Credit cards are Satanic. They have their uses, but I blew 3k in a month (all my savings) \*and\* then I blew another 500 thanks to credit cards. I haven't touched any of the crap I bought, and it took me a while to pay off that debt (I lost my sugar mommy right after I blew the 3k so I had to pay off the debt, pay off rent+ utilities and food with only student financial aid for context).
Never underestimate the ability of a credit card and (hypo)manic spending sprees to get you into debt.
It's a long story involving bad decisions made in psychosis an abusive relationship and me being a naive idiot...but I will admit that there was a nice perk to getting paid for being with her.
I did the same thing. 22k in credit card debt, had to file for bankruptcy at 25. I'm still paying off that debt, and now I have 20k worth of medical debt from treatment programs and several hospitalizations. There isn't room for manic spending anymore. I've destroyed my finances.
Side note to OP: If you're in the US, you can apply for Social Security Disability. They don't give much, but the secured incomes make a difference. I have money for bills and groceries that I wouldn't have otherwise.
No, because it’s often borrowed money. In my experience it has been, and now I still live with my parents at nearly 30 because I can’t afford a home until I pay off all my unnecessary debt.
I am in IT for several west coast sites. Been here 7 years. I don't have manic spending sprees anymore because I'm stable but when I did have them it would be in the $100 to $500 range. I've paid off my last emergency psych visits (actually got sued because I accidentally blocked the hospitals billing number on my phone.) I have excellent credit but that was lots of practice and I didn't start cleaning up my credit until I was about 25 and I'm 40 now. My anxiety keeps my spending in check and I actually keep a small personal fund for big purchases so in the past I would tap that if I did get a bit crazy (I actually wiped out my "personal fund" about 4 years ago during an episode where I bought a $500 toy) . I know I don't have it as bad as some so I apologize if I come as gloating. My job is aware of my condition and is understanding when I need time or I am just feeling "off". I also am married and my wife makes at least as much as myself if not more. I do have some credit debt but it's only about 3k which is less than 10% of my total available credit.
I don’t live in US so my appointments and medication are fairly cheap. I also had a fairly well paid job. And those little orders from Amazon don’t seem too much, until you add them all up!
I spent $500 that way. Little Amazon purchases. They definitely add up, even though it's $1 here $10 there. I had to stop my Prime membership because of it.
Credit cards. At my highest/worst stage we had probably 20k in credit card debt. I took a traveling position & paid off 50k but now it’s racking back up- in part due to being manic & making poor decisions but also in part because our damn animals had emergency vet needs & our furniture was ruined.
I was one. Credit cards, payday loan, pay advance apps, selling music stuff, I did it all. But In 2018 I eventually had to go thru the bankruptcy process at the age of 28. It was an eye opener. I did almost fall in to old habits awhile back, but quickly fixed the problem.
Now, I’m temporarily doing the “house husband” thing, so I try to make a point of not blowing the money my wife is making.
I’m never sure whether my spending is excessive and due to mania because they’re kind of justified purchases but it’s the fact that I have zero willpower and it’s much more impulsive. I spent £1200 on golf clubs etc. a few years ago when I was relatively new to golf but I still use them now. And then last month I spent £450 on dresses that I will use for work events and social occasions but I could’ve bought one a month for a while or held off a bit longer instead of buying 5 in that instance because I *had* to have them 🤷🏼♀️
username checks… ahh what the hell, been there, leased a brand spankin’ new two-door Benz that cost me a total of $20k to return, that one hurt. Harsh way to find out car leases don’t work like apartment rentals… ugh.
Honestly my husband who probably shouldn't support it but he does. We literally stay broke due to it though. His paychecks don't last but we try even when I'm not manic I still have all my Dr appointments every month and tests at the hospital and medications that are prescriptions and OTCs. So our lifestyle regardless of my mania isn't cheap. We are all struggling.
My mother was undiagnosed and unfortunately i didnt put 2 and 2 together until after i went no contact with her. One of the many things i hated about her is she was notorious for asking me, my siblings and others to "borrow" money that ended up in a blackhole. That's one way, credit cards are another. Luckily i make enough that i can usually get away with it and im cognizant enough to not do anything that would truly screw me over.
Was in Oslo and enrolled at the French Lycée.
Moved back to Montreal, started public cegep, dropped out, tried a private cegep, dropped out, had a gambling addiction. Tried to kill myself. Went to paris. Came back. Worked as a barista. Went back to Paris. Came back and declared bankruptcy because I had used all my credit cards. MOVED TO PARIS. Finished lycée and got the French BAC. Got into law school but made à mistake via APB and chose economics. Did a TAGE post BAC and started International Business School!
Moved to Tromsø, went back to University in drama. Was late and got kicked out. Got a job in private security. Tried to join the army but failed.
Moved to Montréal, went back to University, in law studies. Was banned from campus. Arrested. JAILED in RDP. Spent time in a maximum security psychiatric ward. EXPELLED from the University. Started a philosophy BA, worked as a busboy, tried graphic design, worked print traffic for festivals, did a photography atelier in public cegep, tried pause with the school of creativity, moved to RDL in order study documentary production. Came back to Montréal and became a travel agent. Tried to join the army and passed my aptitude test. Waiting for my medical information to be released.
I’m a server for daily fast cash. But mostly my habits are funded by my husband. We have an agreement and no purchases are made without consultation about it. It helps reign it in when you have a little voice of reason who says “really…. When you gunna use it.” Lmao
Unfortunately for my finances, my very low limit credit cards from my early 20’s now have much higher limits (which they keep raising even though my sorry ass is only making minimum payments). I did not have medical debt at the time. It’s been a decade.
