How do general working people afford pet care?

I have an 11 year old pug who currently costs me £70 a month in insurance.

In Friday we were as a BBQ and we caught her chewing on a half corn cob (the actual used cob). She'd eaten a bi of it and I didn't think much of it.

Roll on a few days and I read on the Internet they can be really bad for dogs so I take her to my Vets4Pets. She's checked over and I'm told there doesn't seem to be any blockage (she's raring and pooping no issue) but to be sure she should have an xray.

In my head I was like okay that's probably £250 so I could justify that. Then the vet turns around and said it will be £619! I told him I could not afford they type of cost and left with the pug getting an antibiotic injection and anti inflammatory for £75.

How the hell can an xray cost so much money and how does the general public afford that type of care. I've not checked my insurance yet and it would probably be covered on it, but if not... Bloody hell!