Highlights:
- People with ADHD need a different approach to money
- This system makes it easy - no remembering to do boring money stuff
- Take it slow - do just 1 step a day
If you've ever picked up a personal finance book or tried to follow a budgeting app only to fall off the bandwagon feeling overwhelmed, defeated or just bored, you’re not alone.
Truth is, most money advice is designed for neurotypicals.
You need an approach that makes sense for your brain.
This post is for you!
Get ready to set up your system
Once this system is set up, it practically runs itself 🙌
No more having to remember things! The key is getting it set up in the first place.
This is all you need to do today:
Set a daily alarm or calendar notification to come back to this post and work through one step a day.
Set a timer for just 10 minutes a day and do what you can in that time. You can have your automated money system set up in 2 weeks!
Make this process enjoyable
Make it cozy! Light a candle, put on some music, and get into a groove.
Plus your brain loves a little treat, so give yourself a little somethin-somethin’ after each step.
Part 1: Figure out your numbers
See how much you’ve actually spent by doing a financial audit.
To find your numbers, look at last month’s bank and credit card statements.
If your income is variable, find the range you can expect and use the lowest number to plan this out so you’re always covered.
Write down:
- Income
- Bills
- Debt
- Saving
- Spending
Example:
Now Krista can use these numbers to set up her 5-account system and start automating based on what already happens!
Part 2: Set up your 5-account system
Now let’s make this useful with Ellyce Fulmore’s 5-account system.
This breaks your money into clear, ADHD-friendly buckets to reduce overwhelm and decision fatigue.
Create these accounts in your online banking system. Just take it one day at a time!
🏦 1. Create your Hub account
- This is your main account where all your income lands
- This is a “distribution center” – don’t spend from here
- Transfers money to your other accounts automatically (or manually if needed)
💸 2. Create your Spending account
- This is for everyday purchases: groceries, takeout, gas, clothes, etc.
- This is the only debit card you use
- It helps limit impulse spending because it’s capped by design
🧾 3. Create your Bills account
- This is for all fixed, recurring payments: rent, insurance, subscriptions, etc.
💰 4. Create your Short-term savings account
- This is for upcoming goals within the next year: travel, holidays, car repairs
- Use this money if you have an unexpected expense
🏦 5. Create your Long-term savings account
- This is for future-you: emergency fund, retirement, big life goals
- Out of sight, out of mind — you don’t touch this often
Part 3: Automate
Now that your accounts are set up, automate things so you don’t have to think about it again.
Look at the numbers you found in Step One so you know the amounts to use for the auto-transfer.
🏦 1. Automate your Hub account
- Set up an auto-transfer for the amount that covers your bills
- Set up an auto-transfer for the amount you spend on everyday purchases
- Set up an auto-transfer for the amount you contribute to short-term savings
- Set up an auto-transfer for the amount you contribute to long-term savings
🧾 2. Automate your bill payments
- Set up auto payments for your bills
Part 4: Invest for retirement
Make this feel more concrete and exciting by thinking about what you’ll do during retirement - like all the amazing places you’ll travel to!
Again, we will make this easy by automating it.
- Create an account at a brokerage, like Questrade
- Choose what to invest in - you can start small with a balanced all-in-one ETF like ZBAL
- Set up automated bill payments from your long-term savings account to your brokerage
- Create your Passiv account to automate investing that money!
Here’s the best part…
If you tend to ‘forget’ things, you will be an awesome investor.
As long as your system is running and money is being invested, this hands-off approach is often better than fiddling with investments.
Your future self will thank you!
Passiv makes it easy to automate your investments, so you’ll have money to visit all the cool places and try all the fun hobbies after you stop working.
