I solicited ideas for this blog post from our followers on Twitter and Facebook. Thanks to @Wayne2poles for the topic regarding how people with disabilities can live alone and can afford it.

Being gainfully employed is the best way to be able to afford to live independently. Not only does it allow you to bring home more money that disability benefits alone, but it offers you empowerment, success, and fulfillment.

Finding a job as a person with a disability has always been more difficult than finding one as an able-bodied person. Now state and local governments are slashing assistance, public transportation companies are raising fares and decreasing services, and the job market is flooded with people who are out of work, making most jobs more difficult for anyone to get.

Despite the best efforts of people with disabilities and their advocates, finding or retaining employment can be very difficult at this time. That means that we must become ever more resourceful to live within our very limited means.

Following are some tips to help you live independently on a very tight budget.

• Apply for benefits that you are eligible for – In Kansas, if you are a person with a disability you may be eligible for some types of public assistance such as Medicaid, Food Stamp benefits, utility assistance through LIEAP, and day care assistance. To apply you can visit the SRS website.
• Know what services and resources are available to you – Centers for Independent Living(CILs) including the Resource Center for Independent Living are great community resources. We can help connect you with local food banks, volunteer programs, community funding programs, and other services that can help you make it through a tight month.
• Take charge of your budget – The importance of this step cannot be overstated. A good way to start is to keep a daily record of what you spend, even if it’s 50 cents for a soda. This link is to a great article on getting started with a budget including a worksheet you can print off to start tracking. Once you know what you are spending, you can use these free worksheets to create your own budget. This is another area in which CILs can come in handy. One our our core services is Independent Living Skills Training. You can receive education and assistance in learning how to set up and manage your own budget.
• Find local couponing groups – To help your grocery and household item budget stretch more, consider joining local groups that teach and support you to use coupons. Inspired by a television show; groups have popped up all over the nation dedicated to extreme couponing. While you don’t have to necessarily be extreme, using some of these techniques can be very beneficial. There are also several online groups and forums devoted to the topic.
• Weatherproof your home or apartment – Many cities and counties have organizations that can help low income tenants or owners weatherize their homes. This will save a large amount on utilities. Here is also an online do-it-yourself weatherization guide.
• Join a local Freecycle group – Freecycle groups consist of local people willing to give away or trade items or services for other items or services. This is a great way to obtain a needed item you can’t afford as well as make sure things that you aren’t using are going to people who need them.

These are just a few ideas to help you stretch your budget. I would love to hear from you regarding other techniques and resources, leave them in the comments and thanks for reading!