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?

@Margerine78 @bloodynamechangethe3rd
this is so sad ! I hope things get better for you both soon ☹️

Thanks for posting@Emmadeo81 yes, other PPs have suggested that, and my friend and I have been doing lots of research into it. We are very hopeful 😊

Children not having their dental needs met can be considered neglect. I am not accusing you of neglect, I am just alerting you to this. I feel like you need to make someone aware that your children can not access the NHS Dentist despite you trying to get them in to one. Someone will need to advocate to push this through for you. I'm thinking maybe raising it with your GP who could signpost you to someone? Raise it with your MP even!
The last think you want is your child's school sending in a referral to Social Services stating your children have dental issues which are not being addressed. If they are sat in pain with toothache at school it will soon be flagged up. Saying you called a few dentists and they couldn't get them in probably won't prove that you have tried sufficiently. Get evidence that you have tried. The state have a responsibility to your children to provide them with this treatment.

Could you afford to pay using ClearPay, Klarna or PayPal pay in 3 for shoes? That would be 10pm for three months. £3.33 per week.

Fingers crossed. I hope you find somewhere.
my Car needs new brakes and service (oil change) and MOT and I can’t afford any of that, I’m fortunate that my parents have offered to pay for the work the car needs so it keeps me and my daughter safe. But I know not everyone has someone who is financially able to help. Reading this entire thread breaks my heart and scares me for our futures.

Just reading through a few more of these, I feel a little better about getting so excited after buying some bras on ebay. The listing was for one used of the make/style that I prefer, but the content mentioned three. I was fully expecting to get an offer to buy the other two at the same price, but got all three - they seem brand new, and I can wear bras for a while instead of the more affordable bra tops that I moved over to. As faras knickers go, "make do and mend" comes to mind.

That's really useful to know. Do you have a link at all about neglect and the law on this? Honestly, I think those who can't find a dentist for their child should skip the GP and go straight to their MP. This is a political issue and if they can go armed with the law about neglect, all the better.

I did read recently about on increase in children being taken into care being directly traceable to increased poverty. I'll try to find the link.

@bpirockin I would be excited about the bras too. I desperately need more but need to be measured again and I can't afford new ones. I have one bra that I wear and I go bra less when it's in the wash... and I REALLY need a bra!!

Could you stretch a single Mattress on the floor while you save for a base.
I have done this and it's not ideal. I bought a small single from amazon

@MummyBee40
Wow! That's awful. Could you look on the Nextdoor app which covers the world but you can limit to your area and one or two places nearby. They have pages full of For Sale and Free items including beds and mattresses plus bed-linen and most of it excellent quality. I live in South Surrey and there are always guest room beds given away free when people move home.
I hope you have success in finding a bed on there. 🍀
I don't know about FB market place as I'm not on FB but other posters may have news on that front.
All the best 😁

They can be excellent but that’s the basic price- mine double or triple with the lenses I need, and you have to be very low income to get help- I’m an unpaid carer and SH low income employed but we don’t qualify. I am glad we’re in Wales as it means prescriptions are free, if DH had to go without his it would end up costing the NHS much more long term and that always seems a poor investment- better to fund the cost of a pack of antibiotics or anti depressants now than care for sepsis or in patient care later on.

Thank you, I’m hoping that things improve for us asap, at least the kids are warm, clean and fed. I’ll start to really panic when I can’t buy the toothpaste next month. Feel like they’ll be issuing us with rations by January.

the Klarna thing I’m dragging my heels with, I have looked at PayPal pay in 3 and I also have a 0 balance next account, I’m just wary of getting in above my head and getting the “eff it I’ll pay it on credit…” fever. I’ve been there before and I only finished paying those things back two years ago, hence the zero balance account.

Do you have a community shop near you? They are amazing. I look back to the days I used to go shopping and buy new, now second hand shops and vinted, so many bargains. For prescriptions I use the annual service so you know if you need to get anything extra it won't cost. As for lenses and dentists, well, seems no way out there, however if not varifocal the online services such as firmoo are brilliant and dentist I guess just have to go less often, I've finally made an appt in 3 years! X

I got a couple of bras from Primark, they are really nice under t-shirts and were £3 each. I've worn them more than my expensive bras. They've washed well too.

Not sure what size they go up to, I'm only 36C so know they probably won't cater for all.

I have put off putting the heating on, to be fair it's not too cold yet. We will be layering up.

We aren't badly off, but have no idea how long this is going to last. Mortgage is fixed for another couple of years, so am not panicking about that yet.

I think we are definitely being more careful as no idea what the future holds.

Will be using the slow cooker a lot more. Baked potatoes done in them are lovely and fluffy.

Please don't try and boil spuds in a kettle!

@MummyBee40 I don't know where you are or if you have children but there are charities that can help. See zarach.org/

Now.

Eye test.
Driving lessons
Driving lessons for DC.

Sorry, a bit late to the discussion. At my gp practice, there was a poster advertising free dental care at the local hospital’s dental institute. As it’s for the dental students to practise on, it won’t appeal to everyone, but worth investigating?

@kendodd
Here is the CP / Safeguarding Info. Re Dental for Children
childprotection.rcpch.ac.uk/child-protection-evidence/dental-neglect-systematic-review/

Dentist and glasses for me!

I agree with the fuel for leisure journeys, I ration fuel

I also cook basic pasta meals now, I refuse to let my DS go without! I make sure he is fed and has everything he needs but I’ve given up on things for me

hopefully we will be out of this mess!

I'm sorry for your situation, and apologise if I'm being ignorant or insensitive, but as you're clearly online have you tried searching for charities that can help?

I just did a quick Google search and found a bunch of charities committed to providing beds and furniture to families that need it including: zarach.org/

These might not be right for you, but there may be others who are. I do hope you find a way to at least a good night's sleep. I feel panic when I see the increase in fuel bills, so this makes me feel very lucky that at least we all have beds to sleep in.

If you are in Unison you can add dental to your subs and get your money back or at least some of it
I wish i had done this year as ive had 3 fillings 😞

I’m a single parent and small business owner which had a bad couple of months in the summer and I’m now playing catch up. I’ve missed two council tax payments and a mortgage payment and can’t afford my tax bill. I’m hoping the council will let me spread the money owing over the rest of the year but I’m too scared to phone, my missed mortgage payment I can pay next week hopefully and I’ll have to wait until HMRC pass my tax bill over to creditors so I can have a payment plan. It’s all rubbish at the moment.

But clearly I’m in a better position than a lot of people

I am in America and receive my dental care from a university dental school. I have dental insurance but the cost is still prohibitive. By receiving care from the dental school with their reduced fees and using the the dental insurance, I find the final cost to be quite reasonable. The students are very closely supervised by licensed dental professionals and I have been more than satisfied with the care.

@themonkeysnuts I looked into Unison's dental scheme, and it was only availavble with an NHS dentist. The chances of getting in to an NHS dentist if you don't already have one are pretty much zero.