Managing Money and Living Independently

Managing money is hard work for all of us. It is especially difficult when you move into your own home for the first time.

It's much the same if you have a learning disability. You want to be like other young people. You want to go to college or have a job. You don't want to remain living at home with the family all your life. And you may choose not to live in a care home setting either, with limited independence.

In the past, most adults with a learning disability lived at home with their family, and some lived in care homes or hospitals. Today, there are more and more opportunities to live in their own home, as tenants or owners, as a single person, as a couple, or sharing with others.

Housing Options have produced a Guide, My Home and Money, published by the Dimensions Group (www.dimensions-uk.org) which sets out to provide tips and answers.

It covers the following:

• Creating a Money Plan
• Planning to move: housing choices and costs
• Setting up costs: furnishing and equipping the new home
• Money for care and support costs
• Other money coming in: benefits, wages, other income
• Where to keep your money: cash, bank accounts, savings
• Managing money going out: budgeting, paying bills, spending
• Sharing a house with others
• Problems and handy hints
• Signposts - Information Listings

My Home and Money - Download the Guide.

Hard copies of the guide can be purchased from the Dimensions Group (www.dimensions-uk.org) at a cost of £5.50 (inc. P+P).

Housing Options, Stanelaw House, Sutton Lane, Sutton, Witney, Oxfordshire, OX29 5RY, United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 (0)845 4561497 E-mail: enquiries@housingoptions.org.uk