This has always been one of my quirks, even as a young child, and I’m wondering if it might be autism related. I have always saved my money to an unusual degree. When I was maybe 10~ I remember being given money for some fair thing and only getting water the whole day so I could save it. My parents have noticed and commented on it many times, being a “penny pincher” etc many times. I always comparison shop, think about value, agonize over purchases etc. My friends will nag and nag at me to buy a new game they like but if I’m not sure I’ll like it and get “enough” time out of it I don’t. I’ll try and do the math on how many hours and how many times I’ll use something. I have always had a lot of money saved up for my age. Even when its not my money I’m spending I’m still incredibly cautious about not wasting it. I’ve changed my order before to save someone else a few dollars. I check when I’m getting paid probably close to every day. I don’t need the money, I have plenty in my checking account and few expenses. I can’t tell you why I care so much about it.
I am and have been for a while now, completely freaked out about being able to afford to move out.
I try to play off not caring about money a lot of the time, like when I’m hanging out with someone irl. I guess I don’t want them to think us spending time together and spending is an issue for me? Like I can objectively afford it, plus its pretty rare (oof) so I try not to get freaky about it. Plus I enjoy spending time with people far more then it.
Any thoughts/experiences/advice would be appreciated! Low key I’m going on a trip with some friends and idk how much its going to end up costing me and its got me feeling all kinds of ways. It shouldn’t be more then one paycheck though. Not necessarily posting because of that but thought it was worth a mention.
yea! when i was working, i spent like no money. now i still spend like no money cos im unemployed. but i have a good amount in savings because i didn’t spend any money.
and im constantly anxious something will happen and i’ll need to use up all my savings.
i think it’s just that the scarcity of money and having to live paycheck to paycheck is especially hard on us, since we like planning? or something like that idk
I pretty frequently have anxiety over money to the point where I’ll sometimes avoid looking at my bank account or dealing with anything financial. It sort of counterintuitive but it actually makes me worse at managing money instead of better. I’ll also fret over big purchases but ignore small expenses that build up over time, like buying vapes and energy drinks all the time. I’m getting better about all of this, though… I think.
i defintely have a tendency to be anxious about money but i also enjoy spending it. there can be some guilt around treating myself which i think stems more from being raised catholic than my autism
I’m hesitant about spending money too. For me I think it comes down to four things:
- What if I need this money for something important down the line?
- What if I find out later I want to buy/do something more than the thing I’m considering now?
- I also feel bad about causing too much waste for ethical reasons (exploitation of people and planet) and philosophical reasons (not being a slave to consoomerism, valuing the things I already have)
- Until recently my only other source of money was my parents, who are lower-middle income… I think? So I didn’t want to ask them to buy things for me too often.
My GF has always struggled mentally with spending money, but she thinks thats from her parents being bad wirh finances and always borrowing money off her since she was a teen.
I’m less stringent but My parents sorta hid their money problems from me.
1000%
It’s gotten even worse as I’ve gotten older too. I basically don’t spend money other than to pay my bills and eat
