At different stages in my life I’ve been diagnosed with a bouquet of DSM-5 conditions, but my favourite? The one my daughter gave me - neurospicy. This is the first time I’ve thought—yes! That’s me. The systems and institutions of humans overwhelm me, and I don’t quite fit. And now I see why. I’m neurospicy and I love it!
The traditional money world, as we know it, was built around a very particular model—the married male, full-time job, wife at home, raising kids, steady income, traditional retirement. I’m not having a go at married dads or tradition for that matter. Some of my favourite people are married dads and I love a tradition. It’s just that our institutions and systems need to expand to accommodate more people, more ways of thinking, more ways of living.
For years, I tried to shrink myself to fit into spaces that were never meant for me. I smoothed out my edges, bent myself into shapes that felt unnatural, forcing myself into systems that didn’t quite hold me. But at 60, I see it differently. What was once labelled as mental illness, I now recognise as life—messy, raw, and full of power. The structures and systems I once felt trapped by? Now, they’re just another playground. I can climb over them, crawl under them, weave through them. This is important: ask someone I trust to help me. Or simply skip away.
The Gift of a Neurospicy Brain
I’ve spent a long time trying to learn more, to understand myself. And here’s what I know now.
I hyperfocus. I can get lost in research, analysis, and ideas for hours—days even. It makes me a great financial planner, a deep thinker, and someone who can see patterns others miss. I can disassociate when needed. When the noise gets too loud, I can rise above. It’s incredibly handy in money management—when others panic, I step outside the chaos and see the broader cycles. I process everything, all at once. I can hold a hundred different ideas in my mind at the same time. That’s why I love universal mathematical laws, nature’s patterns, and the RAW (Rhythm, Autonomy, Wildness) approach to life. I see new ways of living. Simplicity. Spending less. Eating less, and in a way that feels good, not complicated. I don’t want a high-maintenance life. I don’t need the big house, the endless subscriptions, the overstuffed cupboards. I just want space, clarity, and things that work.
Money Wasn’t Built for Me—So I Built My Own System
Traditional money advice never made sense to me. The rigid, linear models of wealth-building always felt like they were designed for someone else’s life. So, I built a system that actually works for me.
The Raw Money Cycle—Receive, Spend, Save, Give—is how I manage my finances now. It flows like nature, like the seasons, rather than pretending life is a straight line.
Spending isn’t about excess anymore. I’m clearing out my cupboards, driving more instead of flying, catching a train or a bus, walking, being a tourist in my own town. I don’t need more, I need better. Saving is simple and sustainable. I automate it, make it efficient, and let it grow in the background. Giving is intentional. I support causes that matter without draining myself. My family and friends are everything. So is my health. Receiving is something I’ve had to learn. I’m finally okay with asking for and accepting help, with letting life give back to me.
Rewriting the Rules at 60
I am a Certified Financial Planner, a psychotherapist, a business and financial wellbeing researcher. I’ve studied the systems. I’ve worked within them. And now, I see them for what they are—a construct. And constructs can be expanded, they can be changed, they can be pulled down and rebuilt. They can be avoided.
I’m learning from my kids. I love how they genuinely understand both me and their dad, embrace our quirks and flaws, and navigate the world with their own rhythms. Their peer groups move fluidly, finding connection without forcing themselves into predefined roles. They don’t shrink themselves to fit; they shape the space around them. That’s exactly what I’m doing too. I don’t need the noise anymore. I don’t need to prove anything. I just want to live in a way that makes sense—with money, with time, with energy.
I don’t overcomplicate my life. I don’t hoard money, possessions, people or obligations. I invest in ways that align with me—not just what the industry says is smart. I say no to things that drain me. I embrace the fact that my brain works differently, and that’s a good thing.
At 60, I no longer try to fit into a system that wasn’t designed for me. Instead, I build my own and work around the ones that are already there. And if that resonates with you, maybe it’s time to stop trying to fit in and start designing a life that actually works for you too.
Because life’s too short to spend it shaving off your edges or curling yourself up into a ball so small that you aren’t seen or you just drop through those structures that weren’t built for you.
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, psychological, or professional advice. While I am a Certified Financial Planner and psychotherapist, the information shared here is based on personal experiences and research.
Always seek individual advice from a licensed financial professional, therapist, or relevant expert before making financial, legal, or health decisions. Or not, whatever your jam is.
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Professional Registration & Authorised Representative Details
Margie Stewart
Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)
PACFA Registered Clinical Psychotherapist | Membership No. 30369
Authorised Representative of Lifespan Financial Planning Pty Ltd ABN 23 065 921 735| AR No. 001273345
Director, RAW Money Pty Ltd | ABN 98625048035
Margaret Stewart of Raw Money Pty Ltd ABN 98625048035 is an Authorised Representative of Lifespan Financial Planning Pty Ltd ABN 23 065 921 735, Australian Financial Services Licence No. 229892