🤍 Spending to make yourself feel better - self-soothing, otherwise known as retail therapy! We all do this & it's fun & wonderful - when it sits within your budget barometer.

🤍 If you have ADHD you are likely to procrastinate over organising your money as well as making impulsive spending decisions.

🤍 Overspending because of an addiction or gambling habit

🤍 Having a mental health concern such as Hypomania, or CSD (compulsive shopping disorder)

🤍 Loving & craving that dopamine hit you get when you go shopping & buy lovely things

🤍 Feelings of anxiety or depression can make you feel isolated. Online shopping can be a great short-term tonic but not be great longer term

🤍 Not understanding how your money works so you're not aware of how much you're overspending

🤍 You need to feel that instant gratification & sense of control 

🤍 Being overly generous to keep a friendship going

🤍 To show the world how wealthy & successful you are. Instagram lifestyle incoming! 

🤍 Emotional overspending is a huge problem for many people. 

🤍 The first stage is to realise you're doing it, question why you are & understand the problem it's creating in your life.

🤍 Filling a void, and creating feelings of love & acceptance cannot be cured by buying things. Unless you're buying support in the form of counselling sessions or books to educate yourself for example. 

🤍 Where do you need help, what's the root cause of your overspending? This might sting to go down this route so maybe talk to a trusted friend to keep you from getting overwrought

🤍 Need more pro advice? MIND is full of advice for neurodiverse complexities as well as addiction support. 

🤍 How are your finances looking as a result of your overspending? Is it preventing you from moving forward with your lifestyle goals? 

🤍 How is your close relationship? Is it you or them causing the problems? Is it both of you? Do you argue over money?

🤍 You can learn new skills & change the neuro pathways of your behaviour with the right support

🤍 Talking with your counsellor, GP, a money coach can unpack what's going on for you & help you onto the right path

🤍 Education - learn more about how money works. The Psychology of Money is a great book.

🤍 Create meaningful lifestyle goals that serve as a lighthouse when the water gets choppy in life

🤍 Use a 12 month planner  to see which months take you into the negative. You can save money in the more abundant months to act as a buffer for those leaner ones. 

🤍 Having a personal spending budget gives you the freedom you need to spend on what you want without justification. Take out your essentials & savings first then what you have left is yours.

🤍 If your relationship is in trouble you must get some couples counselling. You might not stay together but you must try. The separation will be slightly less traumatic & less bitter. The only ones who win financially in divorce are the lawyers - if this is your next step the best way is to be calm over the money. The hardest bit apart from childcare.