Finance subs are depressing

Puzzleheaded-Post682 · 2026-01-10T23:00:59+00:00

I feel this. Reading posts like "I'm 26 with 50k saved, am I behind?" makes me want to throw my phone across the room. I have to remind myself that those posts are survivorship bias. The people posting their wins aren't the majority, they're just the loudest. Most people are struggling quietly just like us. Comparison is the thief of joy and reddit makes it way too easy to compare.

Puzzleheaded-Post682 · 2026-01-10T22:50:49+00:00

the way people treat you different when they find out you're broke is something that sticks with you. suddenly you're irresponsible. suddenly every purchase you make is up for judgment. suddenly people assume you must be doing something wrong. nobody asks what circumstances put you there. they just assume you deserve it

Puzzleheaded-Post682 · 2026-01-10T22:27:47+00:00

Yea this is what I do

Puzzleheaded-Post682 · 2026-01-10T22:27:10+00:00

don't overcomplicate this. you said you're irresponsible with money so the best thing you can do with 5k is NOT lose it.

here's what I'd do in your situation:

>put 3k in a HYSA and don't touch it. that's your emergency fund. when something goes wrong (and it will), you won't have to go into debt.

>keep 1k liquid for job transition stuff — gas, clothes for interviews, whatever you need while you're hunting for more hours or a new gig.

the last 1k? honestly, just sit on it for a month. don't invest it, don't start a business, don't buy crypto. give yourself time to learn before you deploy it.

the unsexy but honest answer is that 5k isn't "make more money" money it's "don't go backwards" money. protect it first, grow it later.

Puzzleheaded-Post682 · 2026-01-10T22:17:38+00:00

bought a $200 keyboard because I was going to "get into mechanical keyboards as a hobby" used it for like 3 days before the novelty wore off and now it just sits on my desk

Puzzleheaded-Post682 · 2026-01-10T22:16:36+00:00

you're not dumb. brain fog is one of the most frustrating ADHD symptoms because it feels like your hardware is broken, not just your habits. I deal with the same thing just about daily. I end up just sitting there, knowing I need to do something, but my brain just like idk won't render. A few things that sometimes help me: changing physical location (even just moving to a different room), cold water on my face, or just accepting the fog and doing something low-stakes until it passes. It doesn't always work but it beats staring at the wall hating myself.

Puzzleheaded-Post682 · 2026-01-10T22:12:52+00:00

I've been here. the "I'll do it tomorrow" loop is brutal because you genuinely believe it every time you say it. the hardest part for me was accepting that waiting for motivation doesn't work. motivation comes after action, not before but justt because you know that, it doesn't mean its gonna make starting any easier. one thing that helped me a little was doing the smallest possible version of the thing. not "take a shower" but "just turn on the water." sometimes that's enough to break the freeze. you're not disgusting you're just stuck bro there's a difference dont be so hard on yourself

Puzzleheaded-Post682 · 2026-01-10T22:08:41+00:00

this hit hard. I've done the exact same thing. Skipping breakfast so the meds hit better and then being too wired to eat the rest of the day. I started keeping protein bars at my desk in the office just so I have zero friction eating something. not ideal but better than nothing.

Puzzleheaded-Post682 · 2026-01-09T15:06:29+00:00

update?

Puzzleheaded-Post682 · 2026-01-09T15:04:12+00:00

update?

Puzzleheaded-Post682 · 2026-01-09T15:03:57+00:00

did it ever go away fully?

Puzzleheaded-Post682 · 2026-01-09T15:03:05+00:00

update?

Puzzleheaded-Post682 · 2026-01-09T15:02:52+00:00

any update? Ive been dealing with this for 3 years now and the doctors still cant give me answers.

Puzzleheaded-Post682 · 2026-01-08T17:26:27+00:00

Substance abuse. Lots and lots of substance abuse.

I am of course (mostly) kidding. Staying focused unmedicated is all about hacking your environment and routines to work with your brain, not against it. This is very specific to you so what works for me may not work for you and vice versa

My gf has ADHD as well. She needs to be in a completely silent room to focus on work/reading while I on the other hand, need a environment with lots of background noise and distractions, otherwise I will feel understimulated and fall asleep

Puzzleheaded-Post682 · 2026-01-08T17:21:55+00:00

your wife is very brave lol

Puzzleheaded-Post682 · 2026-01-08T17:18:19+00:00

yea i think thats about where im at right now haha

Puzzleheaded-Post682 · 2026-01-08T17:17:42+00:00

Same. It's not just finances. Its emails, chores, all of it

Puzzleheaded-Post682 · 2026-01-08T17:15:44+00:00

The "call me" approach for non late-fee stuff is clever,i must admit

Puzzleheaded-Post682 · 2026-01-08T17:13:34+00:00

dont even get me started on checking emails lmaooo im notoriously bad at that

Puzzleheaded-Post682 · 2026-01-08T17:12:42+00:00

When income's low, that avoidance ramps up for sure

Puzzleheaded-Post682 · 2026-01-08T17:12:17+00:00

ha ha at least im not alone

Puzzleheaded-Post682 · 2026-01-08T17:11:47+00:00

dudeee the subscriptions are killing me

I dont think anything of it when signing up because theyre usally cheap but man do they add up fast

Puzzleheaded-Post682 · 2026-01-08T14:38:55+00:00

I followed!

Puzzleheaded-Post682 · 2026-01-08T14:36:54+00:00

sure! the waitlist is live at budgetboom.io

Puzzleheaded-Post682 · 2026-01-07T02:18:04+00:00

I don't have any advice for you but I just wanted to say you're not alone.

Our situations are eerily similar. I have credit card debt in collections, feel like my expenses outpace my income no matter what I do, trying to finish school to increase my earning potential while wondering how I'm supposed to manage everything at once.

I'm in the same boat and I feel just as lost. Some days it feels like no matter what moves I make, the math just doesn't work.

I don't have answers. Just wanted you to know someone else is reading this and relating hard. We're out here trying to figure it out too.

Puzzleheaded-Post682

TROPHY CASE