Health: Crosslight’s money-saving tips

  • Check if you are eligible for free prescriptions, dental work, glasses etc on the NHS website; this is part of a low-income scheme that also supports with other medical costs and travel to appointments etc.  
     

  • Consider a prescription prepayment certificate if you get an average of 12 prescriptions or more over the course of a year (you can get the certificates for 3 or 12 months) - our article has more information on this.
     

  • Look into the possibility of purchasing medication over the counter rather than paying for the prescription charge (eq aqueous cream, hydrocortisone etc) – check prices in your pharmacy to compare.
     

  • You can also check if an ‘own brand’ product is actually the same as a pricier branded alternative by comparing the PL number (unique licence number given to specific drugs made by a particular manufacturer)- enabling you to make savings by buying generic alternatives of the medication you need 
     

  • Once you’ve had an eye test, there is no obligation to purchase glasses or contact lenses from the same optician – shop around opticians on the high street or consider online alternatives once you know your prescription. 
     

  • If you’re thinking about giving up smoking, which could save your life as well as a lot of money, help is available in the form of the NHS’s free online Quit Kit 
     

  • Need a dental check-up but balking at the cost (or struggling to get an appointment)? Some dental universities provide low-cost treatment by (supervised) dental students – find a full list here
     

  • A wide array of mental wellbeing tools can be found online: free meditation resources and soundtracks for sleep, anxiety, morning routines and more, as well as a daily mood tracker, can be found on the Insight Timer app; Calm also has a wide range of free mindfulness resources and meditations, including some aimed at kids.  

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Shopping (excluding food): Crosslight’s money-saving tips

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Food: Crosslight’s money-saving tips