Q: “My Idea of Self-Care Is Overspending.”
“There are countless strategies that can help you curb your spending. But if you still find yourself overspending and getting into financial trouble, you’ll have to unpack this self-sabotaging behavior.”
Q: “Buying things has always felt like a form of self-care for me, but I always end up overspending. How can I feel that I’m taking care of myself without getting into debt?”
This is tricky because, after a tough day, why wouldn’t you want to treat yourself to something nice?
The most obvious approach — though I don’t want to oversimplify it — is to really think about how you can treat yourself without spending (too much) money. For example, one of my clients enjoys taking luxurious baths as a form of self-care. She’ll light candles, relax, and fully indulge in the experience. That’s her way of treating herself. Can you identify similar ways to treat yourself? Write down those ideas and, when you feel the urge to splurge, consult your list instead of turning to online shopping. Be sure to keep the list in a prominent, highly visible place.
[Read: Neurotypical Budgeting Tips Don’t Work for ADHD Brains. These Do.]
I also challenge you to make it harder to spend. Disconnect your saved cards from your phone and the online stores you frequent. Unsubscribe from newsletters that are designed to make you click and buy. Add as much friction as possible to make impulsive spending inconvenient.
There are countless strategies that can help you curb your spending. But if you still find yourself overspending and getting into financial trouble, you’ll have to unpack this self-sabotaging behavior. Why do you really overspend? What does it mean to you to make big purchases? Under what circumstances do you tend to make these purchases? What feelings precede your overspending episodes? You may need to find these answers with the help of an ADHD coach or an ADHD-informed mental health provider.
How to Stop Spending Money: Next Steps
- Read: The ADHD Tax Is Draining — Financially and Emotionally
- Read: How to Spend Less When the ADHD Brain Wants More, More, More
- Read: “My Best Tip for Staying on a Budget Is…”
The content for this article was derived from the ADDitude ADHD Experts webinar titled, “Interrupt the Cycle of Self-Sabotage in the New Year” [Video Replay & Podcast #492] with Tamara Rosier, Ph.D., which was broadcast on February 15, 2024.
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