How Taylor Stopped Impulse Spending and Saved $200 per Month (A Strategy for Neurodiverse Adults)

Eric Kaufmann
Aug 1
5 min read

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Hi Friend,

Last week, I stood in line at the grocery store and almost walked out with two Celsius drinks I didn’t need, a jumbo pack of Extra gum, and a $12 magazine because it had an article about a surfer in it.

Luckily, I caught myself.

It reminded me how quickly impulse purchases pile up, especially for neurodivergent adults, like my client Taylor. She once had “the most humiliating moment of my life” in a checkout line, all caused by a lapse in executive function and impulse spending...

After waiting for what felt like 30 minutes, she was finally at the checkout. The line behind her was long and restless. She swiped the card.

Declined.

Her face got hot. Eyes behind her started to shift. Her heart pounded. Hadn’t she just paid it off?

Maybe?

Her ADHD brain was spinning, too overstimulated and embarrassed to think clearly.

That moment became her turning point. She realized her spending wasn’t just “bad habits.” It was executive dysfunction.

Within two months of coaching, Taylor and I built, tested, and refined a new system to manage her impulsive spending habits. Now, she saves over $200 a month and proudly resisted buying anything on Amazon Prime Day (honestly, I didn’t even manage that).

Today, I want to show you exactly what helped Taylor gain control of her impulse spending.

Let’s dive in.

Why Do Neurodivergent Adults Struggle with Impulse Spending?

Neurodivergent adults, including those with ADHD or autism, often experience differences in executive function, the brain’s self-management system. When it comes to spending, that means:

1. Executive function delays

According to Dr. Russell Barkley, executive function in ADHD brains can be delayed by 30%. This makes impulse control, delayed gratification, and self-monitoring naturally more difficult compared to neurotypical brains.

2. Willpower burnout

You’ve already spent the day masking, focusing, regulating, and socializing. By the time you’re at the store, your tank is empty.

Willpower can’t be your only tool.

3. Emotional and sensory self-soothing

Overstimulation and dysregulation often push us toward “quick hits” of relief.

For autistic adults, this might be buying something related to a special interest. For ADHD adults, that dopamine boost from a purchase is a quick fix to a rough day.

4. Present bias and time blindness

It’s hard to decide for “future you” when “right-now you” is overloaded.

Time blindness isn’t just being late; it’s also difficulty imagining the future. The value of a reward today can easily override long-term goals.

Common Solutions That Don't Help

Impulse control is a skill that can be taught, practiced, and learned. But it takes more than discipline, willpower, and fancy spreadsheets.

Relying on willpower

Willpower is like a muscle. If you use it up getting through the day, there’s nothing left to manage spending urges.

Taylor once said, “I try to force myself to save money, but I can’t. Every time I go to a store, I walk out with things I don’t need.”

Setting vague budgets

Budgets are great (you can learn how to create one here)!

They help you decide how to spend your money. But they don’t stop you from making impulsive decisions.

Taylor had a budget, but it took so long to update, she rarely looked at it.

Being more disciplined

Self-control isn’t a character trait. According to Angela Duckworth, it’s a skill, and trying to be more disciplined isn't a form of practice.

Taylor’s self-talk used to sound like, “I’m just bad with money. I have no discipline when it comes to anything in life.”

How Taylor Stopped Impulse Spending and Saved $200 per Month

Here’s the strategy Taylor used to stop impulse spending and save $200 per month:

1. Identify your triggers

Track patterns around your impulse spending.

What time of day?

Who are you with?

What emotions?

Which places?

The key here is developing metacognition: self-awareness of your behaviors.

For Taylor, grocery shopping after work, when she was hungry and exhausted, always led to a cart piled high with food she didn’t need.

2. Create friction

Make impulsive buying harder. A few options:

Use the 24-hour rule before any non-essential purchase
Remove saved credit cards from shopping sites
Unsubscribe from marketing emails
Shop with a list at a store where you’re less likely to impulse spend

Taylor started using a grocery list, shopping only when she was full, and avoiding specific aisles in the store.

3. Ask a grounding question

At some point, you’ll find yourself staring at an online shopping cart, unsure if it’s a good choice. That’s your moment to pause.

Create a go-to question to ask yourself:

Is this a want or a need?
What would future me want right now?
Is this purchase aligned with my values this week?

At the grocery store, Taylor asks, “Are these nutrients or unnecessary?”

4. Build accountability

Tell your friend, coach, or partner that you set a spending micro goal. It’s amazing how powerful saying them out loud is.

If that’s not enough, replace the urge to spend with something that soothes. The goal here is to get the dopamine fix your brain needs without spending money.

Take a walk.

Text a friend.

Listen to music.

Dive into a special interest.

Taylor texted me before every questionable purchase for a month. Eventually, she didn’t need to.

Final Thoughts

Impulsive spending can have serious consequences on our future selves. And for autistic adults and people with ADHD, this executive function challenge is especially common.

Our brains are wired differently, which makes impulse control, delayed gratification, and future thinking much harder to master.

But Taylor proved it’s possible.

Here’s the 4-step system she used to save $200 per month in impulse purchases:

Identify your triggers (emotions, places, people)
Create friction (make it harder to spend)
Ask a grounding question (give your brain a pause)
Build accountability (external support helps)

Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for executive function. Test what works for you. Adjust. Try again.

Impulse control isn’t built through force. It’s built through systems that support your brain. I hope this helps you get one step closer to your financial goals.

In service,

Eric

P.S.

If you know someone who’s struggling with impulse spending, forward this to them. You never know what small tip could change everything.

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About the Author

Eric Kaufmann is an Educational Therapist, Certified Executive Function Coach, and speaker. He is the Co-founder of UpSkill Specialists, an executive function coaching company that helps adults and workplace teams overcome disorganization, procrastination, and productivity roadblocks. Eric is also the founder of Elevate Learning Solutions, an Educational Therapy practice that supports neurodivergent students in becoming independent and confident. Book Eric to speak or lead a workshop.