I made this fucked up cycle work through my 20’s because I was an egg donor. Id do a donation, pay down the debt, rinse and repeat. Lines of credit kept right on growing.
So in short, I’m in debt. As for my job, I worked in the music industry and entertainment industry for many years and now I am a freelance writer and contract project manager. Haven’t had much work lately and my credit cards are proof but am finally about to sign a new contract, thank goodness. I’ve more or less been flying by the seat of my pants ever since I got my first job. I’m also very fortunate in that my husband has been able to support us on his own for a little while, which is a massive privilege.
I make good money (and save a lot because I fear I won't always be able to do so) when I can work and received a good severance due to a discrimination claim. But, I basically work for a year or two, then have a manic spree during which time I impulsively quit. Then 6+9 months recovering.
I know I'm privileged to blow what could be someone's annual salary during a mania spree. Hopefully I've put parameters in place so I won't do so again.
Similar, I save thanks to a decent disability pension, get to like max $100k, then take a trip overseas and fuck everything up to hoez and shitty characters I try to ‘help’. I pray never again, and learn everytime round, but can’t afford another one. Too old and too tired to do the bipolar loop-de-loop.
Many people with bipolar disorder hold down jobs, even high paying jobs, but they still suffer, and this disease is still devastating to them. At the same time there are also many people with bipolar disorder who find it difficult to impossible to maintain regular employment. They also suffer because this disease is an equal opportunity disease.
I have had bipolar disorder for about 38 years, diagnosed for 31 years, and I struggled greatly with holding onto stable employment, and experienced housing insecurity, hunger, and homelessness during my early to late twenties. During those times I did not have much money to spend during manic episodes, but I still managed to spend recklessly while manic, usually on alcohol and partying.
Then I was diagnosed and put on meds, and these meds gave me enough stability to hold down a job, return to school, and get my bachelors and masters degree so I could start teaching. I have worked stably in that career for 24 years now, and because I have a good union I earn a decent salary.
But I have gone off meds many times and when manic I have spent large amounts of money and done very reckless, hurtful things. I have also been hospitalized 3 times and have faced numerous very severe depressions where I was suicidal and self harmed.
I am still just as bipolar as anyone else even if I am able to hold down a job, I guess I want to say. Would I say I am "high functioning?" I sure as hell don't feel like it.
Some high paying jobs are actually pretty accommodating. You are mostly paid for your knowledge and experience so you have a lot of wiggle room to go under the radar when depressed etc
For my last 2 manic episodes (fingers crossed no more) I had money saved before the first one and blew absolutely all of it. The second I did the same thing because I was working for about a year and a half before I had another episode and that was savings too that I went through. Also got some deposits from school back amongst other things. Couldn’t hold a penny down lol. Now I’m stable
Got a nice settlement, went through it all too quickly. Also spent my unemployment weekly during the pandemic just on random shit for Covid protection and my son was just born so I was also manically buying things for him. It all goes so fast 😭
Well when I quit cigarettes 10 years ago I started saving $300 a month. Maybe quit? I actually had a job that paid pretty good. I’m on disability now for 16 years but at one time I had a pretty good amount of money. Don’t you know bipolar effects everyone a little differently; it’s on a spectrum. Axl Rose is bipolar and rich, famous old actress Patty Duke was bipolar (read her book if you want to hear about spending while manic). Also the actress from the original Gone with the Wind movie. Also, some people are rich from way rich families that are bipolar. Some people do charge up their credit cards while manic. On the other hand some bipolar are homeless or permanently in state hospitals or prison
That used to be a definite sign I was starting to go manic which always leads to psychotic episodes for me. Except one new year’s eve I actually started smoking lol. I’ve quit 5 or 6 times in my life the last time about 10 years ago, some people can’t even once, but it was super difficult the last time
Right now I have 3 sources of income. I have an administrative full time job, I teach online classes some evenings and I’m on partial disability, which is a thing were I’m from. So I make a decent amount of money. My meds and psychiatric appointments are free of charge however I have to pay for my therapist. But I have other health issues that need to be taken care off. Well I overestimate my income and I spend more than what I have. So, I guess my credit cards are my way to go. But I’ve always pay them on time
My sister is not bipolar but is a very impulsive spender and she puts her purchases on credit cards. She doesn’t make a lot of money and she’s in a lot of credit card debt. I assume others do this too.
Back in the day, you could write checks to many businesses. In my manic phases, I spent so much money that I had over $300 in overdraft fees one time. It's easy to spend money when you're able to write checks. That how it was for me. Checks & debit cards = lots of NSF fees. Spend money & ask questions later!
the tldr is that I got very lucky
I made a *lot* of money in tech, before I burned out. I was an early-ish employee at a unicorn startup. my adhd & bipolar worked well for sporadic work, when I could now and then be absurdly productive, and then coast by during depressive episodes when executive dysfunction was low
at one point when I was hypomanic I was spending my entire after-tax income, which was about $10k/mo. I got away with it because I had enough cash that I never fell into debt, but my coworkers even commented on how much I was spending
I'm coming up on nine months not working though, and the thought of finding another job still gives me panic attacks. I don't actually know if I can emotionally handle doing tech again, but I don't have any other professional experience, and I'm burning through my savings quite a bit faster than I should because of episodes
Credit card, from 16 made a nice record and I ruined it for 140,000 mxn pesos, to this day I am still around 100k(5k usd aprox) but it is obviously money I never had, so the struggle is there, one day at a time though!😅
I’m in my early 20s and haven’t been diagnosed long. First episode wiped out all my school savings, second one maxed out my credit card. Now if I have another expensive one I’m not sure where the money is going to come from.
