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?

People like you are a godsend for so many people ❤️

Tell your friend if she has her prescription she can buy the glasses a lot cheaper online.
It's so hard at the moment, isn't it. I can't afford driving lessons, I'm gutted as I really need them as I live in the middle of nowhere and now I have a baby I rarely leave the house unless I go to work. Unfortunately there are only 3 buses a day where I live and they are like a coach, so I can't fold the pram down with a baby and nappy bag in my arms.
Also had to go back to work early as my maternity pay was only £154 per week and it won't cover my rent.

I have been needing new glasses for a while but I know because I have a high prescription that it will probably cost me about £500 which I just can't afford at the moment. Maybe I should just bite the bullet and get them. 🤔

Actually, just about everything. I was already living a very carefully calculated budget. Now I can't afford to put on the heating, I am skipping lunch, dinner for me and my 2 teenage adult children will be something that's meant for 3 with only a potato or 1 veg. If it looks like it won't stretch I tell them I'm not hungry and let them have it and have toast when they've gone back upstairs.

I'm self employed, working without a holiday since before COVID,bthe only time I took off was when I had COVID. Not sure what else I can go without!

Just to give you a laugh I have lost my partial denture and I haven't phoned the dentist yet as no point, not got the money, lol!

There’s some information on the HSE Gov site re Display Screen Equipment and employers responsibilities, hope this might help

HSE display eye test

Sorry dinner is main meant for 2, not 3. I stretch it out to 3.

Oneringtorulethemall

Please pay your ground rent this is a statutory requirement under section 166 Commonhold and leasehold reform act 2002

I work two jobs my partner works we’re both back in university to make things better for us.
Can’t afford the heating, can just about afford the car because I need it for work, food is a bit of hit or miss I need my prescription so we find that but I haven’t been to the dentist in over a year.
today I didn’t go to university because I couldn’t afford the train ticket or to put more fuel in my car for non work purposes and pay the parking, I told them I was poorly. We’re waiting for a major refund and hoping it comes tonight so I can fill the car, get some groceries and go to university on Friday.

Where to begin? I'm on UC just now so there's a lot I can't afford - new clothes, holidays, doing up my flat. I can cover just the basics. However, I'm grateful that I can get dental work done. I recently got a denture because I can't afford dental implants but it's a big relief. I get free prescriptions in Scotland too. I have a council property and we've had free heating since the start of the pandemic. Now with the help with energy bills I don't pay for that either. I'm warm, I have enough to eat, I get my medication and I'm working on getting back to work. I'm incredibly grateful for everything I have ❤️

I'll echo teeth and eyes. Need both, not happening.

Dentist, glasses, petrol, heating, food, treats, holidays

Well I won't be ordering the £3500, jar of caviar from Fortnum and madon that appeared on my Facebook ads today, that's for sure.

Prescriptions are expensive, if it is a regular thing looking at a pre-payment certificate for 3 or 12 months can save time £ss

@MyPurpleHeart it would make more sense for you to claim carers allowance for your ds and your dh to claim as your carer.

Have you had a look at glasses direct type places because you can’t know that they don’t do your prescription until you look.
There are cash back websites as well which I always use.

Can you apply for universal credit or been on Entitled to website to see if you are claiming everything.

I can't afford to replace a broken tyre on my wheelchair that keeps slipping off the rim. I've been stuck inside for 7 months now.

Bills are rising so fast I'm already £2k in debt and I'm dreading my next quarterly energy bill.

Self employed and dont get any time off. Work 12 hours shifts 5-6 times a week. Christmas will be a wash out. One daughter at Uni and her bills keep going up so have to help her. Son at college who wont stop growing and needs new clothes. Need new prescription glasses as eyesight getting worse. Dont get to see daughter whose at Uni cos we cant afford the travel costs. I live off toast and an apple most days. I never go out so don't see friends much anymore. Cant afford to put heating on. Dont wash clothes as often as I cant dry them with no heating. Lifes fucking shite really

Please tell me no one has had to sell their Range Rover on finance? You could always sell a child

I feel sorry for people who are genuinely struggling but when i look around and see mums who regularly get hair, nails, eyebrows done, who smoke, and kids talk about having Sky and Disney and Amazon Prime (which if totally unnecessary as no one needs that much choice or has that much time) I do wonder how much are genuinely struggling? Not trying to be harsh….

I can't afford to go to the dentist.

Haven't read all the thread but anyone on a low income/savings can fill out a HC1 form and if pass the assessment that can get help with prescriptions and glasses etc. You can pick them up in chemist's, gp surgery etc.

For me it would be dentist and glasses. I live alone and have no job, so on benefits. In theory I should 'afford' a check-up, purely so that I can get two broken teeth taken out. 'Luckily' for me, that means going to a hospital, which would be free of charge. The problem with that is that Mum now has Alzheimer's and I would have to ask one of my brothers to take me. Knowing they are both busy, I keep putting it off. The thing with benefits is that you first get to pay and then re-claim the costs, but that's not a great help until you have it 'spare', and there always seems to be a more important thing to cover that takes priority.

For those with more complicated lens requirements, may I suggest that you consider buying your desired frames and taking them to a specialist? My brother and Mum have both had £500 to £600 lenses manufactured to their prescriptions. They won't do them from any of the independent businesses who they work for directly, but if you take a prescription from Specsavers etc to them, they come out at about a quarter of the price. My brother was the initial contact through having clock/watch glasses made for his business.

I desperately need a bed and a mattress. I’m currently on a 5cm piece of foam on the floor.

I had just saved up enough money when my daughter needed a new bed so the money went on that.

With Christmas just around the corner I can’t see me getting a bed anytime soon and spending another year being in pain and uncomfortable.

Sorry I haven’t read through all the replies but have you a local tyre place who can do part worn? They can sometimes be almost new and £10-£15 a tyre.