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 have a complex prescription also plus astigmatism, my last pair at Specsaver’s were over £400. It’s crazy that VAT is included on what is essentially a healthcare item.

If you are working in an office then I imagine you are both using computers.

If you are then your employer has to provide a free eye test and pay for a pair of glasses if they are needed for working on a computer.

It's in the Health and Safety at Work Act, the bit you need is the 'display screen equipment' regulations.

www.hse.gov.uk/msd/dse/eye-tests.htm

I have a very complex prescription too, my lenses cost £300 on the high street but I used fashion eye wear and got my lenses half price. They’re no different at all to my specsavers lenses

It doesn’t work like that, it’s dependent on how many letters you can see on the letter chart - which your glasses on and also the extent of your visual field.

she must have another issue with her eyes as well.

-9 does sound high, but I probably see 1-2 people a week with that prescription.

it is worth your friend shopping around as you can get some good deals on glasses.

With your glasses on!

*Dentist - I checked every single near me, NO ONE doing NHS or taking new patients. I simply can't afford private one. I was really positive when I got my Maternity Excemption Sertificate, but can't find the dentist
*Heating - definitely off this winter
*I need facial treatment really bad (had cystic acne for years) - I don't think I will be able to afford it in the next couple of years.
*Have very sensitive skin, can't afford any good creams or lotions
*I think I'll need to cancel son's music classes, they increasing prices almost every month
*I'm pregnant and can't afford swimming pool or pregnancy gym classes which I really enjoyed during my first pregnancy
*No holidays since 2019

I'm quite lucky that my friend who moved out from UK left me her entire wardrobe. So I have almost brand new winter coat.

It's very hard and I can't feel any positivity. My husband does 55 hrs a week, I'm on 20 hours and still need to count every single penny....

Rocket I am sorry to hear about your friend, it sounds as though she uses one of the more '"structured"' Food Banks which has rules about three days worth of food. Our FB is a lot more relaxed and if someone was genuinely struggling like this we would always ensure they were given more.

Who is Ben?

Lol I know it's a typo but it made me laugh.

New tyres and a car repair - one will be this month after I get paid one in November
new ceiling and plaster work in my dining room this will be the second Xmas we eat dinner with a huge hole above us
my optician does interest free over 12 months

@RocketPanda has your colleague has a look at Olio and also Too Good To Go? They work better in bigger towns and cities I think, but I’ve had some great ‘magic bags’ from Too Good To Go. The Greggs ones are usually a couple of baguettes/sandwiches, couple of sausage rolls or bakes and doughnuts/cakes for £2.59. Not the healthiest, but will fill her up more than a cup a soup. 🥲

And food! We are buying only basic items - meat (usually YS) vegetables, some cheap fruits, pasta, etc. I really missed nice pastries or slice of good cake. Or wide selection of fruits - melons, pineapples, berries. I missed take away coffee at the park walk.

Just hard to believe how everything changed in 3 years. On Maternity leave with my son we were in a way better position. Despite the fact we are now better ~£500,everything disappears on food and bills.

For distance or reading? I only ask as if she needs specs for driving, than obviously she needs them immediately, she could invalidate her licence & insurance otherwise. You can buy single vision specs very cheaply online these days.

Boots do a contact lense scheme. I pay £15 a month for my lenses and also get 50% off glasses too!

@dottiedodah They may be cheap but I wouldn't recommend them to anyone.

I went there and am now currently recovering from complex eye surgery thanks to their negligence.

On the advice of my consultant I am now in the process of issuing legal proceedings.

Never again.

The dentist
I have had to fork out over a thousand pounds this year for my adult kids (students) to have wisdom teeth out but my own infected tooth remains

One of my teeth needs a crown. It’s complicated but the old filling comprises most of the tooth, and I can’t eat comfortably on that side, food gets rammed in a gap and has to be flossed out mid meal (obviously inconvenient, have to leave the table unless alone) as it is sore.

£750 that I just don’t have, and am finding I very slow to save for.

I can’t afford Christmas.

I can’t afford waterproof shoes (mine have a hole in)

I can’t afford to put petrol in the car until payday.

I can’t afford the dentist.

I can’t afford to put the heating on.

I can’t afford the nice things that make life enjoyable - an occasional pub meal with friends, buying the a new top now and then, taking children on a day trip on the train to somewhere new etc.

I have worked in teaching for nearly 30 years. I should (along with millions of other people in this country) be able to live comfortably (not extravagantly - I don’t want holidays to Dubai or a face full of expensive fillers, or a posh car or anything like that) on what I earn. Instead, I am skint.

Glaucoma sufferer here
You cannot just say someone in the family has it so you can get a free eye test.
It's not as simple as that

This is awful.

I grew up in poverty but it was nothing like this (30-40 years ago).

Reading this is absolutely heartbreaking.

I just got new glasses after 10 years and I wear them all the time it was just the one thing I could always put off so I did as we needed other things

If your friends work full time and they can’t afford glasses or their monthly prescription (both under £10) then I think that has more to do with budgeting than not being paid enough.

Reading these posts on how people are struggling has brought it home to me, how bad things are.

I'm on the point of retirement and having worked since 16, being mortgage free, I'm not in this position but have known extremely hard times.

Life isn't worth living when you're just existing and there's no light at the end of the tunnel.

I wish I could offer advice but I can't, I feel so bloody sad this is the situation for many of you x

I was surprised at how upset a friend was over the Queen's funeral, until they explained that their company was shut for the day so they would lose a day's salary so couldn't afford to buy any food for their kids (they get paid by the day).

(As an aside, it must have been difficult for them to see the money spent on the funeral)!