Meal Planning & Money Planning
Let me ask you something: How do you plan dinner?
Are you a "decide five minutes before the hangry hits" kind of person? Or do you map out meals for the week (or even the whole month, like I do, because chaos and I are not friends)?
Here’s the thing—meal planning gives structure to your day. It removes the guesswork and saves money (hello, grocery budget!). But let’s zoom out for a second.
What about planning for emergencies? Retirement? Future-you? Spoiler alert: that’s where most of us with ADHD hit the brakes.
The Stats Aren’t Great (But They’re Not the End of the Story)
42.6% of Americans don’t plan meals ahead. 27% are living paycheck to paycheck. Only 44% could cover a $1,000 emergency right now. Half aren’t saving for retirement. ADHD? It’s a financial curveball. We tend to have a net worth 75% lower than our peers. Yeah, ouch.
But before the shame spiral kicks in—breathe. This isn’t about blaming ourselves. It’s about understanding why planning feels so impossible sometimes, and what we can actually do about it.
ADHD + Planning = Not Natural BFFs
Here’s why financial planning often feels like pushing a boulder uphill in roller skates:
Time Blindness – We live in “Now” or “Not Now.” Planning for the future? That’s a Not Now problem… until it’s suddenly a right-now crisis.
Disorganization – If your important documents are somewhere between the junk drawer and a “safe place” you’ll never find again, you’re not alone. Indecision becomes the decision, and nothing gets planned.
Emotional Money Stuff – Anxiety, avoidance, guilt, impulsive spending… ADHD turns the volume up on all of it. We either obsess or ghost our finances entirely.
Habit Struggles – We mean to check our budget. We really do. But if we miss it once, it’s even harder the next time. Sound familiar?
Impulse Spending – Everyone buys stuff they don’t need. But ADHD brains are 3- 4x more likely to carry credit card debt. Instant gratification is powerful—future-you doesn’t even get a vote unless we bring her to the table.
Building a Bridge from “Now” to “Not Now”
The key? Get to know your future self. No, really—make her feel real. You’re more likely to save for someone you know and care about.
Here’s how to meet her:
Write Letters – Pen a note to your 65-year-old self. Then write back. It’s weird, but powerful.
Visualize – Use an app like FaceApp to age yourself and save the photo. Glance at it before a purchase.
Make It Specific – Where does Future You live? What does she do in the morning? Does she have enough money for dental work?
Frame it as Caregiving – Every smart money move is a gift to her.
Shorten the Timeline – What does “Three-Months-From-Now You” need? Let’s start there.
This isn’t about shame or hustle. It’s about building systems and making choices with love, for the version of you that’s counting on you.
What I'm supposed to look like in 1958
Want a Roadmap That Works with Your ADHD Brain?
I help women with ADHD untangle their finances using fundamental strategies that work with your brain, not someone else’s idea of a spreadsheet life.
Book a Free 30-Minute Discovery Call. We'll talk about:
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Your future self? She’s gonna be so proud of you.
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