When I first turned 18 I became eligible for social security, my mother who’s a social worker helped me apply. The first few years of having those checks were golden. I didn’t have to worry too much about bills, although after a while my mom told me to contribute so I paid the cable bill. I was the only one who watched the most TV in the house anyway.

So fast forward to when I started living on my own, and boy did I have to learn how to learn the hard way.

When I first got my apartment I had to get a checking account. This was before cell phones were smart and you could do anything on them.

In my first year of living on my own, I had to learn a very important lesson, as I was late on my rent twice and bounced my checking account as well. I couldn’t blame anybody by myself. I was spending more than I thought I had. I didn’t use my checkbook the way I should have.

I started living on my own when I was 24 and now I am 41, that makes almost 17 years.

Things have changed in 17 years. Streaming is now a thing which, depending on what you like to watch on TV can be very cost effective.

Let me tell you about my impulse to spend money.

So I’m 41 years old, don’t have a significant other, nor do I have any kids. So I have some leeway when it comes to money.

Don’t get me wrong I’m not rich but I do have this impulse to spend money or to buy something just because.

I have to admit that I bought stuff that I never use I’m not proud to say that but I have indeed bought stuff that I have never used or seldom use just because I have the money again I’m not rich but if I have the money to buy something and I see it then I’ll buy it.

That doesn’t mean that I’ll spend hundreds of dollars buying something usually ends up 50 to $60 or on payment plans for like $60 a month or something like that.

One thing I need to do and haven’t done is to have a budget to wear I know what I can buy and can’t buy each month that’s my problem though is that I haven’t done it yet and I’m 41 years old and I don’t have a job on Social Security the one thing I did do smartly was put a no overdraft on my bank account so I can’t overdraft my account after a certain amount is taken out.

Here’s some advice for people with disabilities who are just moving on their own and they’re on Social Security and moving into a low-income apartment.

If you aren’t on Social Security apply for Social Security as soon as you can before you even apply for low-income housing you must have something financially to fall back on.

After you apply for Social Security you’ve been approved and you receive your first check go to the bank and open the checking account after you open that checking account ask what you need to do to put a no overdraft restriction on your account so you don’t overdraft and owe hundreds of dollars on your account.

The second thing you should do if you don’t have money for a deposit is to see if you have family members who could help you out with a deposit for the apartment you applied for.

Once you’ve moved into your apartment and you’re settled and you’re getting ready to make your first rent check and getting ready to pay other bills that you may have make sure to pay those bills before you do anything else because that will dictate what you can buy and how you can spend your money the rest of the month.

If you have a smartphone make sure to get your bank’s app and download it so you can check and see how much money is in your account periodically it’s important to keep checking it periodically so you don’t overspend on things and that you have at least some money towards the end of the month.

So just to be clear I’m not trying to be a note at all and I’m certainly not an expert at saving money or even spending money wisely however throughout the years I’ve learned how to manage my money better I make mistakes I’m human but I’m just trying to help people live their best life while being on a low income budget it’s not easy it’s never easy but it is doable.