444: Managing Money With ADHD and Neurodivergence: Building Financial Systems That Work for You w/ Esther Bangura

On this episode of the podcast, we're joined by Esther Bangura, a UK-based neurodivergent money coach, researcher, and podcast host, for an important conversation about managing money with ADHD and neurodivergence. After receiving an ADHD diagnosis as an adult, Esther began to understand that many of the financial challenges she had experienced including debt, avoidance, overwhelm, and stress spending, weren't simply about a lack of discipline.

That realization transformed the way she approached her own finances and ultimately shaped the work she does today helping neurodivergent adults build calmer, shame-free money systems. In this episode, Esther shares how neurodivergence can affect financial behaviors, why traditional budgeting and willpower-based advice may not work for everyone, and practical ways to use automation, simplification, and personalized systems to make managing money easier and more sustainable.

What Esther Discussed on the Podcast: What neurodivergence means and how it can influence money management. How her adult ADHD diagnosis changed the way she understood her past financial struggles.

Why difficulty managing money isn't always a discipline or willpower problem. The impact of executive function, emotional regulation, and overwhelm on financial behaviors.

Understanding financial avoidance and practical ways to interrupt the cycle. Strategies for creating a pause between an impulse to spend and making a purchase.

What a more neurodivergent-friendly approach to budgeting can look like. Using automation, separate accounts, reminders, and visual cues to reduce the mental load of managing money.

Addressing debt without allowing shame to prevent financial progress. Recognizing when a financial system needs more consistency versus when the system simply isn't a good fit.

Creating a calmer relationship with money for anyone who has internalized the belief that they're "bad with money." AND SO MUCH MORE How to Keep Up With Esther: Follow Esther Bangura on Instagram: @bossofmymoney Learn more about Esther Bangura and her work: Tune into her podcast - Neurodivergent Money Management: Latest Book - Clever Girl Millionaire; A Guide to Redefining What's Possible, Turning Ambitions into Actions, and Dreams into Millions - Available to order now More Clever Girl Finance Resources: 👋 New to Clever Girl Finance? Start here: ❤ Get the best-selling Clever Girl Finance Books: ❤ Get access to 30+ free courses, worksheets, savings challenges, and our favorite banking resources: ❤ Read the Clever Girl Finance Blog: ❤ Follow us on Instagram: @clevergirlfinance