Financial Focus

I left school and went straight into a job. They called me a success story. However, getting and keeping a job was almost impossible. The first job I had, I was told on the day that I wasn’t needed anymore. Literally told when I got to work. This was 3 days before being there 2 years, employees got employment benefits after 2 years service with the company.

I got into debt when I was about 18/19 and took out a loan to pay it off. Around the same time I lost my job and became homeless. All the while fees and fines were being added to my debt. I worked as often as possible, sometimes having 3 jobs at the same time to try to cope with costs and repayments.

I broke my spine in 2007 and I found that I couldn’t get work after that. My wife paid off my debt in about 2008 because the constant calls from debt collectors were really getting to me. In 2012 I was awarded a legal settlement of just £17,000 for the accident (something that’s impacted every aspect of my life) and had to pay £6000 back to the government from unemployment benefits. The figure seems to be because my medical records were altered. So the assumption was that I hadn’t injured my spine.

I got my correct diagnosis added to my medical records last year, but 16 plus years after the accident. Also in 2012 my disability benefits were reduced to £22 a week and remained that way for about 8 years. I felt guilty all the time, and felt the pressure of not knowing how to support my family.

I wasn’t going to ask my wife for pocket money so I learned to spend £30-50 a month and basically avoid money. It’s odd admitting this at 45 but I never got the chance to figure out money or really support my family.

I think I was £1800 in debt at 18 and that hounded me for over a decade. I must have paid back the loan, about ten times what the original debts totaled. So this is an area that I do feel like I’m starting from scratch with. However this year I want to figure out a working knowledge of mathematics and taxes so that I can become self employed and earn something for my family.

All our best and love

Ross Fraser and Jeni Dern

Written by – Ross Fraser

#NewLifeAutistic

#mentalhealthadvocate #together #community #actuallyautistic #autismacceptance

Funko Contest Entry

Funko #funkounboxed

Avengers Assemble

Image description:

In this image is a collection of Marvel characters. They are Antman and Wasp, Antman and Wasp blacklight, Dr Stephen Strange, The Black Panther and Rescue blacklight with Funko Soda pop cans in the background. Photos have been taken with camera flash and under a blacklight.

I really want to try to get a Funko Freddy social media pop for my collection. The only way to get one is to win their monthly photography contest. So I am throwing my hat in the ring because it really would be the perfect addition to my collection. Fingers crossed and wish me luck.

All our best and love

Ross Fraser and Jeni Dern

Written by – Ross Fraser

#NewLifeAutistic

#mentalhealthadvocate #together #community #actuallyautistic #autismacceptance

Spider Rescue

It’s funny the little memories that appear in your mind on occasion. I remember my daughter being afraid of spiders. I used to be until I realised my mum’s fear rubbed off on me when masked. I don’t actually mind spiders as it turns out.

This particular day, my daughter found a pretty large spider in the kitchen. She ran to get a shoe to kill it. I stopped her before she got back to the kitchen and tried to explain. Spiders need homes too because they help keep other insects like flies from overpopulating. That without spiders flies would be everywhere. She understood that there is a balance in the world, in nature that is important. Just look at the impact on the bee population over the last 50 years. Things like that can have very serious consequences if they continue to decline.

I had done it, I had convinced her that we should get a plate and bowl to catch the spider. We would then go outside and let it go free to find somewhere else to live.

It all went to plan, I had caught the spider (who was pretty darn fast) and got It outside. It was a warm day so I was sure It would be alright. I gently placed the plate down and removed the bowl. It stayed completely still for a second and then ran off down the path. It sprinted the distance and went onto the road, right under the tyre of a passing car.

I felt so bad, made worse by the fact Megan looked at me as if she was about to cry. I said to her, “You seriously can't blame me for that.”, “I was trying to be nice to it.”.

All our best and love

Ross Fraser and Jeni Dern

Written by – Ross Fraser

#NewLifeAutistic

#mentalhealthadvocate #together #community #actuallyautistic #autismacceptance