Having a Child with Autism

The Different Financial Challenges You Face - We Get It and Want to Help

Having a child with autism, you may find their condition provides you with unique joys as well as some challenges - some of them financial. 

We've heard from our customers, that for some families with an autistic child, household items need to be replaced more frequently, or you may have to buy more robust, high-quality items in the first place. 

For others, your child’s sensory, emotional and other needs might mean you need specific items - you can’t just go with the best deal.

Having a child with autism can also make it really difficult for you, as parents, to stay in employment.

A family with a child with autism, might spend £50 or more a week extra, on top of what other families would spend, research suggests - that’s £2,600 more a year!

We get it.

Read more 

"One of our sons has autism. Unless you've had someone with autism in your family or spent a lot of time with people with autism, you probably wouldn't realise how much it can make things complicated financially - there are certain foods and certain clothing that my son just cannot cope with. It's not about being picky or fussy, we really can't get by without certain things. Fair for You gives us that bit more freedom and helps us to balance things.”

- Ayesha, a Fair for You customer

Customer experience. Credit is subject to eligibility and should be used responsibly.

"One of our sons has autism. Unless you've had someone with autism in your family or spent a lot of time with people with autism, you probably wouldn't realise how much it can make things complicated financially - there are certain foods and certain clothing that my son just cannot cope with. It's not about being picky or fussy, we really can't get by without certain things. Fair for You gives us that bit more freedom and helps us to balance things.”

- Ayesha, a Fair for You customer

Customer experience. Credit is subject to eligibility and should be used responsibly.

Find more Fair for You customer stories here 

Can I get a loan from Fair for You to help with essential items?

It's easy to apply for a loan with Fair for You, with lower interest rates than other ethical lenders. First time customers can apply for up to £600 if shopping via our website, or £350 on a prepaid card to shop at our range of high street retail partners - Iceland, Argos, Currys, Euronics, Dunelm, Habitat, Lloyds Pharmacy and more.

Some lenders would be very unlikely to offer a loan to someone with a low income, or who receives benefits, has bad credit history or whose situation is a bit different. 

Fair for You is different to other lenders. We look carefully at your application to understand if you can afford to repay a loan - our mission is to change lives through better lending.

Fair for You provides flexibility for customers to pay back loans with a schedule that works for you - you can pay weekly, fortnightly, four-weekly or in monthly installments. 

You can also pay a bit extra when you can (which reduces the total interest you have to pay back), or reschedule a payment if you need - with no penalties for fitting repayments around your life. We promise to be open and transparent, and to prioritise fairness in everything we do.

Missed payments may impact your credit file. Only borrow what you can afford to repay.

Find out more 
No judgement - just what's right for you

A loan from us may not be the right thing for you - and that's ok. 

We're here to help make sure you get the support that works best for you. 

And if we're not the best option, then we'll be upfront about that. 

A loan from us may not be the right thing for you - and that's ok. 

We're here to help make sure you get the support that works best for you. 

And if we're not the best option, then we'll be upfront about that. 

A loan from us may not be the right thing for you - and that's ok. 

We're here to help make sure you get the support that works best for you. 

And if we're not the best option, then we'll be upfront about that. 

Loans for Essentials
Loans for appliances
Loans for prams & pushchairs
Loans for gifts, toys & tech
Loans for kids' furniture

How can I get help finding the right clothes, toys and other household items for my child?

Several of Fair for You’s partner retailers like Argos, Tu, Dunelm and Habitat have a wide range of school uniform and clothes, toys, desks and other household items. Another partner, Iceland Foods, has a wide range of fresh, frozen and store cupboard foods to suit all needs. A Fair for You Shopping Card loan helps you spread the cost of these items.

 

How can I get help with the cost of pushchairs, prams, pharmacy products and over-the-counter medications for my child?

Fair for You’s partner retailers include Chemist Direct, Lloyds Pharmacy and Pharmacy2U, meaning that you can spread out the cost of products like calpol, shower gel, nappies and other supplies.

 

How can my family replace our broken fridge, washing machine or other appliance? Can I get help buying a new bed or mattress for my child?

We know that going without essential appliances isn’t easy. You can replace or upgrade your dishwasher, oven or other furniture and appliances at our partner retailers including Euronics, Currys, Argos, Dunelm and Habitat. 

Missed payments may impact your credit file. Only borrow what you can afford to repay.

How can I get help finding the right clothes, toys and other household items for my child?

Several of Fair for You’s partner retailers like Argos, Tu, Dunelm and Habitat have a wide range of school uniform and clothes, toys, desks and other household items. Another partner, Iceland Foods, has a wide range of fresh, frozen and store cupboard foods to suit all needs. A Fair for You Shopping Card loan helps you spread the cost of these items.

 

How can I get help with the cost of pushchairs, prams, pharmacy products and over-the-counter medications for my child?

Fair for You’s partner retailers include Chemist Direct, Lloyds Pharmacy and Pharmacy2U, meaning that you can spread out the cost of products like calpol, shower gel, nappies and other supplies.

 

How can my family replace our broken fridge, washing machine or other appliance? Can I get help buying a new bed or mattress for my child?

We know that going without essential appliances isn’t easy. You can replace or upgrade your dishwasher, oven or other furniture and appliances at our partner retailers including Euronics, Currys, Argos, Dunelm and Habitat. 

