In one minute

Money difficulties are common in ADHD and they are not a character flaw. Research consistently finds higher rates of debt, missed payments and impulsive purchasing among adults with ADHD, and lower rates of holding savings.

A large part of this comes from one well-documented feature of ADHD: a stronger pull towards immediate rewards over larger delayed ones. Add difficulty with admin, forgetting due dates, and avoidance of anything anxiety-provoking, and the pattern makes complete sense.

The answer is friction and automation — making the good option happen by default and the impulsive one slightly harder.