Money is a key factor in nearly every part of our lives. It effects where we live, what jobs we have, what opportunities are available to us, and even our marriages.1 But despite its huge influence on our lives, most Americans hate talking about money.
According to a 2025 Bankrate survey, Americans ranked money as a taboo topic above politics or religion.2 Three in five adults said they’d be uncomfortable talking about their bank account balances, even with a family member or close friend. According to the same survey, only one in four were uncomfortable sharing their political views, and one in five were uncomfortable sharing their religious opinions. And it’s not just people who struggle with finances who reported this discomfort. The phenomenon cuts across income levels, as even the wealthy find it hard to talk about money.3
Money can be difficult to discuss for a variety of reasons, and there’s no single source of the taboo. People may worry that talking about money will expose them to judgment—whether that’s embarrassment about struggling financially, concern about appearing unsuccessful, or discomfort with having significantly more money than the people around them. And because Americans across a wide range of incomes describe themselves as middle class, those differences aren’t always obvious.4
According to one expert who spoke with Forbes, the money taboo can begin early. Writing specifically about families with inherited wealth, he described three ways the taboo can take shape: parents and children may avoid discussing money with each other, wealth may not be publicly disclosed, and money may remain off-limits in conversations with friends and colleagues.5
Those habits can reinforce broader social norms around money. If you grow up without discussing finances at home and rarely hear people talk openly about their income or wealth, talking about your own financial circumstances may feel uncomfortable or inappropriate later in life.
How to Talk About Money
Talking about money is difficult precisely because so many of us have learned not to do it. But like any uncomfortable conversation, it can get easier with practice. You don't have to start by revealing your salary or sharing the balance of your savings account. Instead, look for small opportunities to make money a more normal part of the conversation.
Start Light
Build confidence talking about money by starting with everyday expenses, like the cost of groceries, gas, insurance co-pays, or utility bills. These topics can feel easier to discuss than your salary, savings, debt, or mortgage, and they can help make financial conversations feel more routine.
Talk Without Judgment
Money is not some inherent reflection of your self-worth or value as a human being. You're not your job, your stock portfolio, or your savings, nor is anyone else. Reminding yourself of that can make it easier to talk honestly about your own financial situation and listen to others with empathy and understanding.
Enlist Support
If money conversations feel too difficult to navigate on your own, bring in a professional. Depending on what you need, financial planners and coaches can help you work through financial questions and goals, while a therapist can help individuals and couples address the emotions and relationship dynamics surrounding money.
Talk About Money with Your Partner
Money can be a significant source of conflict in relationships, making honest communication especially important. Talk openly with your partner about your income, spending, debts, savings, financial responsibilities, and goals. Making financial decisions together can help both partners understand where things stand and what they're working toward.
That doesn't necessarily mean combining all of your accounts. Couples can manage their money in many different ways. What's important is that both partners understand their shared financial picture and agree on how they'll approach financial decisions.
Reframe to Emphasize Benefits
When talking about money feels uncomfortable, it can help to focus on what you might gain from the conversation. You can't negotiate a higher salary or hourly rate with your employer, for example, if you don't talk about money. Discussing pay with coworkers, can also give you useful context about how your compensation compares with others doing similar work and provide information you can use when negotiating your own pay.
Within a household, regular financial conversations can also make it easier to coordinate spending, budgeting, and financial goals, and research has found an association between talking about money and lower credit card debt.6
The broader taboo around money probably isn't going away anytime soon, but you can make money less taboo in your own life. If you talk about money with your peers and loved ones, you may find it easier to negotiate pay, plan with a partner, and make informed decisions about saving, spending, and investing.
- Karney, Benjamin R. (2020, September4). Socioeconomic Status and Intimate Relationships. National Library of Medicine. ↩︎
- Staples, Anna (2025, October 27). Survey: Americans Would Rather Discuss Politics or Religion Than What’s in Their Bank Account. Bankrate. ↩︎
- Joszt, Laura (2014, March 13). The Taboo of Discussing Wealth. Medical Economics. ↩︎
- Samuel, Lawrence R. (2024, February 8). Why Most Americans Believe They are Middle Class. Psychology Today. ↩︎
- Shin, Laura (2015, April 14). The Money Taboo: Why it Exists and Who it Benefits. Forbes ↩︎
- Norvilitis, Jill and MacLean, Michael (2010, February). The Role of Parents in College Students’ Financial Behavior and Attitudes. Journal of Economic Psychology. ↩︎