Frog & Toad and the Two Seasons of Money

"One spring morning in the meadow, Frog decided to plant a garden. He showed Toad how to push seeds into the earth and water them. Toad nodded, waited, and then — immediately, wanted to see something happen.

He hovered. He worried. He even yelled at the seeds to “start growing right now.” Nothing. Eventually, he fell asleep in the grass, and when he woke, there were tiny green shoots poking through the soil."

If you’ve ever stared at your bank account and willed it to grow, refreshing the app like maybe the numbers will sprout while you watch — you’ve been Toad.

And if you’ve ever rushed into a new account, side hustle, or investment because the idea felt exciting right this second? You’ve been Frog.

I’ve been both. Sometimes in the same week. Sometimes simultaneously.

If it's not obvious, the wonderful Arnold Lobel didn't write or draw any of this. But I love the comparison.
🎨😜

In looking through our collection of books, Frog and Toad (and Lobel's other books) always stood out from the crowd. There's something very comforting in how the characters work through their very different approaches to life.

So let's play in Frog and Toad's garden and explore how neurodivergent minds approach personal finance...

The Garden in Two Seasons

The Hidden Seasons in Our Money Lives

We like to think of “financial personality” as something fixed — like you’re either a saver or a spender, a risk-taker or a planner. But that’s not how it works for neurotypical brains, let alone neurodivergent ones.

For us, money isn’t a single personality trait. It’s a cycle.

Some days, we can be all momentum— chasing ideas, riding a wave of energy. Other days, we’re all security, cautious, protective, unwilling to move until everything feels safe.

Frog Gets an Idea

Momentum Season (Frog Energy)

Frog season feels like this:

• You’re riding a dopamine high.
• Big financial moves feel light: setting up auto-savings, paying down debt in chunks, diving into a new business idea.
• The risk is that you skip the fine print in favor of just getting started.

Toad Waits for the Right Time

Security Season (Toad Energy)

Toad season feels like this:

• Your nervous system wants predictability and calm.
• You review budgets, stash extra in your emergency fund, or delay big purchases.
• The risk is you wait so long for “perfect” conditions that nothing changes.

A while back, during a particularly “Frog” stretch, I automated everything I could — bills, savings, even my retirement contributions. It felt almost reckless. Fast-forward to three months later, deep in a “Toad” slump, I barely had the bandwidth to check email. But my finances kept moving. I had, without meaning to, built a bridge from one season into the other.

The Weather Changes

Why We Swing Between Them

Energy is not a constant resource for ND brains.
Some of us wake up with a hundred tabs open in our heads and the urge to conquer the world! Others wake up under the weight of a lead blanket. Most of us cycle between the two.

These aren’t mood swings to fix. They’re weather patterns to navigate.

Planting and Tending

Designing a Bi-Seasonal Money System

Think of your finances like a garden:

• In Frog season, you plant: automate savings, set up investments, negotiate raises, start side projects.
• In Toad season, you tend: strengthen safety nets, keep systems humming, protect against burnout.

The genius move is setting up the plantings while you have the energy so your garden survives the months you don’t.

Two Friends Share the Work

The Mutual Aid of Frog & Toad

You don’t need to both seasons be balanced all the time. You just need balance in the system. They push each other and establish guardrails at the same time.

Things We Use in Every Season

Tools That Work for Both

Set them up in Frog season. Lean on them in Toad season.

Neurodivergent folk, especially those with ADHD, have many tools. To be honest, their tools would feel at home in a junk draw filled with bottle openers, twist ties, measuring spoons and screwdrivers! Lump them together in these two broad categories and note which work ones work best for you, you'll nee both.

The Year in the Garden

Always growing, always learning.

This isn’t soley about money. It’s about permission.

Permission to ride your own rhythms instead of fighting them.
Permission to plant when you have the spark and to rest when you don’t.
Permission to see both momentum and caution as parts of the same strategy, not opposing forces.

Because when you stop trying to live as only Frog or only Toad, you start living as someone who can have a thriving garden all year long.

Awww... wasn't this a beautiful journey? Maybe it's just me, but I feel much calmer and more accepting of myself. 🌈 💙

Season Check-In:

• Feeling restless and ready? → Frog 🐸 season.
• Feeling cautious and protective? → Toad ☂️ season.
• Feeling both? → That’s spring 🌷. Do a little of each.

Disclaimer: As ALWAYS, this article is for educational and motivational purposes and is not financial advice. Always consider consulting with a financial professional for guidance tailored to your unique situation.