Great 'what costs more for if you're poor?' Hunt revisited

poor_country_girl

As I am not on benefits I still have to pay for prescriptions even though I earn less than most people do on bens. It is not worth getting a prepaid card as I don't use enough to justify one, and I have convinced my doctor to double up each item so I get 2 months for the price of one, but it still stings.

Also - Vet bills, After taking on pets in more lucrative times, we would never dream of getting rid of them, and although we manage food and the basics, anything extra like treating an injury or infection etc can be an unexpected shock - of course we can't afford insurance. Before anyone comments though, if the pets need anything, we find the money from somewhere!

mssuperscrimper

Unfortunately everything is more expensive when you're poor cos it's all relative; the less you have, the more it is in percentage of your income. If u have to pay on meters, or monthly for insurance etc, u end up paying more, & if you're single you pay even more - eg, price per trip in your car is more, can't take advantage of multi buys, or family admission or travel tickets, bargain holiday offers (rates always based on minimum of double occupancy or family coupons)- on the upside u can learn to be as savvy as possible & make your money s-t-r-e-t-c-h, & spend what little u have to spare, how you like. Make the most of this site & not only read the tips but take action, & try out things others have recommended. It's tough for a lot of us at the mo, but moral & knowledgeable support is a real boost to making ends meet, keep up the good work MSE & followers

raddyantic

poor_country_girl wrote: »

As I am not on benefits I still have to pay for prescriptions even though I earn less than most people do on bens. It is not worth getting a prepaid card as I don't use enough to justify one, and I have convinced my doctor to double up each item so I get 2 months for the price of one, but it still stings.

Also - Vet bills, After taking on pets in more lucrative times, we would never dream of getting rid of them, and although we manage food and the basics, anything extra like treating an injury or infection etc can be an unexpected shock - of course we can't afford insurance. Before anyone comments though, if the pets need anything, we find the money from somewhere!

Great point - I had exactly the same prob with presciptions i.e. expensive but not worth it enough to get ones of those pre-paid certs - and like you yep I asked doc to double up - so a good little tip for sure when visiting docs next if you have to pay for your perscriptions

Keepgoing_2

Fully agree with the person who said 'anything that is cheaper to buy in bulk'.

I hate the fact that overall I have to spend loads and loads more money on anything from washing powder to cat food. When you simply don't have £50 in one go to spend on the bulk item, you have to buy the £10 one which is loads more expensive per kg or whatever.

callum9999

Virtually nothing on here is actually more expensive if you're poor... Though that's probably because virtually nothing is more expensive when you're poor.

skivenov

If you're in a deprived area, your local cashpoint probably charges, or it costs you to get to a free one.

Car insurance is higher if you're unemployed.

If you can't get a contract phone, Pay as you go is really expensive.

XRAT

The most expensive thing to buy if you're poor is a pension.
Not only does a poor person pay 80p compared to every 50p paid by a rich person, but..., until a substantial amount is saved up (sufficient to pay an annuity above the minimum income threshold) no benefit is achieved.:(

BigMummaF

Anything that is discounted if you pay by direct debit!
I spend my financial life chasing the pennies from Peter to pay Paul, & vise versa

I have worked out how much all my regular payments are over a 12mth period--some calendar monthly, others 4 weeks, 3 mths, annual etc--& divided by 52 to get my weekly 'put by' & keep that amount separate from whatever my income is. For example TV licence, insurances, council tax, window cleaner blah-de-blah, amounts to £3492 a year (I've just made up the figure for purpose of my ramblings ) Divide that by 52 to get £67:16 for the Regular Payment Pot, & at least that amount has to be left untouched every week with whatever is left over to cover groceries, travel expenses, gifts etc.

When a bill comes up I use the money from the RRP to pay it, whereas I cannot guarentee I'll always have enough in my account to cover standing orders or direct debits on the days they want me to pay.

Keeping your little toe above water involves a LOT of juggling when your income is less than Westminster would have others believe.

Also, living in the southern counties is more expensive. Our markets are little more than outside shops with no real bargains to be had, shop prices are higher as are fares on public transport & housing. The irony is the 'toffs' still want things like loos cleaned & good nurses, but don't want to pay them enough to be able to live here to do the work :mad:

JimmyTheWig

callum9999 wrote: »

Virtually nothing on here is actually more expensive if you're poor... Though that's probably because virtually nothing is more expensive when you're poor.

I don't understand. Plenty of things that people have said (e.g. pre-pay electric meters) are more expensive if you are poor.

JimmyTheWig

mssuperscrimper wrote: »

& if you're single you pay even more - eg, price per trip in your car is more, can't take advantage of multi buys, or family admission or travel tickets, bargain holiday offers (rates always based on minimum of double occupancy or family coupons)

While some of these things are annoying when single, I know that I certainly had more disposable income when I was single than when I was half of a couple or now that we have a family.