As disabled individuals, we know that we face unique challenges in managing our finances amidst the ongoing cost of living crisis. However, by budgeting and being more financially savvy, we can empower ourselves to cope with these difficulties. In this blog post, we want to share some practical advice and tips aimed at helping you to navigate the financial landscape with confidence.
Create a Comprehensive Budget
The first step in understanding your finances better is creating a detailed budget that outlines your
income and expenses. This will provide you with a clear understanding of where your money is going and enable you to make informed decisions about your spending priorities. Remember to factor in essential costs such as healthcare, medication, assistive devices, accessible transportation, and other disability-related expenses that you might sometimes overlook alongside your other costs like rent/mortgage, bills etc.
Prioritize Your Needs
Identify your most critical needs and allocate your resources accordingly. It's important to
differentiate between needs and wants, focusing on necessities first. By doing so, you can ensure that your funds are directed towards essential expenses and financial security. Remember that there can be differences in needs depending on the time of year. You may have higher bills over winter for example, so it is important to factor those changes in too. If you pay energy bills by direct debit, it is also worth checking if those payment reflect your usage to avoid paying too much or too little. If you have a lot of credit on your account after your most recent review, you could also ask your supplier to return some of the excess.
Seek Out Available Assistance
If you find yourself in financial difficulty, you may be able to find specific support available that can provide help. Many organisations, government agencies and local councils can offer assistance if you meet certain eligibility criteria, so have a look online to see what support is available. Disability Assist can give you information about some of these resources but other organisations such as Money Advice, Stepchange and Citizens Advice are also useful to get in touch with.
Educate Yourself
The best way to build your financial literacy is to take an active interest in it and stay informed about things that affect your personal finance. We often share information in our monthly newsletters about various things that will have an impact on disabled peoples’ finances so if you haven’t already signed up to our newsletter, please do so by entering your email address at the bottom of this page. Familiarise yourself with other types of advice which may help you to cut costs in other areas of life. By expanding your knowledge, you can make more informed financial decisions and develop a long-term plan to improve your finances.
While the cost of living crisis poses challenges for us as people with disabilities, adopting a proactive approach to budgeting and financial management can make a significant difference. Remember, financial empowerment is within our reach, and with the right tools and mindset, it is possible to take control of your finances and thrive.