Money, Simplified

Money trouble is often not a maths problem — it's an executive-function problem. Remembering, initiating, and switching tasks is the hard part. The fix isn't more willpower; it's systems that do the remembering for you.

Where it goes (rough guess)

Don't look anything up — just estimate. Seeing the shape is the point, not precision.

Where my money goes

• Housing — % of spending: ____
• Food — % of spending: ____
• Bills & utilities — % of spending: ____
• Transport — % of spending: ____
• Fun & wants — % of spending: ____
• Savings / debt — % of spending: ____
• Other — % of spending: ____

Total should come to about 100.

Add more entries below if you need them.

The basics, in one place

Just getting it visible lowers the dread. Fill what you know; leave the rest for later.

My regular bills

Row 1

• Bill: ____________________
• Roughly how much: ____________________
• When it's due: ____________________
• On autopay? (Yes / No / Could be): ____________________

Row 2

• Bill: ____________________
• Roughly how much: ____________________
• When it's due: ____________________
• On autopay? (Yes / No / Could be): ____________________

Row 3

• Bill: ____________________
• Roughly how much: ____________________
• When it's due: ____________________
• On autopay? (Yes / No / Could be): ____________________

Row 4

• Bill: ____________________
• Roughly how much: ____________________
• When it's due: ____________________
• On autopay? (Yes / No / Could be): ____________________

Row 5

• Bill: ____________________
• Roughly how much: ____________________
• When it's due: ____________________
• On autopay? (Yes / No / Could be): ____________________

Reduce the load

Each of these removes a recurring decision. Tick what you could set up.

• [ ] Put predictable bills on autopay
• [ ] A separate account or pot just for bills
• [ ] One weekly 'money admin' 10 minutes, same time each week
• [ ] Low-balance / payment alerts turned on
• [ ] A no-guilt 'spending' amount that's mine to use freely

One setup this week

The one system I'll actually set up first

______________________________________________

______________________________________________

Done beats perfect: A rough system you actually use beats a perfect budget you abandon. Start with one thing.

Go deeper

Ready for more? These lessons pick up where this worksheet leaves off.

• Executive Function, from The Neurodivergent Brain. Why the ADHD brain runs on interest not importance, why autistic set-shifting is costly, plus time blindness & task initiation.
• Systems, Habits, and Self-Compassion, from The Adult ADHD Course. How to make self-compassion the engine that keeps your habits and systems running.
• Money, from The Neurodiverse Couple. Why money is the hardest fight for neurodiverse couples, and how to move money onto a system.