From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcan/could affordcan/could afford[usually negative] a) PAY FORto have enough money to buy or pay for somethingafford (to do) something We can’t afford to go on vacation this year. I couldn’t afford the rent on my own. How can she afford to eat out every night? b) TIME/HAVE TIMEto have enough time to do something Dad can’t afford any more time off work. c) CANif you cannot afford to do something, you must not do it because it could cause serious problems for youafford to do something We can’t afford to wait any longer or we’ll miss the plane.GrammarAfford is followed by an infinitive with ‘to’: I can’t afford to buy a car. ✗Don’t say: can’t afford buying | can’t afford buy → afford
Examples from the Corpus
afford to do something• It gives them a power that shouldn't be unquestioningly afforded to any individual.• The political system can no longer afford to be indifferent to the economy.• Bill's loyalty to his apprentice had been ill rewarded this evening and no trainer could afford to be sentimental.• How much more can you realistically afford to charge in the meantime?• Proven strikers are few and far between and Ferguson can not afford to gamble on potential.• Only those who can afford to ignore these constraints feel capable of exercising a choice to retain a more traditional agricultural landscape.• On trip cancellation or interruption insurance, some people can not afford to lose even a couple hundred dollars.• We can afford to take both a larger and longer view. 