The symptoms of ADHD/ADD can cause people to blow through paychecks and then some, forget to pay bills and over use credit cards which all result in way too much debt. Making a budget, sticking to a budget and figuring out what bills need to be paid and when they need to be paid by can all be challenging.
What can you do? Here are some tips:
- Schedule time to balance your “checkbook”. Pour a glass of wine and make sure you are spending only what you have to spend.
- Make a budget for monthly expenses based on what you make and have to paid (rent/mortgage, utilities, etc).
- Open an account on mint.com which is free. It will give you weekly financial summaries of your checking account, and loan payments.
- Plan out meals before going grocery shopping and buy only what is on the list. Set a timer so you have to rush through the store. I have a client who makes the same 10 meals over and over so he is never is a store too long.
- When every possible do your own chores. For example, mow your own lawn, do your own laundry, clean your own home, do your own grocery shopping. I know it is hard to do these boring tasks so make them a game, do them with a partner, or listen to music or a Podcast to make them more fun.
- Only use cash to purchase item. It’s a hard one but you will be sure to never overdraw your bank account or gain unwanted debt.
- Eat at home. Cooking many seem like a chore but it can be relaxing. If you have never cooked before start simple with a good cookbook or watch video on youtube. If you have a family make it a group activity.
- See movies by using Redbox, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Netflix, many local libraries have movies too.
- Buy used items from thrift stores, Ebay or Craigslist.
- Get help sooner than later from a professional credit counselor or financial advisor. Some credit unions have these services for free; check with yours if you belong to one.