Missed payments may impact your credit file. Only borrow what you can afford to repay.

How can I get help finding the right clothes, toys and other household items for my child?

Several of Fair for You’s partner retailers like Argos, Tu, Dunelm and Habitat have a wide range of school uniform and clothes, toys, desks and other household items. Another partner, Iceland Foods, has a wide range of fresh, frozen and store cupboard foods to suit all needs. A Fair for You Shopping Card loan helps you spread the cost of these items.

 

How can I get help with the cost of pushchairs, prams, pharmacy products and over-the-counter medications for my child?

Fair for You’s partner retailers include Chemist Direct, Lloyds Pharmacy and Pharmacy2U, meaning that you can spread out the cost of products like calpol, shower gel, nappies and other supplies.

 

How can my family replace our broken fridge, washing machine or other appliance? Can I get help buying a new bed or mattress for my child?

We know that going without essential appliances isn’t easy. You can replace or upgrade your dishwasher, oven or other furniture and appliances at our partner retailers including Euronics, Currys, Argos, Dunelm and Habitat. 

Missed payments may impact your credit file. Only borrow what you can afford to repay.

Apply for a Shopping Card loan here
How it works
Choose your products or card

Browse hundreds of items from washing machines to air fryers, or explore our prepaid card options. Whether you need to stock up on food essentials in Iceland or get a new chest freezer to store them all, you can choose a finance option that works best for you.

Apply for an affordable loan

Our process is quick and easy - while still making sure a loan from us is best for you and your circumstances. Most people get a decision within 1 hour (during our normal hours).

Repay your way

You can pay weekly, fortnightly, four-weekly or monthly and borrow for as long as 12 months or as short as 3 months. And you can even change your repayment schedule or frequency if you need.

Apply now

"Having the Fair for You Shopping Card loan has been a real lifesaver for us. With four kids and two with autism, things get tight fast, and being able to spread the cost at Iceland or pick up essentials from Pharmacy2U just takes so much pressure off. I honestly don’t know how we’d manage some months without it.”

-Kirsty, a Fair for You customer 

Customer experience. Credit is subject to eligibility and should be used responsibly.

"Having the Fair for You Shopping Card loan has been a real lifesaver for us. With four kids and two with autism, things get tight fast, and being able to spread the cost at Iceland or pick up essentials from Pharmacy2U just takes so much pressure off. I honestly don’t know how we’d manage some months without it.”

-Kirsty, a Fair for You customer 

Customer experience. Credit is subject to eligibility and should be used responsibly.

Find more Fair for You customer stories here 

I’m not working right now because I’m a carer for my child. If I apply for a loan, will you take into account my benefits income, including child benefit?

If you apply for a loan from Fair for You, we look at your current income, including from benefits like child benefit (and others). Many of our customers are in receipt of benefits - this doesn’t stop you getting a loan from us, as long as we can see that you could afford to repay.

 

I can’t use Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) credit, or I’ve been turned down for a loan elsewhere. Might I still be able to get a loan from Fair for You?

We know that lots of people find BNPL really useful, but we also know that it doesn’t provide much flexibility, and that it can be easy to get into trouble with it. We also know that lots of our customers can’t get BNPL. Because of the way we assess customer applications, we are sometimes able to give loans to customers who can’t get BNPL.

*Missed payments may impact your credit file. Only borrow what you can afford to repay.

I’m not working right now because I’m a carer for my child. If I apply for a loan, will you take into account my benefits income, including child benefit?

If you apply for a loan from Fair for You, we look at your current income, including from benefits like child benefit (and others). Many of our customers are in receipt of benefits - this doesn’t stop you getting a loan from us, as long as we can see that you could afford to repay.

 

I can’t use Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) credit, or I’ve been turned down for a loan elsewhere. Might I still be able to get a loan from Fair for You?

We know that lots of people find BNPL really useful, but we also know that it doesn’t provide much flexibility, and that it can be easy to get into trouble with it. We also know that lots of our customers can’t get BNPL. Because of the way we assess customer applications, we are sometimes able to give loans to customers who can’t get BNPL.

*Missed payments may impact your credit file. Only borrow what you can afford to repay.

I’m not working right now because I’m a carer for my child. If I apply for a loan, will you take into account my benefits income, including child benefit?

If you apply for a loan from Fair for You, we look at your current income, including from benefits like child benefit (and others). Many of our customers are in receipt of benefits - this doesn’t stop you getting a loan from us, as long as we can see that you could afford to repay.

 

I can’t use Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) credit, or I’ve been turned down for a loan elsewhere. Might I still be able to get a loan from Fair for You?

We know that lots of people find BNPL really useful, but we also know that it doesn’t provide much flexibility, and that it can be easy to get into trouble with it. We also know that lots of our customers can’t get BNPL. Because of the way we assess customer applications, we are sometimes able to give loans to customers who can’t get BNPL.

*Missed payments may impact your credit file. Only borrow what you can afford to repay.

What other financial help can I get as a parent of a child with autism?

For tips on money matters check out our website here.

We've also pulled together a list of resources that you may find useful:

For more tips on money management and what we do, explore the Fair for You blog. Here you’ll find articles that outline how to boost your credit score, what checks Fair for You carry out on loan applications, whether new rules will make BNPL harder to use and so much more. 

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