Real Women's Stories with Lisa Quait

My Spending Addiction Left Me £40,000 in Debt by Age 23 - Then I Made the Same Mistake Again

Real Women's Stories with Lisa Quait

Show Notes

Maddy Alexander-Grout was £40,000 in debt by the age of 23 after developing a spending addiction. After paying it all off and building a successful business, she found herself £65,000 in debt all over again.

In this episode, Maddy shares how undiagnosed ADHD, impulsive spending and a personal guarantee contributed to her financial struggles, the devastating collapse of her business and the nervous breakdown that followed.

She also opens up about her experiences of motherhood, postpartum psychosis and receiving diagnoses of ADHD and autism later in life. Maddy explains how understanding her brain helped her make sense of her past, rebuild her life, clear her debts and create a six-figure business.

This is an honest conversation about money, neurodiversity, failure and finding the resilience to start again.

Maddy’s book, Mad About Money: Managing Finances (and Life) with ADHD, is an unfiltered and practical guide to understanding your brain, managing money and navigating life as a neurodivergent person.

---

Discover mid-life coaching with Lisa

--- Connect with Lisa Instagram: Follow Lisa Facebook: Follow Lisa YouTube: The only place to watch every episode of Real Women's Stories with Lisa Quait Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More from Real Women's Stories with Lisa Quait

Oct 20, 2026

DJ Sam Divine had the dream home, dream car and a career she had worked for her entire life. But behind the scenes, she was battling drug addiction, depression and the pressure to keep going when no one knew how much she was struggling.

Oct 19, 2026

DJ Sam Divine had her dream home, her dream car and her career - but no one knew she was hiding addiction. Tomorrow, she tells me about depression, rehab and the moment she decided: “I cannot wake up feeling like this any longer.”

Oct 13, 2026

In this coaching episode, I share the deeply personal story of knowing my first marriage was no longer healthy for me, while fearing the consequences of becoming a single mum. I explore why waiting for certainty can keep us stuck, and how trying to avoid a difficult decision can sometimes cost us more in the long run.

Oct 6, 2026

In this live coaching session, Lisa Quait speaks with Lara Giusti, Head Chef & Product at Veloforte.

Sep 29, 2026

Broadcaster and author Andrea McLean knows what it is like to look as though you have everything, while privately carrying fear, financial pressure and shame.

See all episodes →