Managing personal finances can be challenging for anyone. But if you’re neurodivergent, unique cognitive styles and processing differences can add layers of complexity. Whether you’re someone who finds budgeting overwhelming, tends to hyper-focus on specific financial details, or simply wants to ensure you’re not overlooking any blind spots, this guide aims to provide practical strategies tailored to diverse neurodivergent experiences.

Understanding the Spectrum of Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity encompasses a wide spectrum of experiences, strengths, and needs – including conditions like autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and others. These experiences and their impact on personal finances are unique and varied. Some may find themselves hyper-focused on elements of their financial life, others might struggle to engage with money full-stop, while others might excel in certain areas but find other aspects, like impulse control or long-term planning, more difficult.

Chantelle Elmi, a financial adviser at Octopus Money, notes:

“We think differently—but we don’t think differently in the same way.”

Recognizing and embracing your unique cognitive profile is the first step toward effective financial management.

Understanding Your Financial Relationship

Before diving into tools and strategies, it’s crucial to reflect on your personal relationship with money. “Start by understanding how you behave with money today,” says Chantelle. “Then figure out why. That’s where the change begins.”

Consider the following:

• Spending vs. Saving: Do you tend to spend impulsively, or are you more inclined to save excessively?
• Engagement Level: Are you deeply involved in tracking every financial detail, or do you avoid financial matters altogether?
• Emotional Responses: How do financial tasks make you feel? Anxious, overwhelmed, indifferent?

Recognising these patterns can help in selecting the most effective strategies and tools for your unique situation.

Tailoring Financial Management to Your Learning Style

Whether you’re neurodivergent or not, we all have preferred ways of processing information: watching videos, reading articles, talking things through, sketching diagrams. “I learn by repeating things aloud,” says Chantelle. “In meetings, I’ll summarise what I’ve heard – not just for the client, but for myself. That’s how I lock it in.”

Tip: Ask yourself – when have you actually remembered financial information? What was the format? Find ways to recreate that.

Understanding how you process information can significantly impact how you manage your finances:

• Visual Learners: Utilise charts, graphs, and colour-coded budgeting tools.
• Auditory Learners: Listen to financial podcasts or use text-to-speech tools to process written information. You can find the Octopus Money podcast, Keep The Change, on Spotify here.
• Kinesthetic Learners: Engage in hands-on activities, like using physical budgeting tools or cash envelopes.
• Reading/Writing Learners: Maintain written budgets and journals to track financial goals and progress.

Practical Strategies for Financial Management

Here are some actionable steps to help manage your finances effectively:

1. Automate Financial Tasks

Automation can reduce the cognitive load associated with financial management:

• Bill Payments: Set up automatic payments to avoid missed deadlines.
• Savings: Schedule regular transfers to savings accounts.

2. Simplify and Streamline

Instead of striving for complex organisation, focus on simplification:

• Consolidate Accounts: You can consider bringing different pension, saving or investment accounts together to limit the number of accounts to monitor. Read more about combining pension accounts here.
• Declutter Subscriptions: Cancel unnecessary services to reduce expenses.

3. Visual Money Management Tools

Visual aids can make abstract financial concepts more concrete:

• Budgeting Apps: Choose apps that offer visual representations of spending. Apps like Snoop and Emma offer visual representations of your day-to-day spending.
• Spreadsheets: If you want more control over how you categorise and to go into more detail than standard apps allow, consider creating colour-coded spreadsheets to track expenses. Etsy sells budgeting spreadsheet templates that you can customise yourself for less than £1!

4. Get a Second Opinion

Having someone to discuss financial goals with or help keep you accountable can provide clarity, expertise and motivation:

• Accountability Partners: Share your financial objectives with a trusted friend or family member.
• Professional Support: Book a free starter session a coach or adviser at Octopus Money.

5. Establish A Routine

One of the best ways to stay on top of your money is to make reviewing it a regular habit. Routine reduces decision fatigue, helps you spot issues early, and builds your confidence over time. Here’s a simple structure you can follow:

• Weekly Review: Keep it light and manageable – just 10 minutes – the goal here is to stay aware
  • Check your bank balance and recent transactions. Look for anything unusual or unexpected.
  • Update or glance at your budget or spending tracker. Ask yourself: Did I overspend on anything? Is there a pattern I want to change next week?
  • Tip: Set a recurring calendar reminder or pair this review with something fun (e.g. your Saturday coffee) to build the habit.
• Monthly Review: Take a deeper look at your overall financial picture
  • Review your spending by category. Most apps can do this automatically. Where did your money actually go?
  • Check your bills and subscriptions. Cancel anything you’re not using.
  • Top up your savings – even a small amount adds up over time
  • Reflect on goals: Are you making the progress you want?
• Yearly Review: Step back and look at the bigger picture.
  • Review your income, savings, debt, and overall financial health
  • Update your goals
  • Review key protections – like insurance, wills, or emergency funds
  • Tip: This review is great to do with a professional coach or adviser to get a second pair of eyes on everything

Seeking Support and Resources

Remember, seeking professional help is a sign of strength and savviness.

At Octopus Money, we understand that financial wellbeing isn’t solely about numbers – it’s about emotions, behaviours and personal experiences. Our coaches and advisers are trained to provide empathetic, personalised support that considers your unique needs.

Chantelle recalls a neurodivergent client who said: “I’ll just ask if you can explain things in a different way if I don’t get it.” That openness changed the whole relationship. “We had such a good flow because she felt empowered to ask questions and I knew how to adapt.”

And if you’re working with a financial adviser or coach, ask for the support you need – you have every right to say:

• “Can we do this visually?”
• “I need a break.”
• “Can I record this for later?”
• “Can you explain that differently?”

Whether you’re looking to build confidence in managing money, seeking strategies tailored to your learning style, or simply need someone to talk to about your financial concerns, our team is here to help.

Financial wellbeing is a journey, not a destination. With the right tools, strategies, and support, you can navigate your finances confidently and effectively.