Impulse buying, negative bank balances, and the ADHD tax (Paulette Perhach's story)
Apr 2, 2024
auto_awesome
Paulette Perhach, a talented author and writing coach featured in The New York Times, shares her journey with ADHD and personal finance. She discusses her concept of the 'f-off fund' and candidly reveals her struggles with impulse buying and financial chaos. Paulette reflects on her family's history with money issues and the emotional weight of the ADHD tax, emphasizing the importance of community support and self-compassion. Her story inspires listeners to confront their financial challenges with empathy and understanding.
Paulette Perhach emphasizes the importance of an 'f-off fund' as a financial safety net for women's empowerment amidst money struggles and ADHD challenges.
She shares her personal journey revealing how ADHD-related impulsivity complicates financial management, leading to feelings of shame and the need for self-compassion.
Deep dives
The Concept of an F-off Fund
An F-off fund is a financial safety net that allows individuals, particularly women, the financial freedom to walk away from situations that are unhealthy or unsatisfactory. Paulette Perhatch emphasizes that this fund serves as a form of empowerment, enabling one to make choices without the burden of financial anxiety. Through her discussions, she shares personal experiences surrounding her own financial struggles and the disparity between her financial advocacy and reality. This tension highlighted for her the significance of understanding deeper issues related to money management and personal finance.
Navigating Personal Challenges with ADHD
Paulette candidly discusses her struggles with managing money alongside her diagnosed ADHD, reflecting on how the condition has affected her life and choices. She notes that impulsive behavior and chaotic decision-making are common challenges faced by individuals with ADHD, leading to difficulties in adhering to financial plans. Paulette reveals her acknowledgment of these traits and how they manifested in her financial history, particularly during periods of instability and unpredictability in her career. This duality of being successful in her writing career while battling against impulsiveness with money creates a complex narrative about her financial identity.
The Emotional Toll of Financial Management
Perhatch addresses the emotional burden associated with her financial mismanagement, underscoring that the struggles extend beyond monetary issues to encompass feelings of shame and self-judgment. She articulates how societal perceptions often paint those who struggle with money as morally defective or irresponsible, which adds to the emotional tax of their situation. Paulette highlights the importance of self-compassion and community support in processing these feelings, drawing parallels between her experiences and the broader ADHD community's narratives. Ultimately, this discussion sheds light on the need to reframe the conversation around financial struggles to include the complex realities faced by those with ADHD.
In 2016, Paulette Perhach wrote a piece proclaiming that all women need an emergency fund — what she calls an “f-off fund.” But when she struggled to secure an emergency fund for herself, she suspected she might have ADHD. Paulette, a successful author and writing coach, put off the evaluation because she couldn’t afford the $260 price tag.
In this episode of ADHD Aha!, Paulette talks about her trouble with impulse buying and online shopping. She shares her family’s history with money issues, including bankruptcy. And she and Laura have an emotional exchange about the ADHD tax.
Understood is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode