Adult ADHD and Money: Why You Can't Finish What You Start

The Quiet Part

The Quiet Part
Adult ADHD and Money: Why You Can't Finish What You Start
May 19, 2025 Episode 16
Second Comma

TL;DR

Overwhelmed, disorganized, and stuck in your head? It might not be laziness—it might be ADHD.


Ever feel like your brain is spaghetti and your to-do list is a joke?

You're not alone—and you're not broken. ADHD might be the hidden reason you're struggling to finish what you start.


Episode Summary

ADHD isn’t just about “wiggly boys” or forgetting your keys—it’s a brain-based self-management challenge that can quietly derail your finances, relationships, and work life. In this episode, Mark talks with ADHD coach Chelsey Summers, a former speech therapist who turned her post-diagnosis burnout into a coaching practice that helps adults with executive function overwhelm. They dive into real-life symptoms like time blindness, productive procrastination (a.k.a. color-coding your bookshelf instead of doing the dishes), and the emotional tax of always feeling behind. You’ll learn how ADHD shows up in business-owning families, how to scaffold your life for success, and why getting diagnosed is just the first step—not the solution. Whether you're the one with ADHD or you're married to them, this episode might explain more than you expect.

Guest Resources

Second Comma Resources


You should probably send this to your friend who’s always “running late” and “reorganizing the pantry.” Like… now.

Episode Artwork Adult ADHD and Money: Why You Can't Finish What You Start 36:35 Episode Artwork Business Credit Card Points: Turn Spend Into Free Travel 33:41 Episode Artwork Burnout Warning Signs Business Owners Miss 36:28 Episode Artwork Screen Time and Kids: How Much Is Too Much? 33:42 Episode Artwork Money and Marriage: Why Couples Fight About Finances 29:58 Episode Artwork How to Budget When Your Income Is Unpredictable 30:39 Episode Artwork What to Do With a Windfall (Without Regretting It) 29:23 Episode Artwork Virtual Financial Planning: How It Actually Works 31:37 Episode Artwork The Real Cost of Waiting to Save for Retirement 28:40 Episode Artwork Buying a Home: Needs, Wants, and What Adds Value 29:10 Episode Artwork Emergency Fund for Business Owners: How Many Months? 27:54 Episode Artwork How to Declutter When You Don't Know Where to Start 31:21 Episode Artwork Cash Flow Chaos: Where Your Money Actually Goes 35:54 Episode Artwork Parental Guilt: Work Boundaries for Business Owners 30:16 Episode Artwork The 5 Pillars Every Financial Plan Needs 31:42 Episode Artwork High Income, No Savings: Why It Keeps Happening 27:37