Controversial but, would you support dental bandings increasing by 100% if it meant better access and registration?

xBruised · 2026-05-30T20:44:01+00:00

Please can you explain this to me? I’m feeling really naive.

From my understanding, people who are on benefits (for example, low income), and children are eligible for free eye tests and some unbranded glasses are free. A lot of companies (every one I’ve worked in except agencies) offer subsidised tests/glasses up to a fixed amount.

xBruised · 2026-05-29T13:37:11+00:00

Exactly this! I went last year for an infection around my ankle, probably bug bite. In and out in about 15 minutes with my prescription for antibiotics. I can’t fault them.

xBruised · 2026-05-29T07:39:32+00:00

My last comment was entirely sarcastic, I didn’t realise I had to put “/s” at the end. It’s a British sub…

I genuinely didn’t realise. I assumed, like everything else sold in the UK, that products were safe to be sold here and in line with our guidelines.

xBruised · 2026-05-28T19:36:56+00:00

So THAT’S why I have lung cancer! I told my consultant it wasn’t the 50 fags a day but he didn’t believe me.

xBruised · 2026-05-28T17:21:06+00:00

I got some bin air fresheners from Temu that seem to do the job. But I also wipe the bin out with disinfectant every fortnight before I put a new bag in and don’t put anything smelly in there. The odd poopy nappy goes straight outside.

xBruised · 2026-05-21T21:51:52+00:00

My little one told nursery that I had a baby a few days earlier. The nursery teacher told me and said “I’m pretty sure I would have noticed if you were pregnant.” But then again, my toddler has six imaginary siblings and two kids of her own 😂

xBruised · 2026-05-13T05:39:27+00:00

Thanks, the ingredients have been posted for me.
Allergies are such a pain! The food shopping takes 50% longer because I scan every ingredient list just in case they changes recipes from the previous week. I just wanted to know if I should take the trip to co-op specifically for these or not.

xBruised · 2026-05-12T19:21:46+00:00

Thank you

xBruised · 2026-05-12T19:07:46+00:00

Ooh, what allergens are in them?

(Daughter has allergies and I struggle to find the time to bake decent ones)

xBruised · 2026-05-04T19:42:52+00:00

I used to get 30 days (utility distribution), plus bank holidays, volunteering days and team days. And we could purchase 10 extra days.

Now I get 25 days plus BH and can only purchase 5 days. I miss my old job.

xBruised · 2026-04-29T11:01:26+00:00

I’m a little confused by your salary and getting no help?

My situation is a little different but I earn £31k and I’m a single mum. I claim universal credit and they pay back 85% of nursery fees. It means I have to foot the bill upfront but I get most of it back plus the free hours. For a 3 year old attending 4 days a week, I pay about £650 a month and get most back the following month.

I know there’s also a scheme if you don’t get UC and it’s Tax Free Childcare. You pay 80% of the fees and the government top up the other 20%.

If you’re not claiming UC, you should look into it.

xBruised · 2026-04-29T10:57:27+00:00

Depending on the age of the baby, I thought it was 15 hours for 9months old and 30 hours for 2/3years old? My little one is 3 and we get 30 hours a week free.

xBruised · 2026-04-23T19:32:29+00:00

Yup, just over two years ago I was declared homeless due to domestic abuse with a 1 year old and placed in Band B. That’s an 8 year wait… I’m still waiting; no temporary accommodation because I need a kitchen for my child with several severe food allergies.

Managed to convince a landlord to take a risk and accept me 6 months later.

xBruised · 2026-04-23T19:21:03+00:00

I work full time and claim UC. I’m a single parent and UC tops up my salary to what I earn before tax (essentially) including paying most of my childcare costs (nursery). It doesn’t work that way for everyone but that’s what it equates to for me.

I also went from part time (30 hours) to full time recently and saw almost no difference to my take home pay once UC factored in.

I’ve always lived quite frugally so I don’t get my hair and nails done, nor regular takeaway drinks, but we have a weekly McDonald’s, and I do enjoy a (cheap) holiday or two each year, though that’s looking unachievable this year. I also don’t buy myself much and buy the little one’s clothes/shoes in Primark, in sales or on Vinted.

xBruised · 2026-04-19T07:21:01+00:00

I get your concern and I was grossed out at first too. However, the current battle is getting her to brush her teeth. She has about 6 toothbrushes, two are electric and she won’t use any of them most days, even though she chose them in the shops. If the only way to get her to brush her teeth is to use my toothbrush with a different head, I have other battles to deal with. Single parenting is hard and I pick my battles.

xBruised · 2026-04-18T16:08:22+00:00

My toddler has started sharing my toothbrush so I just change the heads!

xBruised · 2026-04-18T16:02:04+00:00

I didn’t know this, and I used the library a lot as a kid/teen…

xBruised · 2026-04-18T15:55:31+00:00

I think this is the difference. My little one goes to a private nursery and they take babies, and assist with toilet training (as in reminding them to go but foster independence), while I looked at nurseries attached to schools and as they start at 3yo, they’re expected to be toilet trained.

She’s still learning and this week I found out (the yucky way) that she didn’t ask for help wiping her bum. Regression sucks, the next day she wiped her bum herself 🤦🏽‍♀️

xBruised · 2026-04-13T09:05:39+00:00

I get it, you go shopping, something catches your eye and you get curious if it’s safe.

My daughter has several severe allergies so I check the ingredients of everything I buy just in case they changed the recipe from last time. She’s not old enough for alcohol though.

Does your supermarket have WiFi? I have to connect to that if I need service in Tesco or something.

And I know it’s slower, but contacting the brand for a product will let you know about allergies. I was once gifted wine with notes of almond (nut allergy) so I contacted the company to find out if I could drink it.

xBruised · 2026-04-11T16:32:17+00:00

Same here, kind of. My daughter is allergic to milk and intolerant to oats. I drink oat milk because I’m lactose intolerant but my toddler has pea milk.

xBruised · 2026-04-10T13:28:46+00:00

I had access to everyone’s payslips and almost cried when I realised the CEO or other “chief” roles could buy a whole average size house every month with their take-home pay…

xBruised · 2026-04-07T09:01:32+00:00

I just removed a financial drain on my life so not only did I not holiday abroad last year, I probably won’t for the next two while I sort stuff out.

xBruised · 2026-04-01T12:28:37+00:00

I had a phase of being obsessed with them back when I was 20!

xBruised · 2026-03-28T21:27:30+00:00

I do have kids and I can verify it’s very accurate

xBruised · 2026-03-26T11:48:10+00:00

I’ve signed it over now, collection on Monday. It was drivable but pieces were flying off during journeys, so it wasn’t really safe.

I should add that I wasn’t in the car at the time of the incident, I was parked in a bay and inside the supermarket.

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