Part 283: Financially Independent, Neurodivergent

Hello and welcome back to Mortgage Advisor on FIRE.  This week I discuss the importance of FI to those who are neurodivergent or struggling with mental health. Also, the third anniversary of Poppy joining our family, and some thoughts on the future of Europe.

Weekly Update

It’s been a busy week, and the days seem to flash by in a blur.  I had a little bit of frustration partway through the week, but I think I’m getting better at dealing with and moving on from that.  I think the key is that I’ve become better at separating the personal from the professional.  Way back when, I would get hung up on little things that frustrated me, but I’ve come to realise that it’s just not that important.  We’re all just trying to get by one day at a time.    

My training course with my new employer has now finished and I had a handover to my new manager.  We had a good chat, and I’m feeling positive about the team moving forward.  The week ended on a real positive note as I had a call from the director who interviewed me, and he was full of praise and encouragement.  I’m looking forward to getting stuck into this role and seeing what I can do with the training wheels off.

When I look back at Lloyds, there are plenty of good things I can point to in terms of their behaviour as an employer, and some of the great people I met and the relationships I made.  The actual job was frustrating, though, as there didn’t seem to be any logic to the structure, and everything felt so reactive rather than proactive.  I think I needed the change more than I realised, and it’s a completely different feel here in my new job.

Missing the Peaks

On Saturday, I was meant to go for a walk in the Peaks with Oana and our friend Yvonne, but I was feeling exhausted, and I also pulled something in my leg.  It was hurting most of Friday night.  I ended up giving the walk a miss which sucked because Oana and Yvonne had a great time.  I met them after for some food, so it wasn’t a complete disaster.  My leg is better now as well, so it wasn’t anything serious.  

Lego

On Wednesday evening, we finished our latest Lego build: the Natural History Museum, which is part of the modular series.  It looks great linked to the Jazz Club and Tudor Corner.  I’ve also ordered a display stand for my Venator and one for the UCS Millenium Falcon, which I’ve not yet purchased.

It’s weird with Lego because my wish list keeps getting bigger despite me buying loads of things from it.  Bizarre…

Poppy

This week brought our third anniversary of adopting Poppy.  She is now the cat we’ve had for the longest time, after having Sweep for roughly two and a half years and Bobby for just a few months.  It’s the tragic side of adopting older cats to give them a retirement home; you never know how long you’ll have each other.  Poppy is showing no signs of slowing down, though.

Case in point: the other night I was just sat minding my own beeswax and I hear Pops scratching away in her litter tray.  She then comes sprinting into the living room and dives out onto the balcony.  Then, just as quickly as she exited, she flew back into the living room and then stopped in the kitchen.  She looked to the ceiling and let out a mighty yowl before jumping on the spot and spreading her paws out. 

She snapped her head towards me before shooting her gaze forward, and then she started sprinting, but her paws couldn’t get traction, and so her legs were going a million miles an hour but she wasn’t moving, with the rug and her toys going everywhere before she finally flew off down the hallway.  It was like watching a starship go to warp, and the whole thing was so funny that I laughed for about ten minutes.  You would not think she’s an older cat.

If you are looking to adopt a cat, please do consider the older ones.  They’re often overlooked, but they are such a great source of affection, companionship, and joy.  They are so grateful for a loving home.  Organisations like Cats Protection or more local cat shelters will happily discuss with you the options for adopting an older cat.  

War

There’s been talk this week about war with Russia, following the advice coming out of the EU for people to stockpile supplies.  The worry is that with America withdrawing from Europe and NATO, Russia may be encouraged to try and take more territory.

In a conventional war, I doubt Russia could do much against the major European powers, such as Germany, France, the UK, and Italy.  After all, Russia has struggled against Ukraine in what it thought would be a quick conquest.  The Russian economy is fucked, and if the European nations got their act together, they could outbuild and outspend Russia.  

No, the fear is not conventional war but rather a combination of Russian infiltration and the limited use of nuclear weapons if they’re backed into a corner.

