David Z asked:




Being stressed over money is a normal thing that almost everyone goes through in their life. Not having enough money to pay for groceries, bills, or to support the family can be devastating to our mental and emotional health and can often lead to depression. As well as affecting yourself, your stress may be contagious, affecting the lives of everyone who you have a mutual caring for. But there are ways to relieve yourself of this stress since it doesn’t help us get were we want to be, it only creates more obstacles and can lead to even more stress.

Breaking out of this vicious circle of money related stress problems can be difficult, but not impossible. It requires a reversal of you mindset and beliefs. Follow the tips given in this article and it may help you overcome the stress you face because of money.

Talk to someone about it. When you dwell on a misfortune alone, you are thinking about all the negative things you have done and “what could have been” if you acted accordingly. Talking and discussing it with others will allow you to focus on your future and what you can do to improve your current situation. Others can think of things you haven’t or have overlooked. They are also a source of hope and inspiration for you when you face tough times.

Plan ahead. Accept that you are in a financial dilemma and think of ways to get out of it. Create a new plan to get out of the predicament. Make sure the steps of the plan are not vague, make them as precise and as distinct as possible so you don’t get sidetracked. Take time to think about any problems the plan may have but don’t dwell on it. Sometimes to get out of these types of problems you need to simply act.

These are two tips to get you started but in the end, if you want to escape your financial difficulties, you have to be determined and patient, it won’t happen overnight.

Kathryn

Andy Britnell asked:




I remember how intrigued I was when years ago, and long before I had heard of time management, I recognised the link between time and money, realising that we say that we ’spend’ or ‘invest’ both time and money, and also talk about ’saving’ time and money.

Moreover we usually find that in order to save time, we have to spend money, and vice versa. For example, to save time cooking, we might buy ready- prepared food. Our decision depends on our circumstances and priorities – someone else might well prefer to save some money and spend more time preparing and cooking a meal.

We make these choices all the time and often have no objective yardstick to show us how effective they are – unless our choices are so extreme that eventually we are totally overloaded with commitments, or on the other hand we run out of money! Constantly trying to keep a balance between spending and saving time and money demands a willingness to keep checking priorities.

This is particularly true of self-employed people starting or growing a business. It can be tempting to try and keep all costs as low as possible and do everything yourself. But this can be counter-productive when you realise just how many activities business start-up and business growth entail.

You need to think carefully about money and time management. If you can pay a specialist to do a job and thus free yourself up to do something else, that may be the better solution. Our investments in both time and money will ultimately pay off in the success of our business and the happiness of our lives. It makes sense to think carefully about the balance.

Derek

Linda Walker asked:


Good intentions aren’t enough. ADHD money management systems, on the other hand, can help you prepare now for a better tomorrow. Smart (and ultimately successful) people use systems to increase productivity, improve efficiency and to save their sanity. One of the ADHD side effects I always look for is poor money management.

You have ambitions, a vision for your future and important goals. Your dreams might include owning your own home, buying a revenue property, retiring early or starting your own business. These dreams all demand money, probably more than you have right now.

Of course, you’ll need to make some choices, prioritize your objectives and define exactly what you’re trying to accomplish, but once you do that, you’ll need more than good intentions to make your dreams come true.

Successful adults with ADHD will tell you that the key to success is not relying on your own abilities to get things done. The real secret is using your abilities to set up systems. ADHD systems for money management are particularly powerful. These systems take over the mundane, repetitive tasks you are unable to do (and that would be a waste of your intelligence, creativity and energy.)

The most common money management and retirement planning solutions used by adults with ADHD include:



doing nothing (spending every penny you make just to get by and not putting any money away for a rainy day falls into this category), hoping you’ll either win the lottery or be able to move in with your kids when you retire.

using credit cards, “easy” payment plans and debt consolidation to keep digging a deeper hole you plan to “magically” get out of when you finally strike it rich.

relying on someone else (your spouse is usually stuck with this task, although if you’re single, this option is usually replaced by one of the first two.)

swearing that this year will be better, you vow to prepare a budget, pay yourself at least 10% of your income first, plan for your taxes by making smart investments, charitable donations and wise business moves (this plan typically lasts until the credit card bills come in and you revert back to one of the previous three options.)



There is no magic solution for having enough money to make your dreams come true. While you are young, working and earning, you must save money for the future. One of the most common symptoms of ADHD in adults is lower earnings and poor financial “health.” That’s because promises, intentions and hopes won’t cut it. ADHD money management systems, however, can enable you to have a very successful financial future.

In fact, do it right and this is one of those occasions where ADHD works to your advantage. Every personal finance guru will tell you to set yourself up for “automatic” success by using systems to save and manage your money. They know systems work much better than relying on discipline or good intentions, and your ADHD habit of relying on systems to handle things you cannot or don’t want to puts you ahead of the game. All you need to do is set those ADHD money management systems properly.

If money management is presenting a special challenge for you, you may want to consider ADHD coaching to ensure you’re working with someone who can help you set up systems that will meet your special ADHD needs. ADHD Money Management Coaching programs can help you put the right ADHD money management systems in place while you maintain control over your financial future.



Brent