Certain conversation topics are avoided like the plague. Politics and religion are high up that list. While people still find a way to throw in a complaint about a political leader or verbalize what they believe in, people still run for the hills at the mention of anything money.
Why we don’t talk about Money.
Talking about money is considered taboo, even in modern cultures and societies. Several reasons explain this attitude, one of them being the judgment associated with money or lack thereof.
While money is used to judge the value of things, it is also used to judge an individual’s value. This judgment causes lots of social anxiety. We all want to fit into society and have people perceive us in a certain way. Furthermore, losing money could mean diminished status among friends and loss of identity. Therefore, projecting a certain level of affluence and status is in many people’s interest.
Money is a daunting subject. It is difficult, uncomfortable, and embarrassing at times. It is normal human behavior to avoid, or outright ignore, anything that we don’t understand or deem intimidating. This is yet another reason we don’t talk about money.
We are afraid to talk about money because we know if we were to deeply look into our finances, we would be confronted with realities that we do not like. We’d find that we can’t afford the cars we’re driving, the fancy dinners we’re having, or the designer jewelry we’re buying. And so what do we do? We ignore the topic entirely.
Read More: Bare Minimum you need to know about Personal Finance
Why talking about money could change your life.
Money is not well regarded in society and generally has a bad reputation amongst the less affluent. It is vilified as the root of all evil and often blamed for destroying friendships, relationships, and families. To many, this is their justification for not pursuing financial literacy and self-awareness.
While it’s true that money can’t buy happiness, it affects a huge part of our lives.
- Health: Let’s face it; money is the biggest stressor in life. Continous strain on your body due to stress from worrying about paying your bills could eventually cause chronic health problems. The less you have to worry about paying your bills, the healthier you’ll be. Additionally, you’re more likely to afford better health care when you have an extra coin saved up. Every time you choose to spend your money wisely, you’re choosing health and happiness.
- Family and relationships: It is a common belief that you have to sacrifice money to have good relationships and enjoy family life. Unfortunately, this is far from the truth. Achieving financial freedom and getting the money problem out of the way will give you more time to spend with your family and provide a comfortable life for them.
Read More: What is Personal Finance? Understand Your Finances.
So, Why Talk about Money?
Talking about money relieves you of social tensions and expectations. You’ll realize that everyone is also afraid to be perceived as less/more affluent than they really are. Keeping up with the Joneses is just an unrealistic societal expectation. You don’t have to conform to social norms at the expense of your health, financial security, or a comfortable future for you and your family.
Additionally, talking about money will help you learn some useful tips and tricks on managing your finances and avoiding living paycheck to paycheck. It is worthwhile to talk to friends and inquire about how they managed to pay off their debt or how they are able to stick to a budget. It might be awkward at first, but you’ll soon realize that financially savvy people are, more often than not, willing and comfortable to share their ideas and experiences with money.
Indeed, money is not the most important thing in the world, but it will make the most important things in the world so much more enjoyable.
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