Managing a Variable Income with an ADHD Brain

Stability and organization are two words that best describe an ideal world for the ADHD brain. What happens, then, when someone with ADHD has a variable income?  There’s no guarantee of stability, and it’s difficult to organize your expenses when you don’t have a fixed income.Creating a Repeatable StructureEstablish a budget with a repeatable structure that doesn't require constant tweaking:Make sure you have enough income to cover your basic expensesWhen does the income come in in the month? Does it allow for scheduling?Look at your previous years of income and see if there are any seasonal patternsBuild in some conservatism for any money leftoverCreate a working capital account to put any leftover money in to cover shortfall monthsBe more intentional with your spending to bring your overall expenses downPut a reminder in your phone to review your budget each month and look for areas of improvementIdentify your savings goals and big-ticket itemsDraw a Line You Will Not CrossDefine a list of things you will not do and post it somewhere visible to avoid pitfalls that will derail your progressDipping into your emergency fundsUsing credit cards to smooth out shortfallsFalling victim to impulse spendingPredicting when your monthly income will be higher or lowerFollowing this plan using these conservative methods will result in having money left over at the end of the year, allowing you to put that money toward your savings goals. Remember, your goal is to spend less than you make. If your spending habits are well under control, these strategies will help you reach that goal.Want to work with me?Check out my ADHD Planning & Coaching service.Help Me Out!If you enjoyed this podcast, the best way to help me is share it with a friend. Reviews and ratings are also appreciated:Click here to leave a review on AppleClick here to leave a review on my websiteGive me five stars on SpotifyHelping ADHD'ers unleash their financial potential through planning and coaching.DeWittCM.com/adhd to book free discovery sessionFor more information, visit the show notes at https://www.adhdmoneytalk.com/s1e36Head over to our YouTube channel for the full experience on future episodes.Learn more about ADHD-friendly financial coaching Follow me on YouTubeSubscribe to the newsletter