SO many times recently, I have had to stop and think “Can I afford this?”

Being a young person who isn’t a student can be an expensive price to pay, especially when you are on a lower income.

Each month consists of mapping out expenditure but there are some things that I just have to pay out for.

Travel is one of the main factors. With so many options such as a 16-25 Railcard and young person’s coach cards, you’d think it would be a breeze. But that’s the trouble, it isn’t.

The rate in which rail prices are increasing is just ridiculous and it means that the majority of the time I have to opt for a coach to places such as London, rather than a train, even though the journey time is twice as long.

These expensive fares do not just affect journeys further afield but it seems that even in our local area, fares are still ludicrous.

A return to Bath for a young person like me is the same as an adult, £7. A price that I would class as a treat.

The trouble is when you live in a town that doesn’t have a train station, unless you can rely on a lift from your Aunt Morag, then bus companies know that you are going to have to use their services in order to get to and from the train station and so they can take advantage of this.

The bus companies know they can have high prices, because they know that people will pay. But should we? Or should we at least try to do something about it?

I understand that prices are high to improve the standard of service, but is it improving?

I for one certainly see more delays, cancellations and problems on our transport so why are we paying more for that?

But it doesn’t stop there. Prices for memberships at the leisure centre or evening classes are all too far out of reach for me.

I have always enjoyed swimming and would like to go a couple of times a week but cannot afford the membership costs.

Surely we should be encouraging young people to get out, meet people and exercise, not discourage them.

Alongside this, there are simple things like the dentist and prescriptions that all add up and let’s not forget that these are essential things that are deemed as general personal care and health.

For me personally, if I didn’t live at home, I don’t think I would be able to afford anything.

n Nia Powell is a former Devizes School, St John’s and drama school pupil, who has formed Thee O’Company theatre, and took their play Live in a Box on tour at

Christmas.