ADHD, Debt, and the Shame Spiral

Episode 11: Debt & Credit – Two Sides of a Coin

If debt were a person, it’d be that one friend who borrows your stuff and never gives it back. Annoying, clingy, and ridiculously expensive. In this episode of A Solo Person’s Guide to ADHD, we’re tackling debt and credit—their messy relationship, why ADHD brains struggle with both, and how to finally kick that freeloader out of your wallet.

👉 Inside this episode:

• My real-life story of wrestling with credit card debt after cancer recovery and house damage.
• Why debt hits harder when you live solo with ADHD.
• ADHD debt triggers: impulse spending, due date amnesia, shame spirals, and executive dysfunction.
• Different types of debt ranked by “stress factor” (spoiler: family loans = emotional interest rate off the charts).
• ADHD-friendly debt payoff strategies: snowball vs. avalanche, automating payments, gamifying progress, and celebrating milestones (yes, with Dollar Store confetti).
• Easy side hustles that don’t eat your brain: pet sitting, tutoring, selling your stuff, seasonal gigs, and more.
• What not to do if you’re in debt (hint: ignoring it never works).

✨ Action Step: Pick ONE debt and create a mini-plan to attack it this month.

Debt isn’t a moral failure—it’s just math with bad timing. And with ADHD brains, we need dopamine-friendly, shame-free strategies to get ahead.

Resources & Links:

• Free Debt Strategy Quick Map worksheet (all freebies are on my website, just look for the "freebie" tab)
• Coaching with Christine: Two Cats Coaching – first 30 minutes free!
• Catch up on earlier episodes in the ADHD & Money series (budgeting, impulse spending, hacks, and more).

About your host:
I’m Christine Dunning, Master Certified Life Coach, retired teacher, cat enthusiast, and proud member of the “paid $37 in late fees… again” club. On A Solo Person’s Guide to ADHD, we dig into the solo-living struggles that come with ADHD—and find ways to laugh, learn, and lighten the load together.