How often do you run out of money for kai?  How often do you seem to owe money to people, and not be able to pay them back? Are you unable to pay your bills? If you find managing your money difficult, you are not alone.

It is a relatively common problem for people with FASD, and it is all to do with the way your brain works. However, there are things you can do to manage your money better.

Why it can be hard to make your money work well for you

• Although you can touch money and hold it in your hand, the value of it and the worth of items are ideas that can be hard to understand! You're not alone – it's a common problem for many neurodiverse people.

• As an FASD individual it's easy to ‘live in the moment’ – you may not always think about past mistakes or future consequences of your actions, because these ideas can be hard to think about, too.

• If you have memory problems, it's hard to remember that a certain amount of money might need to last a certain amount of time – if you have money coming in to your account only once a month, it could be a problem if you spend it all in the first week!

• Buying something quickly without thinking about more important things you might need (like food!) is common – but try to avoid it! Before you buy something, try and make it a habit to stop and think: do I really need this right now?

• Sadly people with FASD or other neurodiversities can be targeted by people who realise that they can talk you into using your money for them – and if you don't realise that, they might end up taking your money from you.

Strategies to use your money wisely

• Practice shopping with a parent or friend at the supermarket – comparing prices, looking for things that are on sale, keeping track of your the total and going through the checkout.
  
  
• Have an allowance each day/week/month that is broken up into smaller payments for certain things.
  
  
• Plan out exactly where the money should go, write it down, and check in with a parent or caregiver if unsure.
  
  
• Practise using money at home to match sums of money with the value of clothing, groceries, etc.
  
  
• If you're a bit older, get help on learning to budget and practice planning for monthly bills to help remember about time and money concepts.
  
  
• Get a person you trust to help keep track of your expenses, when you owe money, and what you spend your money on.
  
  
• It can be great to get help setting up automatic payments for any payments that need to happen every month such as rent if you are living independently. 

• Remember to ask a parent or caregiver before selling or buying things to people who might not have your best interests to avoid losing money and/or possessions.
  
  

The 'Stand Tall' Money App

The IHC in Aotearoa has developed an app which is a fun way for neurodivergent people to learn how to use your money wisely. It started out as a board game, then an online game, and is now a downloadable app. The Stand Tall money app is transforming the lives of many young people with intellectual challenges, and in April 2024 was nominated as one of the Hi-Tech Awards Finalists as one of the best new apps that help change lives. 

Like many games, you start by creating an avatar (a digital version of yourself) and then learn easy ways to use your money, including budgeting for essentials, saving and figuring how much you can spend on fun stuff each month! 

Click here to find out more about the Stand Tall app on the website – you'll find links to download the app here, too.