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?

@Afterfire, sorry but I don't believe the difference is how you describe it. You might have got one dodgy pair but overall, their lenses are fit for purpose.

Readers should know that Asda IS a very good option. I could afford £300 glasses, but my Asda ones are just as good and I refuse to pay inflated for those who spend a fortune in advertising or those who are after massive profits.

The dentistry one is terrible and really upsets me.
I had a phobia and didn't go for 30 years and have overcome it.
I live abroad and I go to Hungary for private treatment. The reason being that because of my phobia (which now seems to have disappeared) I really needed a dentist who had the time and patience to deal with me - she plans in extra time for every treatment - there is an additional cost for this but it still ends up being much much cheaper than a private dentist in the country I actually live in.
However, we have a system in this country where you can claim money back from the state insurance company you paid into - so I can go to a private dentist either in this country, or anywhere in the EU and will be refunded the amount that would have been paid to the equivalent of an NHS dentist here. It means I am still paying but much less and it also means that there is less of a problem getting to see a dentist because the public dentists working through the health insurance system are not completely booked out.

I think it's just awful that in the UK you are completely fucked if you can't get an NHS dentist place and can't afford to go private. What are you supposed to do? Wait until you are in terrible pain and then have to have teeth pulled in an emergency situation? And this has been going on for years.
I've got a relative who moved to another part of the country and lost her place in her NHS dentist at home, now can't get in anywhere, can't afford treatment, is starting to have problems and she's young.

This is really dire.

I am grateful that due to my age/health problems I get free prescriptions. I do have to buy glasses but have bought some recently (not straight forward prescription).

I am lucky that there is only me to feed and I don't eat meat.

I have a free oyster card which works after 9am and have a financial 'cushion' from when my Aunt died.

However, I work 'bank' so am not working full time so when my savings run out...... shit.

I have been frivalous in the past but do need to stop as there is nothing I really desperately need and I have nowhere to put anything!!

I am also lucky that my heating and water etc are in my rent.

I really do feel for a family that is struggling. Also pensioners. If my parents and Aunt were still alive, I bet they would be struggling, and the thought of them sitting in a house without heating would be terrible.

I used to bang on at the USA being so unfair to its people, especially those that could not afford health insurance, but dammit, we are no better.

Bills, food, single parent with 980 rent alone, life is hard atm. Can't even think about Christmas 😭😭😭

Yeah last time I looked Poundland weren't selling variafofal glasses!

Or put in a slow cooker. Obviously you have to own a slow cooker.

I've joined my local community shop, it cost £5 but you get £5 worth of food, that bought me

1 lb carrots
1lb tomatoes
a leek
1 lb sprouts
1 lb onions
flour - a big bag
a box of snickers

They have a weekly offer, this week it is 4 baking potatoes, a block of cheese and a tin of beans for £3.

If you have one near have a look.

Pre covid they had cooing lessons a cafe and they wrote their own recipe book.

She uses cup a soups so she only boils the kettle once and puts it in a thermos. She's in a really dire situation that was bad last year but this year is 10 times worse. Thanks for the ideas and suggestions I will pass them on. There's only so much I can do for her, I live in a different country.

@Meklk I have skin that reacts to almost everything the only ones that are ok are Clinique which is obviously really expensive and simple which is much cheaper and in places like Home bargains and B&M. Also consider using baby products, I have in the past.

Also,especially this time of year,get her to keep an eye on the(stupidly expensive) food boxes.often they will now be advertising first box/try free.and anything she can get with one of them,cancel straight away she is essentially getting a box free.it’s not a great solution at all and appalling to think someone would have to do this just to eat but worth it for a free box of food.

Not all help has been removed, just most of it. You seem not to understand the current rules. Masses of help was removed since 2010 since the Tories' took over.

I know I would not be able to afford rent increase (so I'm hoping my landlord appreciates how good tenants we are and won't increase it in the near future). If government removes the cap off energy bills, I won't be able to afford another increase too.

