Dyscalculia is defined as difficulty acquiring basic arithmetic skills that are not explained by low intelligence or inadequate schooling and unsurprisingly, many people with dyscalculia struggle to manage their finances well enough to secure and build wealth. Dyscalculia does not improve without treatment, and the older you are the more likely you were educated without the awareness of neurodiversity that has begun to penetrate into the school system in the last few decades. Moreover, these days, financial management is more complex and often requires the use of technology, it can be hard to keep up with constantly new technological tools and know what you need to use – on top of this dyscalculia can make it difficult to learn new tricks. Here are some tips on financial management when living with dyscalculia.
Embrace Technology
Although technology can be difficult for some of us to use, learning how to use it is probably one of the best ways to make financial management easier. Educational technology can be used to help train our brains to become more flexible and create alternative neurological paths, this enables a person to work with their dyscalculia and enhance the processing power of their brain. These days there are many companies and services out there attempting to make technology easier for us all regardless of ability, so take advantage of them. Once you feel more comfortable with technology, there are many apps that can help you keep track of your spending. Being able to use online banking can be very helpful too because it allows you to check your balance at any time.
Break it down into simple steps
For dyscalculics, a phrase like ‘financial management,’ with the connotations of multitudes of different financial factors and requisite calculations, can sound overwhelming and terrifying. Breaking it down into small financial steps to build wealth will help make the tasks easier. Sit down with a friend and draw up a list of small financial goals such as checking your bank balance weekly, updating your budget app every day, putting x amount into your savings account. As you tick items off your list your confidence in financial management will grow.
Although we face particular challenges when it comes to taking care of our money and building wealth, good financial management is very possible. The key is to plan ahead and take advantage of all of the resources around you. A good support network is also key. Good luck in your financial endeavours!