It’s crazy how much the world has changed since 2020, with Covid, the rise in right wing extremism, the increasing popularity of red pill misogynist bullshit, and the looming threat of an aggressive Russia that can’t afford to not continue a wartime economy.  Add to all this the climate crisis, a possible future economic crisis, and it’s not hard to see why so many people are just fed up.

FIND: Financially Independent, Neurodivergent 

Why FI is a Lifeline for Autistic People and Those with Anxiety, Depression, and Stress

The traditional workplace isn’t built for everyone. If you’re autistic, struggle with anxiety, depression, or just find the constant demands of a high-pressure job exhausting, the standard 9-to-5 can feel like a slow, relentless grind. Financial Independence (FI) isn’t just a way to escape work; it’s a way to escape an environment that, for some people, is outright harmful.

The Neurotypical Workplace Can Be A Minefield

The modern workplace is designed for neurotypical people. It rewards extroversion, adaptability, and a high tolerance for unpredictability. Meetings, office politics, constant small talk, and rigid schedules are all seen as just part of the job. But for those who are autistic or struggle with mental health issues, these things aren’t just minor annoyances.  They can be utterly draining.  

One example, which I’ve learned many ND people have experienced, is the message from a manager: “Can we have a chat tomorrow?”

This could be about anything, and most neurotypical people, or those who aren’t being crushed by stress or anxiety, will not think anything of it.  Other people will spend hours worrying about this vague invite to a meeting.  Note: If you are a manager and you need to talk with a colleague or subordinate, please don’t be vague like this.  Even a little, “I need to talk to you, but it’s nothing to worry about.” can be a huge source of relief.

Other sources of stress…

Sensory Overload: Fluorescent lights, open-plan offices, background noise, the endless pinging of Slack and email. For autistic people and those with anxiety, the sensory chaos of a typical office can be overwhelming.  This is just one reason why home working can be such a benefit to some people.

Social Exhaustion: The expectation to engage in workplace banter, participate in team-building activities, or handle unexpected social interactions can be exhausting for those who struggle with social anxiety or who simply prefer deep focus over small talk.

Rigid Structures: Many workplaces demand a strict adherence to schedules that don’t account for fluctuating mental health. If you wake up feeling like you can’t face the day, you still have to drag yourself to the office or risk losing your job.  There have been so many times when I’ve been well enough to work from home but in no fit state to go into an office.  

Office Politics:  Passive-aggressive emails, unspoken expectations, forced enthusiasm in meetings… It’s an invisible game that many neurodivergent people either don’t understand or don’t want to play.

For many, just existing in a workplace like this takes an immense toll. It’s not about laziness or a lack of work ethic.  It’s about an environment that simply doesn’t accommodate the way their brains work. This is where FI becomes a game-changer.

FI = The Power to Opt Out

Financial Independence isn’t just about retiring early.  It’s not even about the money, as that is just a tool.  FI is actually about choice. For those who struggle with the neurotypical workplace, it means the ability to step away from environments that harm them and build a work-life setup that actually supports their well-being.

The Ability to Work on Your Terms

Instead of being forced into an office, FI allows you to choose work that suits your needs, whether that’s freelancing, remote work, or project-based employment.  When you are FI, you have the power and freedom to say “no”.

Escaping Social Exhaustion

When you’re FI, you don’t have to force yourself into social situations that leave you drained. You can limit interactions to what’s necessary and comfortable.  You don’t have to worry that an unintentional social fuck up can halt your career in its tracks.

More Control Over Sensory Environment

FI gives you the freedom to work in a space that suits you, whether that’s a quiet home office, a café with noise-cancelling headphones, or a peaceful spot in the countryside.  You don’t have to listen to the constant beeping, ringing, and overlapping voices.

No More Forced Smiles or Office Politics

You can say goodbye to the mental gymnastics of corporate environments. No more pretending to be enthusiastic about team-building exercises or decoding passive-aggressive emails.  Just peace, quiet, and the work at hand.

