ADHD & Money $$$

Episode 4 of ADHD FM is about something so many of us quietly struggle with: money. Not just budgeting, but the shame spiral. The unopened mail. The subscriptions we meant to cancel. The late fees that somehow feel like a moral failure instead of an executive function issue.

We talk about the “ADHD tax,” a term popularized by Jessica McCabe of How to ADHD, all the extra costs that pile up because of forgetfulness, impulsivity, or avoidance. But the financial cost is only half of it. The heavier part is the story we tell ourselves: I should be better at this. I’m smart. Why can’t I manage my own money?

One of the most powerful takeaways from my conversation with Jodie Shauffer is surprisingly simple. Step one is looking at your finances daily. Not doing a full budget overhaul. Not fixing everything. Just looking. Five minutes. Open the app. Check the balance. Build the muscle of awareness. For ADHD brains, avoidance fuels anxiety, but tiny consistent exposure reduces it. Daily visibility turns money from something scary into something familiar.

If you’ve ever avoided your bank app like it’s bad news waiting to happen, this episode will feel like a deep exhale. You’re not bad with money. You can find systems and implement small daily habits that work for how your brain actually functions.

🎧 For the full story listen to Episode 4 of ADHD FM wherever you get your podcasts.