Finances can be an issue if you have ADHD/ADD. This requires planning and not being too impulsive with purchases and thinking things through and such, which are common traits for those of us with ADHD/ADD. These traits make things like handling finances and budgeting a bit of a challenge, to say the least. At least, it is, if you have ADHD/ADD, or possibly terrible with finances. (And yes, I do know people without ADHD/ADD who struggle with finances.)
So, despite not being good at planning and a little impulsive with money sometimes, budgeting, saving and be careful with money is something that I want to do. It is something that I know I can do. Now that my husband and I are both working and have incomes, I feel it is a good time to start thinking about these things. A good time to budget, pay stuff off, save, and just get a handle on our finances. It does make it easier now, as we have two incomes as opposed to just one.
As much as planning, tracking, and all that may be a challenge and not always the most exciting and ADHD-friendly thing to do, we do still need to stay on top of our finances. It is a part of being an adult. Yes, it is dull, but we do need to adult and face our finances, whether we like it or not.
There are a few ADHD/ADD-friendly methods to address and manage your finances.
– Pay yourself first. I’m sure many of us are trying to save for something or other. This is where savings come in. When you get paid, put money into your savings right away. Having some savings for whatever you’re saving for is always a good idea. It’s a smart thing to have. There are a lot of different savings accounts out there that can help you save. And there are other ways to save as well. Doing it first when you get paid is a good way of doing it.
– Track your spending. Being able to do it all online and see it online is definitely helpful and good for those of us with ADHD/ADD. We can now easily now what we have in our account without having to run to the bank or spending time balancing chequebooks. We don’t have to do this to find out. This is a good tool to have. You know exactly what you have wherever you are.
– Make some payments automatic. Let’s face it, ADHDers/ADDers can easily forget. No surprise there. So, this can be a good way to get things paid, if you have a tendency of forgetting.
So, here are a few suggestions.
Here are some things that I do and have found helpful.
– When I get paid, I put some money into my savings account. Yes, I just started doing it, as I haven’t been at my job for too long. Only a little over a month. But it’s a habit that I have gotten into and it’s going fairly well so far.
– I tend to check my balance everyday. I like knowing what I have in my account, knowing what I have to spend, and making sure that no payment bounces. So, I have my banking app on my phone, which does mean that I can check it any time. Whether I’m at home, or at work, or at the store.
So, these are some things that I have the habit of doing. Working on my finances is all a work in progress. Much like a lot of other things. But I am just starting.
Hopefully, this has been helpful for you guys. Here are also some other articles for you, if you would like to get more tips. Enjoy!
www.additudemag.com/how-to-budget-money-adhd-finances/
www.everydayhealth.com/add-adhd/money-management-tips-for-adults-with-adhd.aspx
coachlindawalker.com/adhd-money-management/
Picture Credit: Pixabay