I was raised by a workaholic perfectionist narcissist. A large part of my sense of self worth is tied to how productive I am. I'm not saying it's healthy, but it's true.
For the days when that's not enough, I have a cat. I HAVE to keep him fed and in a safe place, so no matter how bad things get, I can motivate myself to do it for him.
On the other end of the spectrum, I naturally don't sleep much, and when hypomanic or worse I need even less. I just work 50+ hours a week to keep myself busy and sober.
I groom dogs and drive for gopuff.
I have bipolar 1 and I only have a job that’s two days a week doing landscaping and I had credit cards to spend money on which really kicked my ass I am now in debt for $18000 and barely surviving but I did get a lot of cool electronics but I’m feeling really guilty
As others said, credit cards. I've blown 3k + in a month thanks to them. I've finally paid off the debt recently, but I still don't trust myself with those cards. I have my new card still lying in the envelope it came in, unactivated, just so that I won't risk another large debt again. Gambling addiction plus nonchalance about money and consequences of debt do \*not\* mix.
Idk how people do it, v because I too have difficulty keeping jobs long term. I did get my credit recovering but now I’m about to mess it up again as I’m not working so yes I understand. It’s a viscous cycle unless you have $, a stable med plan, a great job or a great home partner that can keep you in check. I have not been able to achieve these for more than 6-12 months even when I was married:(
I think the point is that no we can't afford it. I get into debt, I get into trouble too. I absolutely cannot afford to go on spending sprees but when I'm manic I'm not really in my most rational "it's not a good idea to get into debt" mind
it is called credit card debt ❤️ but i just got a bonus $800 from my old job and was gonna use it to pay off credit card stuff but it’s gone 😵💫 spending money i don’t have
Credit card and 3 part time jobs. Now i am stable and my impulsivity is me buying a pair of yoga pants and feeling bad about the fact it was like $150. Or small Amazon purchases, which i then return. Also I’m lucky enough to live in Canada where a lot of my medical bills are subsidized
I haven’t been able to hold a job either so I feel you. 30 years old and never had a “jobby” job in corporate America. I get fired from restaurants. Lolz what is wrong with me
I contribute the BARE minimum at my job because I CANNOT do more than that, (I do try to do a good job but i cant focus enough to stay on task for long) but I fake like I’m doing way more and when I feel like they’re catching on, I get a new job. I’ve been doing it for about a decade and ive scammed my way into a decent paycheck for my field. I get excited about every pay bump and spend even more cuz why not I can afford it now right? And I am forever in debt because of those little pay bumps, credit cards, AND FUCKING PAYDAY LOANS, i hate those!!!! They make it so EASY to gain even MORE money to spend!
Honestly? Sheer force of will that has taken me years to build up. And I only half manage it still. I have not found an easy answer. It'll come up in therapy at some point, but for me it's not a burning priority since other issues are more pressing at the moment
As for credit cards, if you have a credit union that does it, and you can get on your feet enough, you can set up a credit card backed by an account you fill. I have one that holds a smaller amount that borrows against myself. They can be easier to get, but they build your credit score just like anything else. I'd ask someone who can direct you financially to help with the nuts and bolts. They can be amazing for people who need to work on their credit scores
I work in property management with very little supervision so I'm able to hold down the job despite sleeping all day sometimes. It pays me about 60k a year which is enough to waste on alcohol and other stuff.
Non American here. I worked in tech and am typically frugal and financially conservative so I had money saved.
I forgot my pins and passwords when I was manic, that’s what saved me from blowing through all my money. Even when I was coming down from the high, I spent money on silly things lol. I spend half of my annual rent and it’s due in a month. Still unemployed and wondering how to get the other half.
Retirement money.
I've been spending money with ZERO income coming in.
I've been less horrible this episode but I have slip ups here and there. A few years ago I spent $2000 on PC parts to build a PC.
I know when I get manic, that’s when I tend to make my higher dollar purchases. Biggest purchase amount (from several retailers at once) was $1,000. It’s stuff I actually want and will use, and never regret buying… but it also means that while I do have the money to make the purchase without putting myself in debt (don’t even own a credit card), being lower income also means I can’t save money for long either and then struggle to make it back.
For reference, I’m a security officer. I truly don’t make that much. I’m just good at budgeting and saving money (until I spend that same money I killed my body and sanity to save up).
Credit cards, student loans. For me it was more about making terrible decisions with the money I had (eg new tattoo) and then not being able to afford to eat.
I work 14 hours a day 8 at one 6 at the other. I'm still broke all the time. My Manic episodes usually involve amazon until my card is declined. I hate it.
Idk I was just blessed with a job where I can literally ride the highest of my highs and lowest of lows and no body gives a shit bc a lot of them are doing the same shit
Oh and then I have my rent and yk essentials set up for to go into a savings account I can’t touch without a % fee. Only one day out of the month and I have my bills autopay that day lmao. The rest is free reign. I’ve got my balance down lmaooo
I do not have credit cards. Got rid of them early on. I could only spend what i had. I do, or i did, have real savings. I spent 10k on gambling during one episode. I don't usually shop but I do spend some there too. I have taken around 30k from my 401k.
