If you’re ADHD like I am, you can utilize “out of sight, out of mind” in your favor when it comes to saving money.

I used to feel bad about the fact that I need to literally hide my own money from myself if I’m going to save up. But that was shame driving, and now shame is locked in the trunk with a gag in its mouth. If you know that you forget about things when they aren’t right in front of you, this can be a great tool for setting cash aside, as long as you do it mindfully. 

What do I mean by mindfully? Give yourself reasonable barriers to access when it comes to money you’re trying to save. 

Use a separate account for savings and even consider opening it under a local credit union or Chime — basically, somewhere that is not the same place where you manage your everyday spending and bills money.

Once the account is open, if you’re given a physical card to access the account, either cut it up and throw it away, or (if that level of restriction doesn’t feel safe for you) ask a trusted person to keep it for you, and give them very clear instructions on when they should allow you to access your money. This should obviously be someone who is trustworthy and feels comfortable maintaining boundaries with you. 

Other reasonable barriers to access: putting your card in a safety deposit box that you have to physically go to, freezing your card in ice, or writing down your login & account info and storing it in a secure (preferably locked) place, not saving any login or account info digitally.

Part of shame-free financial literacy is not only accepting, but embracing the way your brain works, and finding unique systems that work for you. Equipping yourself with financial knowledge, especially when you are neurodivergent, allows you to make more empowered decisions about money, instead of making choices from a place of fear or embarrassment. 

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