Breaking the Money Taboo: Why Staying Silent Holds You Back

Money: Unlocking Growth Together

Money. It’s like that overly chatty neighbor you spot as you’re pulling into the driveway after a long day, so you instinctively grab your phone and pretend to be deep in conversation, just to avoid getting stuck.

We’ll argue politics at the dinner table, debate whether a hot dog is a sandwich like it’s life or death, and share our most humiliating moments for a laugh. But the second someone asks, “So, what did you pull in last year?” the room goes dead silent.

It’s like they just asked for your credit card number and your soul. Why the hell is money, the thing we deal with every single day, such a taboo topic? And more importantly, what’s it costing us to keep our traps shut about it?

Most people love to play detective when it comes to someone else’s finances. They’ll size you up based on your car, your clothes, or your zip code, thinking they’ve cracked the code on your bank account. Sure, those things might give you a peek into someone’s Assets—or size of their manhood—but they don’t tell you squat about their debt.

And don’t even get me started on broke-ass Joey rolling up in his shiny BMW. He’s out here acting like he’s got it all together, but we all know he’s one flat tire away from calling his mom for gas money. Sorry, Joey, your leased luxury car doesn’t fool anyone. Sheesh

So, Let’s get into why money talk makes us sweat, how that mindset is holding us back, and what happens when we finally stop treating it like a dirty little secret.

Why We Don’t Talk About Money

Let’s face it—money talk has been off-limits forever. It’s like some unspoken rule we all agreed to as kids: don’t ask about salaries, don’t brag about raises, and sure as hell don’t admit when you’re broke.

And why? Because money talk comes with baggage. If you’ve got it, you’re bragging. If you don’t, you’re failing. It’s a tightrope where you’re judged no matter what.

Then there’s the fear. Fear of envy. Fear of judgment. Fear of being “less than” if your bank account isn’t as stacked as you’d like. It’s exhausting. And if you grew up in a family that didn’t talk about money, you’re probably still flying blind.

What Silence Is Costing You

Here’s the real kicker, staying quiet about money isn’t just awkward; it’s screwing you over.

First off, let’s talk stats. Most Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. And get this: a study found that over 50% of people making more than $100K a year are still scraping by between paydays. Yep, even the fancy car-driving, Instagram-perfect Joneses are probably sweating the mortgage.

Financial stress is one of the leading contributors to depression and suicide. Money isn’t just numbers in a bank account; it’s tied to your mental health, your relationships, and how you see yourself.

I’ve been there. When I was younger, I couldn’t check the answering machine without hearing a debt collector. Every beep sent my heart racing. This was before cell phones were a thing—thank God—because if I had to deal with that constant stress today? Forget it.

But here’s the good news: I dug myself out. Slowly, painfully, and with a lot of frozen fish sticks. And now? I’ve found my financial freedom. If I can do it, so can you.

The Silent Struggle: Why We Stay Stuck

Let’s get real—most of us are out here winging it when it comes to money. We didn’t get a crash course in school, and unless your parents were handing out stock tips at the dinner table, you probably pieced together your “financial strategy” from Google searches and TikTok gurus.

The lack of financial literacy is brutal. Half the time, you don’t even know what you don’t know. Like, are you supposed to save first, invest first, or just pray your bank account doesn’t hit zero? And without open conversations, you’re left guessing how others are saving, spending, or actually pulling off this whole “adulting” thing. Spoiler: most of them are guessing too.

But here’s the real kicker—staying silent robs you of opportunities. Collaboration? Gone. Learning from peers? Nope. Negotiating that raise because you didn’t even know your coworker is making 10k more? Yeah, you missed the boat on that one too.

And the emotional toll? Let me tell you, it’s no joke. Feeling isolated and overwhelmed by your financial mess can make you feel like you’re the only one failing while everyone else is secretly swimming in gold coins like Scrooge McDuck.

It’s time to cut the crap. You don’t have to be a financial genius, but damn, you’ve got to start somewhere. Open your mouth, ask the questions, and stop letting silence keep you stuck.

Keeping Up with the Joneses Is a Losing Game

Here’s the deal with trying to keep up: there’s always another Jones family. You get the car, the house, the vacation, and then realize there’s a new “goalpost” to chase. It’s exhausting, and not worth it. And if you are lucky enough to “catch up” to them, you’ll move to a new neighborhood with new Joneses.

Those Joneses you’re trying to emulate? They’re probably drowning in debt, too. Their perfect life is a mirage. Stop chasing it. The only person you should be competing with is yourself.

How to Start Talking About Money

Alright, so how do we break the silence? Start small.

Instead of blurting out, “How much did you pull in last year?” (a little aggressive, yeah?), ask something like, “How much do you budget on food per month?” or “Are you maxing out your 401k?” It’s less in-your-face and more “I’m curious, let’s talk more.”

Find your crew. Not everyone’s ready for this level of honesty, and that’s fine. Look for friends, mentors, or even online communities where people are real about money. You’d be surprised what you can learn from a good podcast or a Reddit thread.

And for the love of all things good, own your screw-ups. Nobody wants to hear about your perfect credit score. Share the time you overdrafted your account because you forgot about that auto-renew subscription. People relate to the messy stuff.

Reframe Money as a Tool

Here’s a mindset shift that changed my life: money isn’t good or bad. It’s just a tool. A resource to build the life you want.

Think about it like a hammer. You wouldn’t feel guilty about using one to build a deck, right? So why feel weird about using money to create a better future for yourself?

When you stop seeing money as this untouchable, intimidating thing, it becomes something you can control, manage, and—dare I say—enjoy.

Taking the First Step

You don’t have to overhaul your financial life in one day. Start small. Share one piece of advice you’ve learned. Ask one question you’ve been afraid to ask. Look up one financial term you’ve been pretending to understand.

The more you talk about money, the less scary it becomes. And the less scary it is, the more you grow.

Let’s stop letting fear keep us broke and clueless.

Go ahead—ask the hard questions. Share the embarrassing stories. The worst thing that can happen? You learn something. And that, my friends, is how you start unlocking a better future.