Book Review: "ADD and Your Money"
“ADD and Your Money” offers ADHD-specific financial advice, presenting practical, easy-to-implement strategies in an accessible, concise format. The book effectively translates academic insights into actionable guidance, empowering neurodivergent individuals to improve
“ADD and Your Money” Book Review: Practical Financial Strategies for Neurodivergent Adults
“ADD and Your Money” offers ADHD-specific financial advice, presenting practical, easy-to-implement strategies in an accessible, concise format. The book effectively translates academic insights into actionable guidance, empowering neurodivergent individuals to improve their financial well-being. While its simplicity is a strength for beginners, more experienced readers may find it too basic.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Managing personal finances is a challenge for many people, but for individuals with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), it can be an even greater struggle. Executive dysfunction, impulsivity, and forgetfulness—hallmark traits of ADHD—make budgeting, saving, and managing debt particularly difficult. “ADD and Your Money: A Guide to Personal Finance for Adults with Attention-Deficit Disorder” aims to address these unique challenges. Co-authored and published in 2009 by Stephanie Moulton Sarkis, PhD, and financial specialist Karl Klein, JD, this book offers tools, strategies, and action steps to help adults with ADHD take control of their finances.
How effectively “ADD and Your Money” translate academic knowledge into practical financial strategies though? Let's have a look at the book’s potential to empower neurodivergent individuals to achieve greater financial stability.
A little about the Authors...
Stephanie Moulton Sarkis, PhD is a psychotherapist specializing in ADHD, anxiety, and autism spectrum disorders. She is an established voice in the ADHD community, having written several books on ADHD and appeared in mainstream media as an expert on the topic. Her experience informs the book’s ADHD-specific advice.
Karl Klein, JD is a legal expert who contributes financial and legal insights to the book. His knowledge of financial contracts, loans, and credit reports adds a layer of expertise to the book’s practical advice on navigating the financial system.
How Does ‘ADD and Your Money’ Empower Neurodivergent Readers?
Unlike generic personal finance books, “ADD and Your Money” addresses the unique needs of people with ADHD. ADHD traits such as impulsive spending, difficulty with organization, and forgetfulness are discussed with compassion and realism. Instead of shaming readers for their financial missteps, the book normalizes the experience and offers non-judgmental strategies to work around them.
For example, one strategy to combat impulsive buying is to “shop with a friend who can provide a reality check” or “avoid touching items in stores to reduce the urge to buy them.” This kind of advice is highly relevant to individuals with ADHD, where sensory engagement with items can fuel impulsive decisions.
Another ADHD-friendly strategy is the use of automation. Setting up automatic payments, savings transfers, and bill reminders are recommended to compensate for memory issues and procrastination. Unlike traditional financial advice, which assumes people have the executive functioning to remember to pay their bills on time, “ADD and Your Money” accounts for the reality of ADHD-related forgetfulness.
Simple and Digestible Financial Education
While many finance books delve into dense, jargon-filled discussions of stocks, investments, and tax strategy, “ADD and Your Money” stays accessible. The book breaks down key financial concepts like budgeting, debt repayment, and credit scores into manageable pieces. It avoids financial jargon that might overwhelm neurodivergent readers.
Each section is action-oriented, with exercises that prompt readers to reflect on their habits and make small but significant changes. For example, readers are asked to list “trigger” situations that lead to impulsive purchases, such as scrolling through online shopping apps late at night. By identifying triggers, readers become more self-aware and can plan to avoid them.
Empowerment Through Positive Reinforcement
One of the most notable aspects of “ADD and Your Money” is its focus on self-compassion. Instead of treating ADHD traits as “flaws” to be corrected, the book emphasizes acceptance and self-kindness. Neurodivergent readers are encouraged to acknowledge their limitations and seek out systems that work for them. This is a significant departure from mainstream finance literature, which tends to assume neurotypical readers with unlimited self-control.
By building in positive reinforcement, the book motivates readers to celebrate small wins, like making one extra debt payment or successfully avoiding an impulse purchase. This focus on small wins builds self-efficacy and reduces the shame often associated with financial mistakes.
Strengths of ‘ADD and Your Money’
Concise and Accessible Language: The authors avoid technical financial jargon, making the content digestible and approachable.
Practical, Action-Oriented Strategies: The book provides actionable steps like setting up automatic payments and using financial apps, which make a tangible difference in a reader’s financial journey.
Focus on Self-Compassion: By fostering a “progress, not perfection” mindset, the book builds reader confidence and reduces financial shame.
Weaknesses of ‘ADD and Your Money’
Limited Coverage of Wealth-Building: The book focuses on budgeting, debt management, and financial organization. While these are essential skills, there’s less emphasis on long-term wealth-building strategies like investing and retirement planning.
Repetitive Exercises: Some readers may feel that the book’s exercises repeat similar concepts. While repetition can help reinforce learning, it may feel redundant to some.
Notable Lessons from the Book
“Out of Sight, Out of Mind” Strategy: People with ADHD often benefit from using visual and tactile cues. Since credit cards can lead to impulsive purchases, the authors suggest putting the card in a hard-to-access location (like freezing it in a block of ice) to create a “cooling off” period before using it.
The Power of Automation: ADHD often causes people to miss payment deadlines due to forgetfulness. Automating bill payments and savings transfers allows people to meet financial goals without relying on memory or willpower.
Impulse Management Strategies: The book suggests avoiding situations that tempt impulsive spending, such as window shopping or browsing online marketplaces during downtime. It also advises accountability partners to help maintain financial discipline.
Is it for you?
Simply put, “ADD and Your Money” offers valuable insight for neurodivergent individuals who struggle with impulse control, disorganization, and procrastination. It’s especially useful for adults newly diagnosed with ADHD who may be learning to navigate their symptoms for the first time. Parents, partners, or spouses of people with ADHD may also benefit from the book’s insight into ADHD-related financial struggles.
While it excels as a “starter” finance book that lays the foundation for financial well-being, it is certainly less suited for experienced financial planners or readers seeking in-depth coverage of wealth-building strategies. We'll look at resources for those in future reviews.
The Divergent Money Verdict
“ADD and Your Money” earns a solid 4 out of 5 stars. Its ADHD-specific financial advice is actionable, accessible, and practical. By centering neurodivergent experiences, the book provides a safe, non-judgmental space for readers to confront their financial struggles.
Pros:
✅ Tailored ADHD strategies
✅ Concise language
✅ Actionable steps
✅ A focus on self-compassion
Cons:
❌ Basic for experienced readers
❌ Limited focus on wealth-building
❌ Some repetitive exercises
For members of the Divergent Money community, this is a valuable tool for building financial confidence, reducing shame, and achieving financial stability. While it may not be a comprehensive wealth-building guide, it addresses the most pressing issues faced by adults with ADHD—impulse control, disorganization, and forgetfulness—and that, in itself, is a major win!