It isn't this bad for many people, but if you were just getting by before, quite possibly you aren't getting by now. And if you were poor before, you're probably using food banks and contemplating a winter with no heating.

For many though, even those on quite low incomes, it's a case of shopping at a cheaper supermarket and cutting out luxuries like holidays, rather than food. Petrol/diesel prices have, thank goodness, gone back to a much lower level than they were a few months ago. The real issues now are mortgage rates (although many are still on the lower rates for now), and fuel bills, which have gone up around x3 so far.

If you're in Europe though, I wouldn't feel too smug, if I were you, as much of Europe is a lot more dependent on Russian oil and gas than the UK is. While prices have gone up here, our supply is much safer than mainland Europe's is.

If she is in the UK, try [email protected]. James Anderson does free plumbing/heating etc and is also doing Asda shops for families as a temp solution. He's on twitter.

I am beginning to wonder if children will need codliver oil and vit C as in wartime, and probably mothers and fathers also.

Online really aren’t suitable for people with complex prescriptions, like myself (-12, astigmatism etc). They need to check placement on the face before making them as the tiniest bit off and you can’t see. I can’t even choose frames in store without them having to consult a senior person to tell me which ones I can choose from (they have to be very small with a high prescription).

I’m -12 with astigmatism, cataracts and have had a detachment and tears and I have not been told I can be certified as partially sighted. I get free eye tests as you get those once you hit -10, and voucher for £14 off the cost of glasses (which are £300+!), but no other help.

Get her to keep an eye on veg deals in the reduced or box or bags you can get for cheap.it wouod be so much better for her mentally and physically and costly if she could boil her own soup then freeze in pouches.those cuppa soups aren’t cheap!

Paid £15 for an eye test in Specsavers and got a pair of glasses for £19. Unless your colleague has a very non-standard prescription surely this is affordable?

@LiverpOslo I guess your name is the clue to where you are! Your energy needs are pretty safe if you're in Norway.

Awful lot of misinformation re glasses on here. I'm surprised that people don't understand the difference between prescriptions.

It's simply not possible to pick up a cheap off the rack pair for £20 if you have a more complex prescription. You're looking at £500 and it's not the frames it's the lenses.

Just see how long your kettle lasts if you do that daily and how many boils it takes to do a portion. You have a crack and report back next month.
Suspect rather more water and electricity than a cuppa soup……

@Meklk
Have you tried Olay day cream for sensitive skin. Its six ponds a pot (I appreciate that’s still a cost but a lot less than some of the others for sensitive skin) in Sainsbury’s at the moment. I find it better than a lot of the more specialist ones.

Part worn ones are very good and will be legal...also try scrap yards,they are cheaper still and will have the legal thread you need possibly.Short term solutions but may help,not ideal but needs must and I always get part worn ones and have never had any problems.

Potatoes can be boiled in the kettle if cut small.

How many boils would it take to cook them? It would cost a fortune in electricity, not to mention mess up and damage your kettle. You can cut boiling time (in a pan!) by cutting them small though. Or cook them in the microwave.

@RudsyFarmer Your comment about glaucoma is completely out of order. Only the children of someone with glaucoma are eligible and you have to evidence it.

My family is severely affected by glaucoma. My grandfather went blind in middle age because of it. My uncle has had countless operations to try to retain what little sight he still has. Some of those operations have failed and caused problems themselves. His eyes are painful to look at and he has experienced a lot of physical pain too. My 32 year old cousin already has glaucoma symptoms and can see the fate that awaits him.

Early diagnosis is essential. Blind and partially sighted people are significantly less likely to be in paid employment than the general population or other disabled people. Given that glaucoma is one of the main causes of blindness and that this is a cost of living thread, surely you can understand that people who are at high risk of developing glaucoma have a medical need for NHS eye tests in a way that most people don't.

Children and adults over 60 get free eye tests in England and everyone gets them in Scotland.