The hidden costs of ADHD are something I am still learning. A few months ago, I had help arrive to organize my house, and I had no idea the ways in which I was hemorrhaging money until it was pointed out to me. I was constantly buying things because I couldn’t find them. It was little things: headphones, phone cords, packs of batteries, you know, the impulse things you throw in your cart at the Dollarama that you don’t think about.

Then we went through absolutely every inch of my apartment, and it was embarrassing how many duplicates I have of things. The financial cost wasn’t just in buying the things; it was in the fact that that was money I couldn’t put on my debts, so I was paying more in interest rates than I needed to if I had put that extra few dollars I was spending every Dollarama trip on my credit card. It was the stress of not knowing where anything was and just spending money to make that stress go away. Then it was the stress of trying to pay my bill with money I had already spent.

I was also paying more in late fees because I was forgetting to pay my bills on time, not moving money to the right account, and having bills bounce. I was also having health issues and therefore additional financial costs because I would forget to take my medications, not just for my ADHD but other health conditions as well, and then would suffer and either not be able to do my work as efficiently or at all depending on what meds I forgot and how long I forgot to take them. I suffered in my work and personal relationships because I was forgetting to do things or having to take multiple sick days.

I was also losing money hand over fist, letting food go bad because I would forget how long I had bought it, or I would be in the store and buy duplicates because I forgot I already had some in the fridge. Another reason that I was spending money that I didn’t have and still struggle with is forgetting to cancel free trials on time, and I struggle remembering to cancel any Amazon Subscribe & Save on time. I have learned methods to cope with these pitfalls, such as setting alarms on my phone to cancel things and to review my Subscribe & Save. Making a list on my fridge of what I need to cook soon. I have an alarm on my phone go off every day to remind me to take my meds, which in turn helps me financially in many areas, from getting my work done more efficiently (or at all), fewer sick days from withdrawals from missing my meds, to managing my depression better. I am also able to keep my apartment more organized and therefore able to cut down on duplicate purchases.

All these little things make a long-term difference, as I can work down my debt with the money I saved by managing my neurodivergence. I am also learning slowly that short-term dopamine purchases are not a long-term solution or a long-term healthy, happy life.