AboutKindred Beisinger penname K D Elizabeth Beisinger Expertise I can answer questions pertaining to budgeting, savings, debt reduction, and total freedom from debt. I can assist in prioritizing expenses and obligations. I am willing to share and offer guidance in realistic money management, modest investments, and financial freedom. I am not an investment counselor, broker or accountant, I am a missionary that does not do fund raisers or ask for donations.
Experience I live comfortably and have been debt free since I was 40.
I've been disabled due to a chronic illness, and now I've acquire an additional, much more serious, though not any less mysterious illness. (Fibromyalgia and lupus.) In this 14 yrs, since leaving my profession, I've lived a bit unpleasantly in a basement studio until two years ago, when my mom decided to help me out financially with money for rent and health insurance. Because I receive disability pension, and not SSI, I don't qualify for medicaid.
I realize now that I'd rather not depend any longer on my mother for financial assistance, as she feels the need to do the "strings attached" thing, and behaves as if her money buys her more say in how I live my life. I'm just too independent and intelligent to take this kind of nonsense and abuse any longer at my age.
Now I've got to find a way to get medicare, if that's possible, special housing set aside for disabled, fixed income people, and a part time job I can do on my computer at home. I'm working on all of this now with the disability office of my city, and I feel at least moderately hopeful, though I know it will be pretty tough. However, with a good part time job, I can do ok at least.
I am a writer and have a rich, inner life that brings me a lot of contentment, especially since I learned to accept my circumstances, adopted some great pets, and became excited about the democracy and great learning/ writing/ publishing/ teaching possibilities and communities on the Internet.
I am a bit of an agoraphobic and social anxiety sort after all of this time alone for so long (people with chronic illness lose most of their in-town friends - it's just too hard for most people to handle friendships with the chronically ill.) I am working on all of this, though.
Here's my question: I know you can't possibly anticipate all the different kinds of housing opportunities there are for me at this point -- and neither can I. One option is the single room occupancy apartment, which I've visited many older people in the past in when delivering holiday meals. They weren't all that bad really -- some nicer than others.
I recently met someone who is on disability and lives in a bedroom in a large house. He enjoys it there a lot, and has free use of the kitchen and bathrooms. He is able to manage his living expenses at about $1,200.00/month living that way, but I'd probably have more like $1,600.00/month to live on with every thing considered.
I know I can live like this because I was a grad students many times for many years. What I hate is getting rid of the small bit of furniture I have. I guess part of me wishes I could still live in a small one-bedroom, but I really don't think I could.
1 - do you think it's best to stay away from government sponsored housing altogether -- just because of being surrounded by a lot of people who are also disabled and low income and it possibly being depressing? other reasons? could it make you more vulnerable to special problems facing the disabled community in general?
2 - do you think there are single / married/ mixed situation adults in their 50s who are able to live and share space together communally in larger places where the rent ends up being cheap? is it too difficult to imagine, or are there people who manage it and find it nice-- and still have privacy and can keep a cat or two?
3 -- in general, do you think it's possible to live cheaply and not so badly at all -- just simply -- in communal situations that aren't real new age or hippy but are actually productive and creative and responsible but low key? (I hate political infighting and drama among groups of adults acting like children.)
4 - any suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated. I just don't know where to start. I live in a large city in the midwest now, but would even consider moving to a small town about 60 miles south of Seattle (where I lived in my 20s for several years and loved) to live if it would be cheaper -- I'm just not sure it would be.
Of course I need to consider an economy that's not going to be getting any better, and job security once I've found a job. My city now makes me want to stay because I know it so well, and so far the services and resources are a bit better than a small town would be, and I even get help with housekeeping.
Any other tips on living cheap under these circumstances? Is being vegan going to be a problem ? I need to eat this way because of health and keeping weight down, just nicer to me, etc.
Any other tips about resources? Is living alone absolutely out of the question? Where do people go to start communal housing alternatives that suit their preferences and lifestyle? Say I wanted to live with maybe four other single women in their 40s-60s (nooooo - not golden girls yet!!!!)
Thanks for any advice, and sorry for the rambling. :)
Peace,
Gwain
Answer Dear Gwain,
I understand, completely, the concern of living on a fixed income with a disability. I have MS and a modest monthly annuity check. I do not utilize disability or medicare but I know many folks that do. I'm not sure I understand your looking for a job while on disability, but I have read of many people that are part of various programs and employers that are willing to be part of those programs. From your income and your mention of the midwest, I would say there are many possibilities that could present themselves for comfortable accommodations on a modest income. You mentioned many ideas and I would say all of them are really pretty good and quite doable, so the first step would be; in determining which you think would best suit your personality and your needs. One thing that did occur to me is the fact that two years after one begins to collect disability, medicare is automatic, so you might see if there is some oversight in that. To answer your questions. 1. Yes, I do stay away from government sponsored programs in that I believe it is not independence at all, just a more anonymous form of dependence or worse, a sort of bondage and indenturement. 2. I think groups of people can do anything in which they share a goal and are willing to compromise to accomplish that goal. If sharing expenses to enjoy independence is a shared goal, it can be done. 3. Of course one can live economically, but the American standard of materialism has moved the bar. I'm sort of an old hippie/religious freak and I don't have any problem living on less than $1,000.00 per month. The income is greater, but the expense is not. You'd be amazed at how many people ask me how I do it. My answer is simple. G~D provides. 4. Seattle is not a cheap place to live. The Midwest is about the most economical in the nation.
Independence has become a relative term. You need to decide just how you define that word for yourself and pursue the goals that make that happen in your life. As for me, I write, I garden, raising my own veggies and since I'm not a vegan, I raise my own chickens and goats for eggs and milk. I have found a truly wonderful way to live independently with a disability. I, personally, do not believe that G~D uses the government to provide. That has made all the difference in my life and I continue on after nearly 30 years of an MS diagnosis. Some days are more challenging than others, but I love the independence. Think over the options that you have mentioned and see which one would best suit you, then pursue that. If you would like to correspond further, you can write back directly to my e-mail available at my website.
I wish you well.
Kind Regards,
KD Liz
www.eingedi.us