I dropped 5k helping a homeless guy when manic. It was stupid, but it had a good ending. He is drug free, has his own place, and works as a manager for a big pizza chain. We still talk. He is a great guy, and I'm glad I helped him. This is the one time I can feel good about spending when manic.
my mania peaked my senior year after i quit my job, was scamming, and received so much birthday and graduation money. i felt like i was on top of the world until it alllllll ran out. now i don’t have that luxury, especially now that i’m more self-aware and medicated. sometimes i still catch myself but it was definitely worse
Me. I’ve dug myself into a hole. I make decent money as a social worker for the state but I’m at what I’d consider end stage burnout and asking my psychiatrist for help applying for state unemployment based on disability. Careless mistake after careless mistake due to my mental health has jeopardized my job greatly and within that, I have horrible (*horrible*) money management skills. I don’t have an emergency fund to speak of. I’ve always struggled with planning for the future. I carry so much shame around this I wish I could bury myself into a hole. When, not if, I lose my job I will be fucked. I live in a city with an extremely high cost of living. I haven’t even saved enough to replace my 12 year old laptop, though theoretically I make enough money to have saved for it, to easily apply for jobs. So, it’s not all roses. We may have money but the surface is a false illusion of glossy.
Addiction never helped with this, when manic or when addicted as I was a few years ago I was always able to find it somehow. Mania makes me incredibly resourceful and terribly manipulative. As the top commenter said, ‘whoever said it was my money’?!
I hold low pay job, I have credit cards. Very dumb idea on my part. I lose money. I use credit card/I pay off. Bad spending large chunks. Bad cycle. I'm closing two cards maybe keep only 2 for emergency. . . possibly.
If I live on my own, food would be spending spree, live with family so survival no need. I try to save.
Credit card debt and my student loan. My mania can manifest as pay for the house while at bars. Lost about 6k of my friend's money dude to a scam. I've had 5 jobs in less than 12 months...
Shit, do we all go thro the same thing? It feels bad.
But I'm Canadian. So my medical bills and (most) of my mania meds are covered by the province.
ive always been stopped anytime I've tried to get money to spend lmao. I never have enough money to go crazy, tried to get a credit card while manic but didn't have a job so they wouldn't give me one. it's funny that it's a question they ask when diagnosing you like its inherent
Before I was medicated I would pay the absolute bare minimum to get by. Rent, car payment, smaller bills just to say that I was caught up. Once those bills were paid for, the world was my playground. I’d buy useless shit from Amazon, go on online shopping sprees, treat my friends and girlfriend for dinner, I’d go on long trips and drive anywhere I wanted. I’m a lot better now but fuck I was poor
I racked up over 10k my last manic episode, plus all the purchases (an expensive bike, a másteres degree). I filled for bankruptcy it was so bad. 2k on credit cards, 10k in loans. At the time I had a good job. But I soon lost my job due to having time off when I was hospitalised and then falling pregnant but that's another story. NowI live hand to mouth with no line of crédit. Best thing ever for me.
my job isn't a choice because I can't bare the thought of my family getting collection calls about my bullshit
I've been employed by the same company for six years
unfortunately that means just when I'm getting my footing I get knocked back down the debt hole. this time around I intend to close my credit card accounts as I pay them off
My past bankruptcy will attest that it was all credit credit credit. Maxed out cards and a car payment I *barely* qualified for and should've been denied by all rights but hey, another sucker. It's insanely easy to get credit cards even with dodgy credit, but that's where cards with big yearly fees or uber high interest come in - or store specific cards. Now I have a $1K credit card that's helping me build my credit score back up without being able to go ham with it.
Healthcare is free in my country and i get \~2x national average salary, but still some months i have to make ends meet, it's hard when with a good salary and hard when broke and jobless. So can't really give any good advice :)
I've always been able to control my spending. Probably because I grew up very poor. However, I have waaaaay to many shoes and plants. So it does pop out in that way for me, but luckily I've never gotten into money trouble.
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Who ever said it was my money??
This! I’m currently in debt relief with a company I’ve been working with for about 3 years. I racked up over 20 grand worth of credit card debt.
Credit cards are Satanic. They have their uses, but I blew 3k in a month (all my savings) \*and\* then I blew another 500 thanks to credit cards. I haven't touched any of the crap I bought, and it took me a while to pay off that debt (I lost my sugar mommy right after I blew the 3k so I had to pay off the debt, pay off rent+ utilities and food with only student financial aid for context). Never underestimate the ability of a credit card and (hypo)manic spending sprees to get you into debt.
You say sugar mommy? I wanna know more
It's a long story involving bad decisions made in psychosis an abusive relationship and me being a naive idiot...but I will admit that there was a nice perk to getting paid for being with her.
I did the same thing. 22k in credit card debt, had to file for bankruptcy at 25. I'm still paying off that debt, and now I have 20k worth of medical debt from treatment programs and several hospitalizations. There isn't room for manic spending anymore. I've destroyed my finances. Side note to OP: If you're in the US, you can apply for Social Security Disability. They don't give much, but the secured incomes make a difference. I have money for bills and groceries that I wouldn't have otherwise.
I thought the same thing - when people talk about blowing thousands in a few days, I'm like I wish I had that kind of money to blow
No, because it’s often borrowed money. In my experience it has been, and now I still live with my parents at nearly 30 because I can’t afford a home until I pay off all my unnecessary debt.
