Are you smart with your money?

Debbie_Alumni
Debbie_Alumni Community member Posts: 932 Empowering
We know that life costs more if you're disabled - it's a fact. But can you find clever ways to get around some of the extra costs of disability?

We want to compile a list of tips, from disabled people and their families, that show creative and savvy ways to cope with extra costs.

Perhaps you’ve got some great life hacks that you’d like to share? Or you’ve found some really cheap alternatives to expensive products. Maybe you’ve found a simple way to make some specialist equipment using cheap materials.

Please share your know-how with us! Your tips could really help out other disabled people and families with disabled children.

Comments

  • foxuk
    foxuk Community member Posts: 103 Empowering
    The cheapest and easiest tool is a piece of wood, Herself (at 57 years young) has a Harry Potter Wand, with a good blob of Blutack on the end. From picking up pills or dropped bottle tops to tapping the barometer it is used many many times a day. About 18" long seems to be the right length with a 1" blob of Blutack.
  • rachelcl
    rachelcl Community member Posts: 30 Connected
    I find brooms very useful. As well as sweeping, I use the other end for testing my smoke alarm.
  • Amirkhan007
    Amirkhan007 Community member Posts: 4 Listener
    Please give me tips about my dissablities...
  • fushia
    fushia Community member Posts: 2 Listener
    I have attached a bum bag to the side of hubbies wheelchair ,so that he can keep his bits n bobs handy
  • Emma
    Emma Community member, Scope Member Posts: 85 Connected
    Foxuk, I love your Harry Potter wand idea! Would be great if you could add it as a tip in our 'Around the Home' tips section! https://community.scope.org.uk/tips/around-the-home

  • EllaB
    EllaB Community member Posts: 26 Connected
    My mum grew up in the war, so she's of that generation that never wastes anything. Recently she's been making waterproof pillow protectors out of an old shower curtain!
  • Blue Frog
    Blue Frog Community member Posts: 352 Empowering
    Not as clever as making wands! But if you have an adapted home, speak to the council tax department at your local council. There is a scheme that means your Council Tax is reduced (similar to going down a band) even though the council adapted our house, they didn't tell us about this!
  • Debbie_Alumni
    Debbie_Alumni Community member Posts: 932 Empowering
    Hi Kathy_S,

    Thanks for that great tip!
    Anyone who wants to check with their Local Authority about a Council Tax discount can do so on the following website which will link you directly to your Local Authority and details of their discount scheme https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-council-tax-discount

    Have a good evening :)