My story
I was an undiagnosed autistic child.
I didn’t find out until I was 39. And honestly? It didn’t change anything for other people — but it changed everything for me.Finally, I understood how my brain worked.
How I learned.
Why I struggled with things that seemed so easy for everyone else.Especially when it came to money.Budgeting advice always felt like it was written in another language — too many steps, too much detail, too many ways to mess it up. I didn’t need more shame. I needed tools that worked with my brain, not against it.This post is for people like me — whether you’re autistic, ADHD, or just wired a little differently. If budgeting has ever made you feel dumb, overwhelmed, or exhausted… you’re in the right place.
🚧 Why Traditional Budgeting Doesn’t Work for Everyone
Let’s get one thing straight — you’re not broken. Most budgeting systems just aren’t built for brains like ours.If you’ve ever struggled with:
Overwhelm from cluttered spreadsheets
Shame spirals after forgetting a transaction
Executive dysfunction that makes “just five minutes a day” feel impossibleOr a sudden flood of anxiety because everything feels out of controlYou are not alone.
Traditional budgeting relies on:
Consistency
Self-discipline
Math
And memory
If you’re autistic, ADHD, dyslexic, or neurodivergent in any way — those aren’t always strengths. And that’s okay. You’re not lazy. You’re not irresponsible. You’re just working with a different operating system.
🛠 Tools That Work With Your Brain (Not Against It)
Here’s the good news — there are tools that adapt to you, instead of demanding you change for them.
✅ Use Visual Systems
Color-coded sliders. Pie charts. Block budgets.
The brain often processes color and shape faster than numbers or words.
TThat’s why I built the Budget Voice Tracker app — a tool with:
Visual breakdowns (Needs, Wants, Future)Vertical sliders that show progressNo complicated setup
And you can even talk your expenses in — no typing required
✅ Build in Simplicity
Set visual reminders instead of alarms
Use only 3 categories:
Needs / Wants / Future
Skip the decimals — round to whole numbers
Budget weekly instead of monthly
✅ Use Tools Made For Neurodivergent Minds
Here are a few genuinely helpful, judgment-free resources:
- 🔗 NHS: Budgeting Tips for People with Autism
- 🔗 ADDitude: ADHD & Money
- 🔗 Understood.org: Financial Literacy for Learning Differences
- 🔗 Moneysmart.gov.au: Simple Saving Tips
🌀 Build Your Rhythm, Not Theirs
There is no “right” way to manage money.
Try:
- 5-minute check-ins every second day
- Voice memos instead of lists
- Color-coded jars or envelopes
- Letting yourself restart as many times as needed
Your brain, your rules.
And on bad days?
Forgive yourself. Come back when you can. That’s budgeting, too.
💬 Final Thought: You’re Not Failing — You’re Just Learning Differently
The system wasn’t built for us.
But that doesn’t mean we can’t build our own.
Start small.
Make it visual.
Talk it out.
Rest when you need to.
And if you’re ready to try something built with brains like ours in mind, check out the free Budget Voice Tracker app. No shame. No spreadsheets. Just small steps that feel doable.
✍️ This post is part of the Budget For Brains project — a space for people who think differently, live messily, and want tools that actually work.