the bargain brands - and walking past treats in the supermarket because I just cannot afford.
I was gifted a slow cooker which has been a godsend this winter - vegetable stews and bread are just lovely

I just googled more about complex vouchers and it looks like I got a lot more because I am in Scotland. The maximum voucher here is £218 with add ons if required.

www.gov.scot/publications/quick-guide-help-health-costs-6/

@squatjustice Almost identical sight problems although the squint was corrected mostly through an operation as a child. All rather complicated and fascinating to opticians. 😂🙄

I'm just trying to help as I can't bear all of this.

You buy temp filling kits at boots. With the exposed root get some sensitive toothpaste and smear some on and leave it there. (I'm not a dentist, just speaking from experience)

There are videos about how to take your trousers in online or other "hacks".

None of these are perfect solutions @imnotwhoyouthinkiam but they'll take the edge off.

@Smellyoldowls22 my DD has incredibly narrow feet and surprisingly we found affordable and narrow trainers at Sports Direct. If he's not brand sensitive you could get a bargain (especially if he's wearing child sizes!)

It seems sometimes that "fashion" trainers are narrower but also still ok for PE and stuff. My DD has very particular needs with shoes (it's a freaking nightmare) and Sports Direct was the solution 8 times out of 10.

This I awful there needs to be a pot of money available for people to be able to afford basics like glasses and footwear for work.

I know CIN is focusing on children affected by the cost of living. There needs to be something for adults struggling as well. So that those at the top can help those at the bottom.

Doesn't help that MPs milk the system for expenses. They should be paying for they're own lunches out not the taxpayer.

My lenses prescription costs me £290 (excluding the eye test) and I just keep reusing my old frames (which were £25 about 15 years ago). My prescription has needed updated for over 3 years now but I have been able to afford the £300 odd to do it, so have been wearing minthly contact lenses instead - dearer in the long run but are inle £15 a packet (which I stretch out longer than 1 month and am very bad wearing them 7 days a week and far longer than should every day, and just struggle with my glasses briefly every morning/evening) but now it's got to the point I can't even afford the contact lenses and have been wearing this pair for just Iver 2 months now. I know it's terrible and I'm risking my sight but what can I do. I need yo be able to see in the mean time of scraping and saving for my glasses (unlikely) or to get my next pair of monthlies.

Sadly many will find if they reduce their working hours they will be entitled to help with rent, council tax and free prescriptions, glasses, eye test and any dental work and check up. This is why I have not increased my hours. I'm worse off now then I was working less hours as I pay what I earn extra in rent as I get less housing benefit and working tax credits. I wouldn't increase my hours again I'd be even worse off.

I’m still on the old benefit system. My self and my son are both disabled, my husband who has copd and rheumatoid arthritis is my sons carer. 25yrs I worked in the bar/ night club trade then my health deteriorated.
couldn’t fix my car so had to scrap it to cover my sons taxis to school. Then sold my motorbike ( also scrap value due to yet again not being able to afford to fix it ) to get another car. He’s now finished school but needs new clothes, new foot ware and a coat.
cant afford clothes, can’t afford fuel for the car, had to cancel all the after school stuff, struggling with food ( me and the hubby only eat once a day or every other day) heating has to be on due to son and hubby both having severe breathing problems. But it’s only in 1 room and just enough to take the chill off.
id rather go without than go to the food bank due to the nastiness of our neighbours ( any chance they get they have a go and call us all the names under the sun) I need new foot ware cause I don’t know how much longer I can walk about in sandals.
we don’t go out, we don’t have holidays or days out. My daughter has her 18th birthday soon and Christmas just isn’t happening.

Our local one closed a few months ago. You know when things are bad when even a charity shop can't stay afloat.

I haven't bought a new bra in 3 years. I never had more than 5 or 6, but I'm down to 3, one worn out under the armpits, one whose underwires are poking out, and one whose elastic has gone.

My last hair cut was 7 months ago, and I keep on thinking I really need to swallow the cost and have another.

Not basics but I used to be able to regularly attend all 3 of my hobbies. Now just the thought of the cost of fuel to get to them is enough to make me think twice. I hadn't really realised but in reality I've dropped two of them completely, and whereas I used to go to the third weekly, I go maybe once every 3 months now.

For those struggling for things like clothes, shoes and toys, try the Facebook group Preloved to Reloved for Postage UK. It's like an online charity shop where people offer things for free and you just pay postage costs and PayPal fees to get the things posted to you. Items are both new and used and you can ask for what you need.

Some people have needs that NHS prescription doesn't cover. Having any sort of disability comes with a cost. I'm sure you would be able to apply for PIP if your eyesight is that bad it's classed as a disability.

An optician told me though to avoid smaller frames as I need thick lenses. Smaller frames make lenses look thicker.
I usually go for the second option with specsavers. But likely won't be able to afford it when I need to replace them in a few months.

I haven’t had the car serviced. It’s obviously going to come back and bite me in the arse, but what can you do, but hope for next month? And the boiler. I managed the dental check up and thankfully needed no work. I probably do need new glasses (and bloody bifocals too) but I certainly won’t be getting them for a while.

I’ve turned the heating down and given up baths. Shopping budget is £20 a week for two of us. I cut my own hair. No new clothes, not even secondhand. Mine aren’t exactly rags, but they are all mended in places. My boots leak. I’m not saving at all, paying into a pension and have no life insurance. I’ve almost given up meat and fish, and my preferred toiletries - strictly Aldi’s own. I’ve given up buying for my hobbies or any activities. I just don’t buy stuff. I used to pick up bits and pieces I wanted, just because I liked them, or they made life a little easier. Now I buy nothing I don’t absolutely need. I’ve stopped even considering it. It’s hard and although it was supposed to be only for a few months, the COL crisis has meant is has gone on for a year. Each time I’ve made small gains, they’ve been swallowed up by the increases. I’m constantly chasing an adequate income and running behind the costs. Really don’t know how to get ahead.

Should we start a thread for things that we can offer that might help people out? I’ve got loads of contact lenses, all in sealed boxes that might do someone a turn. (My prescription has changed a lot recently so they are no use to me.)

Should we start a thread for things that we can offer that might help people out? I’ve got loads of contact lenses, all in sealed boxes that might do someone a turn. (My prescription has changed a lot recently so they are no use to me.)

I will need to check what the prescription is.

@DashboardConfessional

No, but it might help people save money so they don't too fall into the £0 category.

I can't afford:
Holidays abroad
Repairs to my house
Dental treatment
Treats for myself like new clothes/haircut/beauty treatments.

I earn a decent salary (around £40k mark) and consider myself one of the lucky ones, but being a lone parent in the current economic climate isn't fun.

In England, each prescription costs £9.35.
A PPC covering ALL prescriptions (unlimited number) for one year costs 10 payments of £10.81

Hope that solves your problem.

The car. Can you check simple things like oil yourself. Mine hasn’t been serviced but we do check basics (dh googles or asks a friend)