What do you do with the DLA money? Special fund for the future?

[CristinaTheAstonishing]

Less than a month ago I finally re-applied for DS's DLA. We'd let it lapse for a couple of years or more because the forms are just so depressing to fill in. He's 7.5, deaf and wears a cochlear implant. Finally I did the forms online and today we got the letter through. They've put him at middle rate for personal care and lowest rate for the other component. Totals £60 a week which is fantastic news (in as much as having a disabled child can have a positive side).

As this is much more than we used to get before (I think it was just £16 a week) I feel we ought to do something with the money. What have others done? Premium Bonds? That's about as risky and adventurous as I've been so far financially. I don't think ISAs would be for me or other such investments. Something simple, even if it doesn't bring interest, just to know it's aside for him.

Sorry for the long post.

The Secret Garden has no dialogue at all (apart from DD making comments!). It is very visual, very beautiful and tells the story well. Hope you can go and enjoy it.

To be honest most of it goes on living expenses, but if DD's needs anything therapy wise etc, we make sure that she has it.
We did take her to BIBIC last year and bought all the 'paraphenalia'do the therapies with, and we have recently bought a trampoline for her, so she does benefit.

Well done Christina for reappling!(we met at DELTA)
DS1 was turned down about a year ago but I am led to believe that with his current levels we should reapply, I just can't really face the dreaded forms.
The sort of stuff we had considered getting was a hard disc recorder that records subtitles as DS relies on them and we have no means of recording them, a phone he can use(we have bought that now anyway), he currently has his eye on a vibrating alarm clock. Is there stuff like that that would be useful to your DS?

Hi Geogteach, I remember you! Do re-apply, you can do so online now, so much easier to type it out than write it by hand. I'd had the paper forms lying around for months then did the online application in one night. (You need to register but the link to your password etc is sent straight away, it's a really good system.)

Dominic would benefit from a vibrating alarm clock. We have borrowed a vibrating pee alarm and I think the little devil has binned it because we can't find it anywhere in the house and have to return it to the NDCS soon. He has his heart set on a mobile phone. He's only 7 and I would frown/sneer at another child that age being indulged like this, but it's his highest aim hearing-wise, he's been hoping to be able to hear on the phone for years and years. Now he has a cochlear implant he might just be able to in a few months.

Davros - the Peacock hasn't got the secret Garden anymore... Toying with the idea of Car-Man. I've seen Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake and if that's as good as SL then it will be brilliant.

Dellie - I think DS would love a trampoline too. If we had a private garden I could come up with a reason why it would benefit his hearing and get it