Broken teeth last on struggling retiree's list of priorities Lu Le-thuong has been restricted to eating soft food since January, when she fell and landed on her chin, knocking her front teeth loose. But she has yet to see a dentist because she is afraid of the cost. The 74-year-old's only income is the government's so-called 'fruit money', which comes to $700 a month. Her husband died almost 20 years ago and she has no children. Her largest expense is $1,004 a month rent for her small studio apartment in a Tsz Wan Shan public housing estate. Bills for telephone, electricity and gas add up to $300 to $400 a month. So for now, Ms Lu's teeth will have to wait, unless she gets a rent reduction. 'Of course, I could use the extra money. To us elderly people a few hundred dollars means a lot. In the past, I wasn't as frugal, but now I have no choice. I have no money in my wallet,' she says. Ms Lu left her $3,000-a-month factory job six years ago after her boss forced her to quit because of her age. She has since been living on her savings and the allowance. She does not qualify for social security because her savings surpass the required limit. But she will qualify soon: her money in the bank dwindles as she uses her savings on daily expenses. To add to her woes, Ms Lu was robbed of $1,000 and her ID card last year. Not long after she fell out of bed and broke her wrist. Two months ago, Ms Lu fell again after a honk from a taxi startled her while she was crossing the street in Mongkok. It was a week before Lunar New Year and Ms Lu was carrying groceries in her hands and landed on her chin. To avoid going to the dentist, she has been overcooking her vegetables to make them extra soft. 'My teeth need to be fixed but I have no money right now,' she says. 'That's why I won't see a dentist.'
