Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally

elizabethhull

tantaraza wrote: »

For DH’s glasses, I recommend a website called Glasses Direct. Their glasses are quite affordable and constantly on BOGOF or Buy One Get 2nd Half Price deals, and they do varifocals as well. I have a strong prescription and once got four pairs of glasses (two “regular” specs and two sunglasses) for £60 plus postage by using multiple deals, which they also allow you to do.

I’m not affiliated with them in any way, promise! :P but would recommend DH takes a look. If he prefers to try on his specs before purchase, he can order up to four at a time for trying on. £500 is shocking, the most expensive pair I’ve ever owned were £125 and those were designer :eek:

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I also use glassesdirect, and it is enormous fun getting 4 pairs to try on. You send them back & forth free, making a note of the ones you like, till you request 4 of the best all together to make your decision. There is a caveat, though, regarding the strength of the lenses required. They say which numbers they cater for in their normal prices, then if you need something stronger you phone for a quote. I haven't needed to do that so can't comment on the quotes.
The other thing is, although all the numbers you need to feed into the online form are available from your prescription, the focal length is often not included and you have to ask your optician for it. Ours wasn't very keen because of course as soon as you have ALL the info, you can get the prescription filled anywhere you like. But I don't think they can refuse.

But having up-to-date prescription glasses is not really a luxury, and the worse the eyesight the more vital they are. No cheapos from Tesco for either me or OH, unfortunately !

HairyHandofDartmoor

Thank you Elizabeth that's very useful advice .

DH does have very bad eyesight and needs two high index lenses and even then he finds that only certain frames are suitable for the thickness of the lenses he needs . So it's possible DH may not be eligible for the very cheap offers, but we can at least find out. We'll ask the optician for his focal length, that's a very good tip . Even if he can't have the really cheap offers, it may well still be cheaper than V!s!on Expr3ss which is where he normally gets his glasses.

BalanceBy50

Wow!!!! Just catching up after a busy weekend and I am completely floored! Fabulous news and I am so pleased for you & DH. You must love the postman on a Saturday at the moment (I am right in thinking you got your last PPI letter in a Saturday aren't I?)

Xx

HairyHandofDartmoor

BalanceBy50 wrote: »

Wow!!!! Just catching up after a busy weekend and I am completely floored! Fabulous news and I am so pleased for you & DH. You must love the postman on a Saturday at the moment (I am right in thinking you got your last PPI letter in a Saturday aren't I?)

Xx

Thanks BB50 . Very well remembered, we did get our first PPI letter on a Saturday . That's two Saturdays in a row we've had fantastic PPI news :T :T :T.

It would be lovely if it happened every Saturday from now on, we could give up work :rotfl: :rotfl:.

tantaraza

You know what they say, HHOD, things always happen in threes

Fellow diary readers, let’s all check back this Saturday to see what news the postie brings! :rotfl:

taka

Delurking to say congratulations on your 2nd PPI payout!! :j:j:j:j
I'm very happy for you - it sounds like these will make all the difference to your feelings of (financial) security.

Maybe check ebay, gumtree and freecycle for another wardrobe? Gumtree especially often have them going for free or very little in my area (It costs to dispose of them via the council so people try to get rid of them on gumtree etc first!). One of my friends got a beautiful, very timeless, unfussy style (prob edwardian) wooden wardrobe for free - it just needed the drawer handles replaced which cost under £5 to do. Even a chest of drawers may help you space wise? (and be a whole load more transportable )

HairyHandofDartmoor

tantaraza wrote: »

You know what they say, HHOD, things always happen in threes

Fellow diary readers, let’s all check back this Saturday to see what news the postie brings! :rotfl:

I wish :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

taka wrote: »

Delurking to say congratulations on your 2nd PPI payout!! :j:j:j:j
I'm very happy for you - it sounds like these will make all the difference to your feelings of (financial) security.

Maybe check ebay, gumtree and freecycle for another wardrobe? Gumtree especially often have them going for free or very little in my area (It costs to dispose of them via the council so people try to get rid of them on gumtree etc first!). One of my friends got a beautiful, very timeless, unfussy style (prob edwardian) wooden wardrobe for free - it just needed the drawer handles replaced which cost under £5 to do. Even a chest of drawers may help you space wise? (and be a whole load more transportable )

Thank you Taka . That's a good suggestion with regard to wardrobes .

earthgirl

Well done on the 2nd PPI Wow!I would agree even a little in a pension pot would be good. My OH stopped paying into his about 15 years ago when he left his job, so it won't be that much, but he likes his business and quite likes doing lots of little side hustles too - like having the lodger etc so as ong as we are fit we are going to carry on working as we like it!

Enjoying_life_more

Well done, fabulous news I’m so pleased for you - it’s been lovely seeing you get the job and ppi refunds.

Hillwalker11

For DH's glasses have you thought of Boots opticians?
I used to use Vision Express but was getting irritated by a huge bill every couple of years.I have a pair of reading glasses and a pair for distance( could never use varifocals).My last two pairs two years ago from VE cost £430, this was with the cheapest frames they sold.

I went to Boots in February, two pairs, total cost £62. What impressed me more was the actual eye test. Every so often I get a zig zag pattern around the periphery of my left eye, which lasts about 15 minutes.VE said it was nothing and was one of these unexplained things!
The Boot's optician diagnosed it straight away, Occular migraine.This made complete sense as until 10 years ago I had always been a classic migraine sufferer.
Also as an added bonus if you have a Boots card you get points!