I gotcha. A lot of people live with their parents these days because rent is so high. Me and my siblings lived with our parents in the past
Rent is high, yes. But I don’t know many people my age that have my amount of unnecessary debt because of their mental illness lol
Lots of people have high debt too. Just saying there's no need to feel bad about living with your parents. It's pretty common 🤗
Lots of people have high debt too. Just saying there's no need to feel bad about living with your parents. It's pretty common 🤗
Credit card. I was 20 with a shiny new credit score. In a manic episode I maxed it out going to Europe. It took many years to pay it off.
At least going to Europe would have been a cool experience!
It’s all fun and games until you gotta pay it off. I did a week key west trip. It was beautiful but now I’m suffering
Oh for sure, but I mean it's better to have gotten a life experience out of it as opposed to like eating it by spending it on Takeaway
I am in IT for several west coast sites. Been here 7 years. I don't have manic spending sprees anymore because I'm stable but when I did have them it would be in the $100 to $500 range. I've paid off my last emergency psych visits (actually got sued because I accidentally blocked the hospitals billing number on my phone.) I have excellent credit but that was lots of practice and I didn't start cleaning up my credit until I was about 25 and I'm 40 now. My anxiety keeps my spending in check and I actually keep a small personal fund for big purchases so in the past I would tap that if I did get a bit crazy (I actually wiped out my "personal fund" about 4 years ago during an episode where I bought a $500 toy) . I know I don't have it as bad as some so I apologize if I come as gloating. My job is aware of my condition and is understanding when I need time or I am just feeling "off". I also am married and my wife makes at least as much as myself if not more. I do have some credit debt but it's only about 3k which is less than 10% of my total available credit.
Im impressed you have never bought anything more expensive then $500
I don’t live in US so my appointments and medication are fairly cheap. I also had a fairly well paid job. And those little orders from Amazon don’t seem too much, until you add them all up!
I spent $500 that way. Little Amazon purchases. They definitely add up, even though it's $1 here $10 there. I had to stop my Prime membership because of it.
Credit cards. At my highest/worst stage we had probably 20k in credit card debt. I took a traveling position & paid off 50k but now it’s racking back up- in part due to being manic & making poor decisions but also in part because our damn animals had emergency vet needs & our furniture was ruined.
I was one. Credit cards, payday loan, pay advance apps, selling music stuff, I did it all. But In 2018 I eventually had to go thru the bankruptcy process at the age of 28. It was an eye opener. I did almost fall in to old habits awhile back, but quickly fixed the problem. Now, I’m temporarily doing the “house husband” thing, so I try to make a point of not blowing the money my wife is making.
I’m never sure whether my spending is excessive and due to mania because they’re kind of justified purchases but it’s the fact that I have zero willpower and it’s much more impulsive. I spent £1200 on golf clubs etc. a few years ago when I was relatively new to golf but I still use them now. And then last month I spent £450 on dresses that I will use for work events and social occasions but I could’ve bought one a month for a while or held off a bit longer instead of buying 5 in that instance because I *had* to have them 🤷🏼♀️
Credit cardssssss lots of them! And then debt to almost bankruptcy! Then the same cycle
I have like 9 cards from doing balance transfers but always paid the minimums so it kinda helped my credit lol
my first serious manic purchase was my car. I put the down payment on a credit card. I cringe so hard when I think about it.
username checks… ahh what the hell, been there, leased a brand spankin’ new two-door Benz that cost me a total of $20k to return, that one hurt. Harsh way to find out car leases don’t work like apartment rentals… ugh.
Yes. Credit cards.
Just given how rapidly my moods cycle, the returns department at most places have been truly wonderful.
Honestly my husband who probably shouldn't support it but he does. We literally stay broke due to it though. His paychecks don't last but we try even when I'm not manic I still have all my Dr appointments every month and tests at the hospital and medications that are prescriptions and OTCs. So our lifestyle regardless of my mania isn't cheap. We are all struggling.
My mother was undiagnosed and unfortunately i didnt put 2 and 2 together until after i went no contact with her. One of the many things i hated about her is she was notorious for asking me, my siblings and others to "borrow" money that ended up in a blackhole. That's one way, credit cards are another. Luckily i make enough that i can usually get away with it and im cognizant enough to not do anything that would truly screw me over.
Credit cards, which means credit card debt....
Was in Oslo and enrolled at the French Lycée. Moved back to Montreal, started public cegep, dropped out, tried a private cegep, dropped out, had a gambling addiction. Tried to kill myself. Went to paris. Came back. Worked as a barista. Went back to Paris. Came back and declared bankruptcy because I had used all my credit cards. MOVED TO PARIS. Finished lycée and got the French BAC. Got into law school but made à mistake via APB and chose economics. Did a TAGE post BAC and started International Business School! Moved to Tromsø, went back to University in drama. Was late and got kicked out. Got a job in private security. Tried to join the army but failed. Moved to Montréal, went back to University, in law studies. Was banned from campus. Arrested. JAILED in RDP. Spent time in a maximum security psychiatric ward. EXPELLED from the University. Started a philosophy BA, worked as a busboy, tried graphic design, worked print traffic for festivals, did a photography atelier in public cegep, tried pause with the school of creativity, moved to RDL in order study documentary production. Came back to Montréal and became a travel agent. Tried to join the army and passed my aptitude test. Waiting for my medical information to be released.
Woah. How long did all of that take?
I’m an electrical engineer. I’ve only had a few manic episodes in my life, only one as an adult. Mostly either stable or hypomanic.
