Hello Reader,
July marks the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. It is a law that protects rights but also reminds us how far we still have to go when it comes to accessibility, including financial access.
Living with a disability, chronic illness, or ongoing health challenges changes how you approach money. From variable income to higher healthcare costs, the "standard advice" doesn't always apply. Contrary to belief, you don't have to be born with a disability. You can become disabled at anytime for a wide number of reasons. And that's why this conversation matters.
💬 Rant:
There’s this narrative in the finance world: hustle, save 6 months of expenses, automate everything, just stick to the budget. But for folks living with a disability or chronic illness, that’s not just oversimplified it is completely out of touch.
❌ What happens when your income isn’t consistent?
❌ When you're paying for treatments, medications, and mobility aids monthly?
❌ When resting is a non-negotiable, not a luxury?
❌ When you have to budget around your body’s unpredictability?
Disability doesn’t mean someone is bad with money. It means their planning has to be more adaptive, not less.
Financial planning shouldn’t shame people for not fitting the mold. It should create more accessible frameworks for real-life needs.
👀 Reflection:
I live with multiple health conditions that affect me in ways I never used to plan for. I get debilitating migraines with weather shifts. I’m currently experiencing frequent joint dislocations while awaiting a formal diagnosis. I’ve been managing IBS for years. And most recently, I was diagnosed with ADHD, which is something that I had be fighting for years to be tested for. And let's not forget that my gallbladder will be vacating the premises in October.
What most people don’t talk about is that just trying to get a diagnosis is expensive. The testing. The time off. The follow-ups. The emotional toll. Then there’s the money and time spent calling insurance, negotiating bills, and figuring out what’s actually covered.
And I’ve learned that I can’t budget like my capacity is the same every week. Sometimes I need more rest. Sometimes I can’t work. Sometimes the priority is just making it through a tough week with my body. So I budget for that. I set up a buffer for missed work. I build in time and mental space for managing medical paperwork. And I try to give myself the same compassion I would give a client.
Because the truth is: money touches everything. Health. Work. Energy. Relationships. And when we ignore that, we end up feeling broken, when really, our systems just need more flexibility.
Because to be honest for a long time, I thought budgeting was about getting everything “right.” Hitting the numbers. Following the rules. Ignoring how I felt. Social media screams just struggle, scrimp, save and hustle. But living in a body that doesn’t always cooperate has taught me that good money management isn’t about perfection, it’s about responsiveness and a little bit of foresight.
That shift changed everything. I stopped blaming myself for needing more rest or time off. I stopped feeling guilty when a plan needed adjusting. Life is never the same day to day, so you will need to consider adjusting. And I started seeing my money system as a tool for support, not control.
So now, when I work with others, I bring that same mindset. One that makes space for real life, for rest, for rerouting when you need to because money doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It lives in the rhythms of our days, our health, our capacity. And we deserve a financial plan that can live there too.
🔗 Resources:
Here are a few tools and thought-starters to support your planning. Whether you live with a disability or want to better understand how to design your finances with flexibility:
📍 Journal Prompts
- What recurring health or energy patterns affect how I spend or earn money?
- How can I adjust my budget to include “flare-up” or “bad day” costs?
- What does a truly supportive financial system look like for me?
📍 Reframes to Keep in Mind
✅ Budgeting isn’t about rigidity it’s about support
✅ Rest and recovery are valid line items in your time and your finances
✅ You are not behind, you are budgeting with what your life really needs
Additionally here is an old video where I talk about some tips.
📣 P.S.
Your financial plan should work with your reality, not against it. Want to talk through what that looks like for you?
Book a free Q/A call and see if money confidence coaching is the next step for your journey.
Honoring your needs and your numbers,
Coach Becca
📩 Unmuted Money | Debt Tale
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