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Podcast #27: You and Your Money

  • Writer: Lynda Price
    Lynda Price
  • Jul 8, 2024
  • 4 min read

Updated: 3 days ago


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One thing that is always a part of your adult life is money. Do I have enough? How can I get more? What should I do with what I got? People with invisible disabilities face these questions everyday in unique ways. Here's some tips to manage your finances if you have LD, dyslexia, or ADHD.


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Definition and Benefits

Of all of the topics that we've covered during these Podcasts, one that clearly doesn't need any further explanation is money. No matter who you are or where you live, you will always have questions about money. For instance, most folks are constantly thinking about: Do I have enough money? How can I make more money? How will I pay my bills? How can I support my family? Can I afford that trip or that car or to go to the casino with my friends?

In the 21st Century, financial security--and financial freedom--seem to be the foundation for a happy, successful adult life. Who wants to be poor? Who wants to be rich? For most adults throughout the world, having enough money clearly gives you and your family peace of mind, freedom and independence (Lafayette Federal Credit Union, 2023). As Wallace Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor famously said, "You can never be too rich or too thin."

This cliche' is particularly relevant if you have invisible disabilities. It's especially ironic because financial independence is rarely--if ever--discussed with adolescents with LD, dyslexia, or ADHD. But it's a topic that definitely needs exploration.

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Connections to LD and Dyslexia


Who would have guessed? Money and invisible disabilities often go hand-in-hand. For instance, Claney (2025) explains that: "Have you ever felt like just thinking about organizing your finances is exhausting? Or maybe you make a detailed budget, full of good intentions, only to find it impossible to follow? These experiences are common for adults with ADHD. It's not about willpower or intelligence; it's often about how the brain is wired."

Also, one size doesn't fit all. What helps one person with invisible disabilities may not work for everyone. For example, an accommodation often suggested to adults with LD is to rely on cash instead of credit cards. But, as the folks from Succeed with Dyslexia (2024) caution: "You’d think a shift away from cash and towards apps [for people with dyslexia] would make it easier, but that’s not always the case: although working with physical money can be tricky, nobody experiences dyslexia the same way, and over a quarter of folks with memory or learning differences still struggle with digital formats too."

Talking about the diverse connections between money and invisible disabilities can be like talking a foreign language. Perhaps, the best way to approach it is to look at five, inter-connected areas where money seems to be heavily influenced by invisible disabilities:


  • Dyscalculia and Literacy Skills

ex: reading contracts, long, involved legal documents, insurance, bequests, investments, math computation, math reasoning


"Dyscalculia impacts how we interpret and process numbers, which can make a lot of things tricky — anything from saving a percentage or sticking to a budget in-store to working through card statements if something looks fraudulent." Succeed with Dyslexia (2024)


  • Goal Setting

ex: short and long term goals, financial speculation, retirement, wills, financial planning, saving and spending money


  • Impulsivity

ex: budgets, paychecks,



  • Poor Executive Functions

ex: short and long term memory, planning, organization, processing speed, inhibition, working memory, task shifting/cognitive flexibility, poor time management, making changes in tasks, prioritizing, follow through


"Another way that having dyslexia can make budgeting difficult is how it impacts our choices. ‘It’s always cheaper to cook from scratch,’ they say; ‘It’s so much cheaper to get the bus!’ But when recipes are long, reading travel timetables is arduous or if you struggle with sequencing and timekeeping, it can make these low-cost options incredibly stressful, especially after a day of work.  Sometimes it’s just about keeping it simple, and preserving your mental energy for the next day, because you have to do it all over again." Succeed with Dyslexia (2024). 


  • Related Factors: First, Inconsistent Motivation: Traditional budgeting doesn’t account for fluctuating energy or focus levels.  Second, Emotional Spending: Impulsivity or emotional triggers can derail budgeting efforts. Third, Overwhelm with Complexity: Detailed or overly complex systems may feel intimidating or unsustainable (Toop, 2025)


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Scenarios


Scenario A


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Taxes....blah, blah, blah


Scenario B


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credit cards.....blah, blah, blah


Scenario C


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managing your budget (car loan, saving accounts, etc.)


Scenario D


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planning for the future (insurance, retirement saving, investments, will, bequests)



Tips and Tricks



Tip #1 Budgeting

"Traditional budgeting advice often assumes a one-size-fits-all approach, but for neurodivergent individuals, particularly those with ADHD, this method may not work. Rigid systems or complex spreadsheets can feel overwhelming, leading to frustration and abandonment. A flexible, tailored approach to budgeting that aligns with your unique needs and strengths can make managing finances more achievable and even enjoyable" (Toop, 2025). 




Tip #2




Tip #3





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