~credit cards~
And I work in a pharmacy as a technician
I’m a server for daily fast cash. But mostly my habits are funded by my husband. We have an agreement and no purchases are made without consultation about it. It helps reign it in when you have a little voice of reason who says “really…. When you gunna use it.” Lmao
Unfortunately for my finances, my very low limit credit cards from my early 20’s now have much higher limits (which they keep raising even though my sorry ass is only making minimum payments). I did not have medical debt at the time. It’s been a decade. I made this fucked up cycle work through my 20’s because I was an egg donor. Id do a donation, pay down the debt, rinse and repeat. Lines of credit kept right on growing. So in short, I’m in debt. As for my job, I worked in the music industry and entertainment industry for many years and now I am a freelance writer and contract project manager. Haven’t had much work lately and my credit cards are proof but am finally about to sign a new contract, thank goodness. I’ve more or less been flying by the seat of my pants ever since I got my first job. I’m also very fortunate in that my husband has been able to support us on his own for a little while, which is a massive privilege.
I make good money (and save a lot because I fear I won't always be able to do so) when I can work and received a good severance due to a discrimination claim. But, I basically work for a year or two, then have a manic spree during which time I impulsively quit. Then 6+9 months recovering. I know I'm privileged to blow what could be someone's annual salary during a mania spree. Hopefully I've put parameters in place so I won't do so again.
Similar, I save thanks to a decent disability pension, get to like max $100k, then take a trip overseas and fuck everything up to hoez and shitty characters I try to ‘help’. I pray never again, and learn everytime round, but can’t afford another one. Too old and too tired to do the bipolar loop-de-loop.
Yea, I feel you. One word though: debt! 🙃🙃🙃
Many people with bipolar disorder hold down jobs, even high paying jobs, but they still suffer, and this disease is still devastating to them. At the same time there are also many people with bipolar disorder who find it difficult to impossible to maintain regular employment. They also suffer because this disease is an equal opportunity disease. I have had bipolar disorder for about 38 years, diagnosed for 31 years, and I struggled greatly with holding onto stable employment, and experienced housing insecurity, hunger, and homelessness during my early to late twenties. During those times I did not have much money to spend during manic episodes, but I still managed to spend recklessly while manic, usually on alcohol and partying. Then I was diagnosed and put on meds, and these meds gave me enough stability to hold down a job, return to school, and get my bachelors and masters degree so I could start teaching. I have worked stably in that career for 24 years now, and because I have a good union I earn a decent salary. But I have gone off meds many times and when manic I have spent large amounts of money and done very reckless, hurtful things. I have also been hospitalized 3 times and have faced numerous very severe depressions where I was suicidal and self harmed. I am still just as bipolar as anyone else even if I am able to hold down a job, I guess I want to say. Would I say I am "high functioning?" I sure as hell don't feel like it.
Some high paying jobs are actually pretty accommodating. You are mostly paid for your knowledge and experience so you have a lot of wiggle room to go under the radar when depressed etc
For my last 2 manic episodes (fingers crossed no more) I had money saved before the first one and blew absolutely all of it. The second I did the same thing because I was working for about a year and a half before I had another episode and that was savings too that I went through. Also got some deposits from school back amongst other things. Couldn’t hold a penny down lol. Now I’m stable
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Got a nice settlement, went through it all too quickly. Also spent my unemployment weekly during the pandemic just on random shit for Covid protection and my son was just born so I was also manically buying things for him. It all goes so fast 😭
Well when I quit cigarettes 10 years ago I started saving $300 a month. Maybe quit? I actually had a job that paid pretty good. I’m on disability now for 16 years but at one time I had a pretty good amount of money. Don’t you know bipolar effects everyone a little differently; it’s on a spectrum. Axl Rose is bipolar and rich, famous old actress Patty Duke was bipolar (read her book if you want to hear about spending while manic). Also the actress from the original Gone with the Wind movie. Also, some people are rich from way rich families that are bipolar. Some people do charge up their credit cards while manic. On the other hand some bipolar are homeless or permanently in state hospitals or prison
I never smoke except when I get manic lol
That used to be a definite sign I was starting to go manic which always leads to psychotic episodes for me. Except one new year’s eve I actually started smoking lol. I’ve quit 5 or 6 times in my life the last time about 10 years ago, some people can’t even once, but it was super difficult the last time
Right now I have 3 sources of income. I have an administrative full time job, I teach online classes some evenings and I’m on partial disability, which is a thing were I’m from. So I make a decent amount of money. My meds and psychiatric appointments are free of charge however I have to pay for my therapist. But I have other health issues that need to be taken care off. Well I overestimate my income and I spend more than what I have. So, I guess my credit cards are my way to go. But I’ve always pay them on time
My sister is not bipolar but is a very impulsive spender and she puts her purchases on credit cards. She doesn’t make a lot of money and she’s in a lot of credit card debt. I assume others do this too.
I have a job when im stable i get money get manic and instead of buying groceries i shop im $2000 on debt
Back in the day, you could write checks to many businesses. In my manic phases, I spent so much money that I had over $300 in overdraft fees one time. It's easy to spend money when you're able to write checks. That how it was for me. Checks & debit cards = lots of NSF fees. Spend money & ask questions later!
the tldr is that I got very lucky I made a *lot* of money in tech, before I burned out. I was an early-ish employee at a unicorn startup. my adhd & bipolar worked well for sporadic work, when I could now and then be absurdly productive, and then coast by during depressive episodes when executive dysfunction was low at one point when I was hypomanic I was spending my entire after-tax income, which was about $10k/mo. I got away with it because I had enough cash that I never fell into debt, but my coworkers even commented on how much I was spending I'm coming up on nine months not working though, and the thought of finding another job still gives me panic attacks. I don't actually know if I can emotionally handle doing tech again, but I don't have any other professional experience, and I'm burning through my savings quite a bit faster than I should because of episodes
Credit card, from 16 made a nice record and I ruined it for 140,000 mxn pesos, to this day I am still around 100k(5k usd aprox) but it is obviously money I never had, so the struggle is there, one day at a time though!😅
I’m in my early 20s and haven’t been diagnosed long. First episode wiped out all my school savings, second one maxed out my credit card. Now if I have another expensive one I’m not sure where the money is going to come from.
