The ADHD tax: a session on managing your money when you have ADHD

You set the budget, but never stick to it.You miss payments even when you have the money.You try to follow standard budgeting advice, but it never seems to stick.

Impulse spending. Missed payments. Late fees.

Constantly feeling like you’re terrible with money, when it’s not you. It’s the money management systems that haven’t been made with ADHD brains in mind.

This is the ADHD tax, the hidden financial cost of living with ADHD.Research suggests this can add up to around £1,600 a year.

And the cost isn’t just financial, it’s the constant stress, avoidance, shame and feeling behind.

These patterns add up over time, and it can be exhausting to carry.

But you don’t need to beat yourself up for being charged another £12 late fee or ending up with more month than money, what you need is support from people who truly understand, both personally and professionally, what it means to manage money with ADHD.

In this session, we’ll break down why money feels so hard with ADHD, from dopamine-driven spending to avoidance and overwhelm, and give you practical ways to work with your brain rather than against it.

All evidence-based, all relatable, all made with ADHD brains in mind.

Who's leading this workshop? Meet Clodagh

Clodagh is a CBT therapist, ADHDer, and mum of three.She has over 25 years’ experience supporting neurodivergent children, adults, and families across education, social care, and therapy, and is a BABCP-accredited psychotherapist and clinical lead.

Alongside her professional work, Clodagh has chaired a branch of a national autism charity and currently volunteers as a moderator for a national ADHD charity. With lived experience of ADHD herself, her approach is practical, compassionate, and non-judgemental, focused on helping people understand how their brain works and find ways of managing life that genuinely fit.