Things I can do as a person with a disability to save money.

 

This is a bit of a different post and I hope it doesn’t discourage my readers but I feel it’s something that we need to discuss, due to the fact that many people want to save money but don’t know how and there is a facility when it comes to saving money call the bootstrap fallacy and it’s that you need to just be able to pull yourself up by your bootstraps and this isn’t the case if you are in debt or need to save money it can be hard when you have a disability and your country doesn’t offer a care program. So, this is going to be a basic practical list and yes it will be Australian, but I think anyone could take something away from it.

·        Do up a budget and see if it's possible to cut things from it.

·       Have a clearly defined needs and want lists.

·       If you need new clothes, can you get the decent quality that will last so you aren’t constantly re buying items.

·       Link into advocacy and other services that can help your quality for care and other services.

·       Know what govement benefits you qualify for

·       As if there is a pensioner discount (it’s worth asking)

·       Keep connected to the local community.

·       Find out if the local county offers discounted care programs.

·       Find low and no cost things to do.   

·       Find out if the local public library offers courses or streaming services so you’re not paying for your own.

·       If it’s possible and practical, is it safer to live with others so renting a room instead of a whole house or unit.

·       Know if you receive govement benefits just how much you can earn before you are cut off.

·       If it is possible, try and keep working it actually keeps you connected and often gives you a sense of purpose but at the same time know if you can’t keep up that is ok.

·       Understand what your limits are and know how and where to ask for help if needed.

·       Find out if there is a collective where you could sell your art or crafts as well.

·       If you have a care giver, see if they can help you to stick to a budget and this doesn’t have to be a resctive nightmare it just means that you know where your money is going.

·       If your country doesn’t have a care service or a universal health care system know where you can get free or lower cost medical care.

·       Don’t be afraid to use local food recovery services such as food banks and lower cost grocery outlets.

 

 

This seems to be a basic list but many people with a disability don’t get taught about fincal littracy and we are left to figure it out on your own, so this is a really big issue for some people as they can get into a lot of debt getting the medical care they need.

 

This next list is going to be a bit controveral, but I think in a post about finance it needs to be said we need to define the difference between a need and a want, it’s not to be a kill joy about it but it’s about being real with ourselves and knowing what we can afford and being able to enjoy life.
Also I think its really important to mention that some lifestyles are based on the assumption that you have a great support nextwork and are able to afford to replace something if you get rid of it such as mimilmsm, I am not supporting hording but suggesting that storing things is maybe a better idea but things that you will use such as clothing more than books that you don’t read and out of date craft supplies.

So, let’s get into what is a want basically a want is something that you would spend your money on but is no need for life or to keep a room or roof over your head.

·       Expensive skin care

·       Cable and streming services

·       Pay to play games on gaming devices.

·       Desiner clothes

·       Depending on your country take away food.

·       Name brand groceries (if you can get off brand you save a lot of money)

·       Drugs and achol

·       Gambling

There are also a few things that I am going to put in a sepeart list that if spent in the right way could help you to earn money,

·       Education for a trade or skill

·       The internet (but check if the local library would let you use their internet)

·       Setting up a craft stall or online store in your area.

·       Public speaking about disability and accessibility

 

But in the comments let me know what else you could be doing and how you save money as a person with a disablity.