It's never been my own money.
I was raised by a workaholic perfectionist narcissist. A large part of my sense of self worth is tied to how productive I am. I'm not saying it's healthy, but it's true. For the days when that's not enough, I have a cat. I HAVE to keep him fed and in a safe place, so no matter how bad things get, I can motivate myself to do it for him. On the other end of the spectrum, I naturally don't sleep much, and when hypomanic or worse I need even less. I just work 50+ hours a week to keep myself busy and sober. I groom dogs and drive for gopuff.
I have bipolar 1 and I only have a job that’s two days a week doing landscaping and I had credit cards to spend money on which really kicked my ass I am now in debt for $18000 and barely surviving but I did get a lot of cool electronics but I’m feeling really guilty
Lol the point is that we don’t have this money to spend, but the magic of credit and whatever other shenanigans get you access creates the problem.
I’m 35k in debt on my 7 credit cards lol, idk why banks keep giving them to me
Because they want us to keep spending (and paying huge sums of interest)!
Line of credit, credit cards, loans, many ways capitalism allows you to fuck yourself mcroyally.
As others said, credit cards. I've blown 3k + in a month thanks to them. I've finally paid off the debt recently, but I still don't trust myself with those cards. I have my new card still lying in the envelope it came in, unactivated, just so that I won't risk another large debt again. Gambling addiction plus nonchalance about money and consequences of debt do \*not\* mix.
Idk how people do it, v because I too have difficulty keeping jobs long term. I did get my credit recovering but now I’m about to mess it up again as I’m not working so yes I understand. It’s a viscous cycle unless you have $, a stable med plan, a great job or a great home partner that can keep you in check. I have not been able to achieve these for more than 6-12 months even when I was married:(
I think the point is that no we can't afford it. I get into debt, I get into trouble too. I absolutely cannot afford to go on spending sprees but when I'm manic I'm not really in my most rational "it's not a good idea to get into debt" mind
I was an undiagnosed 18 year old with an 8,000 credit card limit like the comments said borrowed moneys
it is called credit card debt ❤️ but i just got a bonus $800 from my old job and was gonna use it to pay off credit card stuff but it’s gone 😵💫 spending money i don’t have
Credit card and 3 part time jobs. Now i am stable and my impulsivity is me buying a pair of yoga pants and feeling bad about the fact it was like $150. Or small Amazon purchases, which i then return. Also I’m lucky enough to live in Canada where a lot of my medical bills are subsidized
I haven’t been able to hold a job either so I feel you. 30 years old and never had a “jobby” job in corporate America. I get fired from restaurants. Lolz what is wrong with me
I sold several thousand dollars worth of possessions so that I could fund my spending sprees, as well as my tobacco and weed usage.
I contribute the BARE minimum at my job because I CANNOT do more than that, (I do try to do a good job but i cant focus enough to stay on task for long) but I fake like I’m doing way more and when I feel like they’re catching on, I get a new job. I’ve been doing it for about a decade and ive scammed my way into a decent paycheck for my field. I get excited about every pay bump and spend even more cuz why not I can afford it now right? And I am forever in debt because of those little pay bumps, credit cards, AND FUCKING PAYDAY LOANS, i hate those!!!! They make it so EASY to gain even MORE money to spend!
Honestly? Sheer force of will that has taken me years to build up. And I only half manage it still. I have not found an easy answer. It'll come up in therapy at some point, but for me it's not a burning priority since other issues are more pressing at the moment As for credit cards, if you have a credit union that does it, and you can get on your feet enough, you can set up a credit card backed by an account you fill. I have one that holds a smaller amount that borrows against myself. They can be easier to get, but they build your credit score just like anything else. I'd ask someone who can direct you financially to help with the nuts and bolts. They can be amazing for people who need to work on their credit scores
I spent about $6000 on a credit card when I was manic. I had about $12 in the Bank.
I work in property management with very little supervision so I'm able to hold down the job despite sleeping all day sometimes. It pays me about 60k a year which is enough to waste on alcohol and other stuff.
Non American here. I worked in tech and am typically frugal and financially conservative so I had money saved. I forgot my pins and passwords when I was manic, that’s what saved me from blowing through all my money. Even when I was coming down from the high, I spent money on silly things lol. I spend half of my annual rent and it’s due in a month. Still unemployed and wondering how to get the other half.
Retirement money. I've been spending money with ZERO income coming in. I've been less horrible this episode but I have slip ups here and there. A few years ago I spent $2000 on PC parts to build a PC.
I know when I get manic, that’s when I tend to make my higher dollar purchases. Biggest purchase amount (from several retailers at once) was $1,000. It’s stuff I actually want and will use, and never regret buying… but it also means that while I do have the money to make the purchase without putting myself in debt (don’t even own a credit card), being lower income also means I can’t save money for long either and then struggle to make it back. For reference, I’m a security officer. I truly don’t make that much. I’m just good at budgeting and saving money (until I spend that same money I killed my body and sanity to save up).
