Frugality for Depressives
I recently had Abigail Perry from the blog I Pick Up Pennies on the show to talk about her struggles with fertility; and I wouldn't normally have a guest back on the show so soon except that Abigail recently wrote a book that I think would be helpful for many of my listeners.Over the last few months, I've literally had a number of clients and listeners ask me to address the struggles of people with mental health issues getting financially fit; and I think Abigail's book is a great resource. Her book, Frugality For Depressives, is available here, here, or on Amazon; and I believe that not only people who suffer from depression would benefit from reading this book but anyone who struggles to overcome mental health challenges in the pursuit of financial fitness.
What are we drinking?
Abigail — Water (she and her husband are trying to get pregnant!)
Shannon — Seltzer water
Podcast Notes
Statistics show 1 out of 10 people have suffered from depression.
Abigail advises depressives to “not budget” because they may not have the coping skills and other abilities mentally healthy people have but will still try to use the budgeting numbers those “normal” people use.
Shannon’s solution for clients who suffer from depression is to take budgeting one week at a time and to not worry about setting a certain amount or categorizing purchases.
Working with a real person to help manage your finances is often a better option instead of using a financial app or online service.
Financial technology often doesn’t show users’ progress, which is something depressives need to know they are improving and have not failed.
If you do want to do a traditional budget, Abigail suggests 3 ways to do so in her book.
Financial wellness is difficult for most people, not just those who suffer from depression, and Frugality For Depressives is a good resource for anyone looking to improve their finances.
Abigail says if something is just not working financially, just stop; you can come back to it later if you need to.
Comfort spending is a huge challenge for those that struggle with their mental health.
Two ways to combat comfort spending are:
Asking yourself “how will I feel after this?”
Having alternatives available to satisfy you
Shannon advises allowing yourself some splurge money each month.
You can’t let depression overwhelm your finances; you must have workarounds for those times.