Mark is a Construction Manager; he owns his own business and lives with his partner Steve and their two dogs Ollie and Milo. Mark was diagnosed with ADHD when he was 12 and has learnt over the years how to manage his difficulties whilst playing to his strengths. Mark is chatty, personable and an amazing problem solver under pressure, but one of his biggest struggles has been managing money.
‘When I received my ADHD diagnosis I was at high school – so beyond a bit of dinner money or pocket money I never had to manage a budget. I had to do chores to earn pocket money, but they were mostly done on the day, and the money was then spent by the evening.’
Mark completed his apprenticeship in construction whilst he was living with his parents ‘They never asked me for rent, still made meals for me and bought things like clothes and toiletries so any money I earned I spent on myself’. As Mark got older, he started going out to bars and clubs and his spending became worse. ‘For me, alcohol loosened me up and I would spend more. I would get lost in the buzz of the night and buy rounds of drinks for everyone not considering the cash I had needed to last me all week. I still lived at home, so I guess there was no consequence for me if I spent all my money’.
When Mark was 22, he met Steve. After a year or so, Mark and Steve moved in together – their first home was a rented one-bedroom flat on the outskirts of Norwich. ‘I was so excited to live with Steve and I wanted our home to be perfect. When we went shopping for things for the flat I couldn’t believe how expensive things were. I was so driven for our home to be perfect that I took out a credit card to foot the bill’.
‘The credit card limit was £2,000 and I told myself I would just pay it back every month and convinced myself I could afford it. The bank then kept offering to increase the limit and before I knew I had spent £8,000 on a credit card and had very little to show for it. I’d been using the card for meals out, concert tickets, birthday gifts and just kept paying the minimum payment each month’
Why ADHD Makes Managing Money More Difficult
Jo Collinson, Head of Clinical Services for Nurovia and Occupational Therapist, tells us why ADHD individuals like Mark find managing money really challenging.
‘ADHD affects executive functioning – this is the brain’s ability to plan, organise, monitor and regulate impulses. When it comes to managing money, these skills are needed to keep track of spending and manage a budget. Buying new things gives a short-term hit of dopamine, a chemical we know ADHD brains have lower levels of and constantly seeks out. Budgeting requires planning and organisation – working out how much you can spend on essentials, putting money aside for special occasions and ensuring you have a savings pot for the future, so managing and sticking to this can be really tricky. Then there is the constant noise around you from social media or TV advertising making it really challenging to resist buying things when you truly believe you need them. When this is combined with easy credit, buy now pay later and finance options it is easy to see how ADHD individuals can get into financial difficulties.
The Turning Point
Mark and Steve went to buy their first home together and had to declare any loans or debts they had. This impacted the amount they were able to borrow for their mortgage and the type of property they could buy. ‘It was like having cold water thrown on me. I realised my spending was impacting mine and Steve’s future together and I felt really bad. Fortunately, Steve was really understanding and helped get a plan together to pay my debts back and come up with ways that might help me stay within my budget.’
‘Now don’t get me wrong, I still have ADHD and the urge to spend money and buy things is still there. I still find myself ordering a takeaway when I have forgotten to do the weekly shop or order birthday gifts for next day delivery where time just got away from me. But I try every day. Steve helps, he checks in with me if he notices more parcels arriving at the house and we share a credit card for emergencies and discuss each time we decide to use it. Managing money is something I think I will need to work on forever and it well never come easily to me but with Steve’s support I am hopeful that I can stay on track.
Helpful Hints for Managing Money With ADHD
- Automate bills and essential payments – direct debits for bills and important payments mean fewer decisions and less risk of forgetting.
- Create ‘impulse buffers’ – keep a 24-hour rule for non-essential purchases. If you still want it tomorrow, and it’s within your budget, buy it.
- Separate accounts – have one account for bills, one for spending and one for savings. This reduces the temptation to spend and keeps essentials safe.
- Set micro-goals – instead of aiming to save £5,000, focus on smaller targets like saving £50 each week. Small wins keep motivation high.
- Accountability partner – check in monthly with a trusted friend, partner or financial advisor about your budget. External accountability helps stay on track.
For more information about ADHD diagnosis and support from Nurovia go to: https://nurovia.com/adult-adhd-assessments/