Five years ago, I didn’t think financial success was possible with my vision disability. Now, teaching people about personal finance is my greatest passion.
It’s also something I would have never imagined growing up as the daughter of a single mom below the poverty line.
I know what it’s like to feel discouraged, hopeless and lost. I also know what it’s like to be on the other side: to feel excited for what’s ahead, not constantly stressed about money.
Since I began writing about personal finance as a journalist, I’ve made enormous strides in my own financial freedom, including the big ones: Paying off credit cards and college loans; increasing my salary nearly 200%; building a savings account and investment portfolio; and earning my designation as a certified educator in personal finance.
Now, I want to share what I’ve learned with you. Because I believe that financial empowerment is the gateway to independence, a life where you make your own decisions and shape your own destiny.
An ABLE account is an often-overlooked tax-advantaged investment account for people with disabilities. If you receive government benefits, these accounts can be a great way to avoid running afoul of needs-based asset limits. But even if you’re not on SSI, SNAP or Medicaid, you can use an ABLE account to invest for your future — …
When I was 24 years old, I had about $3,400 in credit card debt. Maybe that doesn’t sound like a lot, but as a journalist who only made $28,000 a year (about $850 every two weeks), it felt like a mountain of debt. Initially, I could only afford to make minimum payments. A coworker …
The CDC estimates that it costs over $16,000 a year to be blind or visually impaired.
I think of these added costs as “the blind tax.” How much someone pays for their disability depends on their unique situation.
We’ll be posting ways to combat the blind tax on this blog and on our social media accounts to spread awareness — but more importantly — to offer real financial solutions to people with disabilities.
