Guest blog post by Abby Birch, Neurodivergent Money Expert
For many people, ADHD isn’t something they immediately connect to their money.
When they are talked about together, the focus is often on impulsive spending or missed payments. While these can be part of the picture, they don’t reflect the full experience for many people.
How ADHD can show up
Managing money involves more than numbers. It requires planning, decision-making, organisation and follow-through, all areas that can be affected by ADHD.
Because of this, the impact often shows up in less obvious ways:
- Money blindness
Finding it hard to connect what’s in your account when you’re spending money, or how long money needs to last. - Emotional or reactive spending
Spending to cope, reward yourself, or relieve stress, rather than as part of a plan - Decision paralysis and avoidance
Overthinking decisions or putting things off, which can lead to overwhelm, missed opportunities or not taking action at all - Avoiding everyday money admin
Putting off things like opening post, cancelling subscriptions or contacting providers, even when you know it needs to be done
Alongside this, many people also describe an emotional layer, including guilt, shame, overwhelm or feeling like they should be able to manage things better.
Over time, this can lead to missed payments, ongoing subscriptions, difficulty saving or increased debt.
The cumulative impact: ‘The ADHD Tax’
These patterns can add up. This is sometimes referred to as the ‘ADHD tax’ – the extra costs that build up over time through things like missed deadlines, forgotten cancellations or decisions made under pressure.
Research by Monzo and YouGov found that ADHD-related financial challenges are linked to higher levels of financial stress, with the impact estimated at around £1,600 per year for some individuals.
What can help
When ADHD is part of the picture, managing money is often less about knowing what to do and more about finding ways of doing it that work in practice.
A few approaches that can help include:
- Breaking tasks down into small steps rather than trying to fix everything at once
- Using automation to reduce reliance on memory or willpower
- Separating money into different pots or accounts so bills, savings and essentials are clearly organised and set aside
- Having a dedicated spending account so it’s easier to see what’s left for day-to-day spending
Final thought
When the link between ADHD and money is understood, it becomes easier to see why money can feel harder and where more appropriate support can help.
It’s also one of the reasons I focus on this area in my work, as it continues to be an under-recognised but important part of the ADHD experience.
If you need support
If money is affecting your mental health, you can contact Samaritans or speak to your GP.
For money-specific related support, organisations such as StepChange Debt Charity, Citizens Advice or MoneyHelper offer free and confidential guidance.You may also choose to work with a coach who understands both ADHD and money, to help you identify patterns, understand behaviours and find practical approaches that work for you.
Abby Birch, Neurodivergent Money Expert
Financial Wellbeing and Coaching
http://www.abbybirch.co.uk