Mental Health Comes First

With FI, you can structure your life around what your brain needs. Whether that means taking breaks when necessary, working fewer hours, or stepping away from work entirely, you’re no longer at the mercy of a demanding employer.

FI as a Safety Net

For those with anxiety or depression, financial insecurity is a constant, nagging fear. When your mental health fluctuates, the idea of losing your job (and your income) can be terrifying.

FI removes that stress. It provides a buffer against burnout, an emergency exit when things become overwhelming. Even if you’re not aiming for full retirement, having a financial cushion means that if a job is making you miserable, you can leave. That’s an incredibly powerful position to be in.

The Bigger Picture: Designing a Life That Works for You

FI isn’t just about quitting work.  It’s about reclaiming your autonomy, your agency. For neurodivergent people and those with mental health struggles, it means designing a life where you’re not constantly fighting against a system that doesn’t fit. It means choosing work that aligns with your strengths, setting your own schedule, and prioritising well-being over corporate expectations.

The world isn’t designed for everyone, but FI gives you the tools to design a world that works for you, whether you’re neurodivergent, neurotypical, or struggling with mental health.

What I’m Doing

Listening: Shift by Hugh Howey.

Watching: Adolescence (Netflix).

We’ve finally got around to watching Adolescence, and as I write this, we have one episode left.  It’s very well made, with each episode being a single take (although I think I spotted a break partway through the second episode).  Even so, just on a technical level, it’s brilliant.  

The acting has been on point as well, with the young lad playing Jamie doing an incredible job.  The subject matter is disturbing but also a window into a side of society that needs to be talked about more.  The proliferation of misogynist bullshit is scary, and the fact that young boys and men turn to people like Andrew Tate should be a concern for us all.

If you’ve not yet watched Adolescence, I would recommend it, although it’s not for the faint hearted.

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Financial Update

Assets

Premium Bonds: £30,500.00.

Stocks and Shares ISA: £89,031.91.

Fuck It Fund: £8,436.04.

Pensions: £92,217.10.

Residential Property Value: £237,228.00. 

Total Assets: £457,413.05.

Debts

Residential Mortgage: £183,840.69. 

Total Debts: £183,840.69.

Total Wealth: £273,572.36.

My Mortgage

When I left Lloyds, I was allowed to keep my concessionary mortgage rates for being a staff member.  I can keep them for a year following my departure, which is very reasonable.  Back in the day, the concession was that you could have a rate that matched the Bank of England base rate exactly – so a good few years at 0.5%!

A little while before Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng had their collective brain fart, I knew that the era of low rates was coming to an end.  As such, I decided to come off the BoE tracker and take advantage of the new staff offer, which was a discounted fixed rate.  That’s where I find myself now.  I have a good few months before I have to switch, but I’d rather not wait too long in case I end up reverting to the variable rate.

How my mortgage is set up…

When I first switched from the old scheme to the new one, I went with a two-year fixed.  From that point, we borrowed extra funds a couple of times and made other changes to the set-up of the mortgage, which leads us to this point.

Yes, the mortgage is a bit all over the place, and ideally, I want to get the whole debt on one rate so it’s more streamlined.  Once we’ve paid the balance down some more, I’d be looking to get on interest only, which should free up more money to invest.

We will probably find it difficult to remortgage to another lender because of the issues surrounding the EWS1.  For those who missed it, some guy was found to have completed loads of risk assessments incorrectly, including the one on our apartment complex.  As a result, our certificate is no longer being accepted by lenders.  We were initially relieved when our building was deemed to be safe, but we’re now faced with the prospect of paying for remedial work to be completed.  How much this could end up costing, I have no idea.

That’s about all for this week.  Thank you for reading, and I hope you have a great week ahead.

DISCLAIMER

The views and opinions in this blog are my own, and do not represent the views or opinions of my former, current, or future employers, nor should they be considered advice.

If you want personalised financial advice, seek an appropriate professional.  If you are in financial difficulty, seek advice via the resources below:

StepChange

MoneyHelper

Biolink 

You can now find all my social media pages by checking out my Biolink:

bio.link/davidscothern.