Add- Money Management And Less Stress
People with ADD often have trouble managing their finances. We get bills, put them aside until later, and then, just forget to pay them. This can lead to highly stressful situations, like foreclosures, repossessions, and worse…jail, when our parking tickets go unpaid. Those situations are unbearably stressful, but you can avoid them.
You can use some easy money-management techniques that are ADD-friendly to help you.
The first thing you can do is to make the whole process automatic so that you don’t have to think about managing your money, and your ADD brain will be much happier. Begin by automating deposits into your bank account. Go to your employer and set it up so that the money goes straight into your bank rather than come to you in the form of a check. When you do this, you’ll never forget to take your paycheck to the bank again. Set up automatic bill payment with the places that you can, too. This way, you won’t have to try and focus your ADD brain on paying those bills. Your deposits and obligations will automatically be handled.
Doing that isn’t always possible, though. Your employer may not offer direct deposit, and some of your obligations may not have a monthly debit option. And when you’re not paid a steady amount, as when you’re in business for yourself or a commissioned salesperson, you may not be able to set up automatic debits, either. It’s better not to do that when you’re not sure there will be enough money in your account to cover the payment. Bounces could cost you up to $50, which will only make things worse.
So, you have to have a routine. The instant you are handed your paycheck, take it to the bank, if possible, or if you have to wait until your break, take it then. If you have to wait until work is done for he day, then, go to the ATM, if the teller windows are closed. It may take your deposit an extra day to register, but it’s better than waiting until the following day and have your ADD making you forget altogether.
The best way to make bill payments, whether or not you have ADD, is to set up online bill payment with your bank. Most banks have this service today, but if your bank doesn’t, change banks. It’s that important. Find a new bank that offers the service free of charge. Then, set up your accounts. If you can’t handle the tedium of doing that, get someone who you trust and can do it for you. Then, stick up a calendar in your house, where you can see it every day, and put a big red circle around the day you want to pay bills. Be sure that it makes sense as to when your bills are due. You may have to make two days or a day every week, depending on when your pay comes and when your bills are due. But when you see those dates on your calendar, go straight to your computer, fill in the amounts you want to pay and hit the send button. Your ADD brain won’t have time to get bored because it’s so quick and easy to do.
Yet, if you know yourself well, and that your ADD brain just won’t allow you to get involved with money issues in any way, shape, or form, then hire someone to manage your money for you. Because the American economy runs on credit, it’s very difficult to get some things without it. You need a place to live, and landlords check your credit to see if you pay your bills on time. You need a car to get back and forth to work, and you need insurance for that car. You may not even realize it, but insurance companies check your credit, too. But even if yours is in bad shape because of your ADD right now, start on the right path and it will come back in line. Every bad mark has to be wiped off your report, eventually, and then, ignore all the “pre-approved” offers that come into your mailbox. Don’t even open them. Rip them up and throw them away. Though credit is easy to get when your credit is good, it should be reserved for important purchases, like cars and houses, things you probably can’t pay cash for.
Managing money is an important skill, and for some of us with ADD, it’s just impossible. If that’s true, get someone you trust to manage it for you. Poor money management causes tons of stress. With ADD, you have enough to think about. You surely don’t need this one more hassle! Find a community like Instant ADD Success where you can get even more information and people who can help you.
Tellman Knudson is CEO of OvercomeEverything, Inc. and a certified hypnotherapist and NLP practitioner who has helped many clients deal with ADD. Sign up for his free weekly ADD Success tips when you visit Instant ADD Success at http://www.instantaddsuccess.com
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