No “change” might be the best resolution: Tips for dealing with money
Navigating today’s society means needing easy access to money. But having a disability that affects my fine motor skills means money is inherently hard to access. Resolutions?
- I try not to use physical money. Cash is difficult to handle and store. The same is true (times ten) for coins. Using a credit or debit card makes transactions much smoother. As a bonus, change is never lost and cashback deals can be used. Swiping can be difficult but most new cards have the option of inserting a chip or even tapping the card on the reader.
- Using my phone. This started off with one of those card holder things stuck to the back of my phone for easy access to my cards but it has turned into GPay (or Apple Pay for iPhone users). I have an Android phone so use GPay and so far it has been great. It cuts down on the things I need to keep on me. Many membership and discount cards can also be stored on this app, which further cuts into the need for a wallet.
- Wearing a fanny pack. I usually sling it across my chest. It has all of what I need for a day (cards, masks, wallet etc), all under my nose. And unlike with pockets, it is harder for things to fall out when using a wheelchair – I am haunted by the ghosts of several wallets and one very unlucky passport. Most fanny packs can be zipped shut, too. You can watch my video review of the Everest fanny pack here. This is a brand which I’ve been using for years, but you can find this type of bag in countless colors and styles.
The larger point here (outside of promoting the virtues of fanny packs) is leveraging new technologies. I am sure this is already known by the disability community (bluetooth, voice recognition, smart home, for example), but sometimes technology moves too fast, and it can be beneficial to be an “early adopter” of a new way of doing things from a source you can trust. Money in particular is going through a lot of these changes, as it pushes away from its analogue and inaccessible past.
Do you have some other ideas you use for dealing with money that you would want to share? Let us know!
You make some excellent points, Liam. Thank you. I, too, am haunted by ghosts of dropped items; they are gone but never forgotten—lol!
I also like that my favorite coffee shops have apps that allow me to order and pay ahead, using a debit card, credit card, or gift card. I just have to allow them time to complete my order, then pick it up in-store or at the drive thru window. Getting my caffeine fix without dealing with the headache of cash is definitely a good thing.
I really liked your blog:) You make a lot of great points. For example, change really is hard to handle. I tend to drop coins a lot. One thing I noticed lately is that my hand tremors are getting worse. What helps me when it is time to pay for things is my tap card. Using cards that you have to swipe or insert are just too difficult.