Thanks so much for bringing up the subject of saving money! After my last manic episode (I go on shopping sprees), my mom offered to become my trustee and I agreed to going to a lawyer to have the necessary documents prepared. My mom pays for all of my living expenses and we agreed to an amount of cash that I get each week for incidentals. This has proven to be the only way that I can protect what little money I have in the event of a future manic episode. If I could only undo the past and reclaim all the money I spent on mania-fueled spending! But that's not possible so all I can do is to forgive myself and move on.

I save money by only buying what is absolutely necessary and discussing possible purchases through my support team before I make a final decision. Fortunately, I have no access to debit cards, credit cards, checks, etc. I buy my food at Trader Joes using "gift" cards that my mom gives me every week. As I write this, I realize I must sound like a teenager, but I am 50 years old! But in my case, after racking up nearly $60,000 on credit cards and going through $80,000 in cash (in 4 months), having my mom as my trustee has given me tools to spend money wisely. It is my intention to take over the responsibility of paying my own bills when I have been able to attain 12 or more months of a stable mood. So far, I have had stable moods for one month now and am actively engaged in a wellness and recovery program. I am crossing my fingers!