ccording to many dictionaries — (to be able to) “Afford” (something) simply means:  “To have enough money to pay for something”.  However — this is an incredibly over-simplified definition, which is ultimately not true.

f a person has enough money to go out to the bar every night and buy shots for every one of his friends (including the people who he wants to be his friends) — but then — is not able to pay for rent and the other expenses of his life…  Well, then that person can definitely NOT “Afford” to go the bar every night…  Even if he has the money to do-so.

o as you can see — the main point of this word is NOT about having enough money.  It is about having the money, while still being able to cover all of one’s other expenses and to be able to attend to his or her financial responsibilities.

o be able to “Afford” something has nothing to do with simply having enough money to pay for it — but has EVERYTHING to do with whether or not there is enough money AFTER  all other expenses are paid.

he owner of this car would like everyone to think that he or she has lots of money.  But in all likelihood — he or she probably can NOT actually “Afford” to buy anything by Louis Vuitton.  (So ACTUALLY — it is probably better that they did this to their beat-up old car — rather than trying to buy things they can not afford.  Hopefully the money they spent on the paint was not money that should have been spent feeding their children.)

ven though “Mamma June” could probably “Afford” to live a more “high-class” life-style (due to completely exploiting her daughter for the sake of money), she still chooses to be a total hill-billy…  (and that part is okay.  If someone wants to be a hill-billy…  no problem.  But the part about exploiting her daughter it absolutely NOT.)

w can also use the word “Afford” to refer to other things like:  Time, Energy, or Resources.  Basically — any other thing that we would use the Verb “Spend” with.  Like, “I can not afford to spend any more of your time or my energy, talking about this topic.”…  (because I have already fully explained it!)  😉