Interview of Tina Mathams by Freya Bennett
Managing money with ADHD comes with unique challenges—from impulsive spending to struggles with focus and follow-through. Tina shares how her ADHD diagnosis transformed the way she approached finances, offering practical, compassionate strategies that work with the ADHD brain instead of against it.
Hi Tina, how are you? Can you tell us a little about how you first realised your relationship with money could change after your ADHD diagnosis?
When I was diagnosed with ADHD, a lot of things suddenly clicked, especially around money. I learnt about ADHD traits such as impulsivity, emotional dysregulation and executive functioning issues, and I realised it wasn’t that I was “bad with money” or lazy. It’s that my brain just worked differently. Once I understood that impulsivity and avoidance weren’t personal failings but ADHD traits, I could approach money in a new way. That shift gave me permission to create systems that worked with my brain, not against it.
Many finance books assume a neurotypical brain. How does ADHD Money reframe traditional financial advice to work specifically with ADHD traits like impulsivity or difficulty with focus?
Traditional finance advice often says, “just stick to a budget”, “just don’t spend money” or “have more discipline,” which doesn’t land if your brain struggles with executive function. ADHD Money takes the pressure off perfection and instead leans into ADHD traits. For example, impulsivity can be channelled into intentional “fun funds” so spending is guilt free. For focus, I use short bursts, body doubling, or gamifying financial tasks. The goal isn’t rigid rules but flexible strategies that actually stick.
The book includes strategies like body doubling, gamifying tasks, and journaling. Which of these tools do you find most effective for ADHD adults, and why?
Body doubling is huge. Having someone else in the room, or virtually on Zoom, creates accountability and cuts through avoidance. Tasks that feel overwhelming on your own become doable when you feel supported. Gamifying is also powerful because ADHD brains thrive on novelty and reward. Journaling helps with the emotional side of money, but body doubling does tend to be the quickest win for most adults. Rather than one strategy being the most powerful, they can be utilised at different times with great effectiveness depending on what your support needs are at the time.
Shame and guilt around money are common, especially for neurodivergent people. How did you work through your own money mindset, and what’s a first step for readers to do the same?
I had to stop seeing money mistakes as proof I was “bad with money” and start seeing them as data. That shift helped me move from shame into curiosity. Instead of spiraling in guilt, I’d ask: “What was happening that day? What emotion drove that choice?” For readers, the first step is self-compassion. It’s okay if you’ve avoided looking at money. From there, a gentle practice like understanding your earliest money memories can uncover patterns and start healing. This could be done with journaling, or even just by thinking it through.
You talk about adding interest, novelty, and urgency to mundane tasks. Can you give an example of how someone might make budgeting or expense tracking more ADHD-friendly?
One example is turning expense tracking into a fun thing to do each week; something you might even look forward to. Set a timer for five minutes, put on your favourite song, and see how much you can get entered before the music ends. Or make it social. Hop on a body doubling session where everyone tracks their money at the same time. Urgency and fun make it less about “being disciplined” and more about creating a moment you’ll actually follow through on. Another idea I like was from a client of mine – they went to their favourite cafe each week, ordered their favourite drink and snack, and this put them into “money tracking” mode. It made the task less daunting and more enjoyable!
You outline both the Snowball Method and the Brave Method for tackling debt. How do you help someone decide which approach fits their personality and brain style?
The Snowball Method (smallest debt first) works well if you need quick wins and visible progress to stay motivated – this can be very ADHD-friendly. The Brave Method is more about helping you set financial goals, which can be helpful if you like a more methodological approach and perhaps have quite a few bigger debts. You might ask yourself: “Do you want to see numbers going down fast, or do you need relief from the debt that keeps you up at night?” That answer points to the best fit. And ultimately, done is better than perfect. With ADHD, we can go into analysis paralysis and then end up not doing anything! When it comes to debt, or even saving, just taking action will help you get you towards your goal.
While the book is designed for ADHD brains, what’s one lesson or tool from ADHD Money that you think neurotypical readers could benefit from as well?
Honestly, the focus on emotions and money. So many finance books skip this, but whether you’re ADHD or not, your nervous system, habits, and emotions play a huge role in money decisions. Learning to notice the feelings behind spending or avoidance can change the game. Neurotypical readers might not struggle with time blindness in the same way, but they definitely benefit from building more awareness and compassion into their money routines.