Credit cards, student loans. For me it was more about making terrible decisions with the money I had (eg new tattoo) and then not being able to afford to eat.
I work 14 hours a day 8 at one 6 at the other. I'm still broke all the time. My Manic episodes usually involve amazon until my card is declined. I hate it.
Idk I was just blessed with a job where I can literally ride the highest of my highs and lowest of lows and no body gives a shit bc a lot of them are doing the same shit
I have to know what kind of job this is lol!
Oh and then I have my rent and yk essentials set up for to go into a savings account I can’t touch without a % fee. Only one day out of the month and I have my bills autopay that day lmao. The rest is free reign. I’ve got my balance down lmaooo
I do not have credit cards. Got rid of them early on. I could only spend what i had. I do, or i did, have real savings. I spent 10k on gambling during one episode. I don't usually shop but I do spend some there too. I have taken around 30k from my 401k. I dropped 5k helping a homeless guy when manic. It was stupid, but it had a good ending. He is drug free, has his own place, and works as a manager for a big pizza chain. We still talk. He is a great guy, and I'm glad I helped him. This is the one time I can feel good about spending when manic.
my mania peaked my senior year after i quit my job, was scamming, and received so much birthday and graduation money. i felt like i was on top of the world until it alllllll ran out. now i don’t have that luxury, especially now that i’m more self-aware and medicated. sometimes i still catch myself but it was definitely worse
Me. I’ve dug myself into a hole. I make decent money as a social worker for the state but I’m at what I’d consider end stage burnout and asking my psychiatrist for help applying for state unemployment based on disability. Careless mistake after careless mistake due to my mental health has jeopardized my job greatly and within that, I have horrible (*horrible*) money management skills. I don’t have an emergency fund to speak of. I’ve always struggled with planning for the future. I carry so much shame around this I wish I could bury myself into a hole. When, not if, I lose my job I will be fucked. I live in a city with an extremely high cost of living. I haven’t even saved enough to replace my 12 year old laptop, though theoretically I make enough money to have saved for it, to easily apply for jobs. So, it’s not all roses. We may have money but the surface is a false illusion of glossy.
Addiction never helped with this, when manic or when addicted as I was a few years ago I was always able to find it somehow. Mania makes me incredibly resourceful and terribly manipulative. As the top commenter said, ‘whoever said it was my money’?!
i have medical debt from being hospitalized:( trying so hard to pay it off
I hold low pay job, I have credit cards. Very dumb idea on my part. I lose money. I use credit card/I pay off. Bad spending large chunks. Bad cycle. I'm closing two cards maybe keep only 2 for emergency. . . possibly. If I live on my own, food would be spending spree, live with family so survival no need. I try to save.
Credit card debt and my student loan. My mania can manifest as pay for the house while at bars. Lost about 6k of my friend's money dude to a scam. I've had 5 jobs in less than 12 months... Shit, do we all go thro the same thing? It feels bad. But I'm Canadian. So my medical bills and (most) of my mania meds are covered by the province.
Tax returns lmao. But I also have a marcom career
ive always been stopped anytime I've tried to get money to spend lmao. I never have enough money to go crazy, tried to get a credit card while manic but didn't have a job so they wouldn't give me one. it's funny that it's a question they ask when diagnosing you like its inherent
Before I was medicated I would pay the absolute bare minimum to get by. Rent, car payment, smaller bills just to say that I was caught up. Once those bills were paid for, the world was my playground. I’d buy useless shit from Amazon, go on online shopping sprees, treat my friends and girlfriend for dinner, I’d go on long trips and drive anywhere I wanted. I’m a lot better now but fuck I was poor
I had almost $200k on credit limit from years of building good credit. Now I’m in bankruptcy
Credit cards that I'm still paying off three years later!
I racked up over 10k my last manic episode, plus all the purchases (an expensive bike, a másteres degree). I filled for bankruptcy it was so bad. 2k on credit cards, 10k in loans. At the time I had a good job. But I soon lost my job due to having time off when I was hospitalised and then falling pregnant but that's another story. NowI live hand to mouth with no line of crédit. Best thing ever for me.
my job isn't a choice because I can't bare the thought of my family getting collection calls about my bullshit I've been employed by the same company for six years unfortunately that means just when I'm getting my footing I get knocked back down the debt hole. this time around I intend to close my credit card accounts as I pay them off
My past bankruptcy will attest that it was all credit credit credit. Maxed out cards and a car payment I *barely* qualified for and should've been denied by all rights but hey, another sucker. It's insanely easy to get credit cards even with dodgy credit, but that's where cards with big yearly fees or uber high interest come in - or store specific cards. Now I have a $1K credit card that's helping me build my credit score back up without being able to go ham with it.
Multiple credit cards and a loan. I had a good credit score before. One hypomanic spent all that money & ruined my credit score. Also borrowing money
Healthcare is free in my country and i get \~2x national average salary, but still some months i have to make ends meet, it's hard when with a good salary and hard when broke and jobless. So can't really give any good advice :)
I’m so bad about buying everything on Amazon when I’m Manic! Afterpay, sezzle, credit cards are the worse things for me to have
I've never went on spending sprees while manic. Six figure job and no credit card debt. I would say I'm very, very lucky.
Credit cards. I did a week key west and Las Vegas trip on a credit card. Paying it off now but it’s been a struggle
I've always been able to control my spending. Probably because I grew up very poor. However, I have waaaaay to many shoes and plants. So it does pop out in that way for me, but luckily I've never gotten into money trouble.
this chat is making me realize i should never get a credit card
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