Money: The Most Intimate Thing We Don’t Talk About

Here’s the thing I’ve been circling for a while now: money is one of the most practical, impactful topics in our lives—and yet, among friends, it’s often treated like a taboo. Talking about finances can feel awkward, impolite, or weirdly intimate. We’ll talk about relationships, health scares, therapy, SEX, and existential dread before we’ll talk about salaries and debt.

I find myself wanting a small circle of friends where money isn’t taboo. Not competitive. Not braggy. Just… collaborative. A group where we can talk openly about how to lower expenses—because someone always knows a trick you don’t. A better phone plan. A smarter insurance setup. A way to renegotiate a bill you assumed was fixed forever. 

And just as important: a group where we can talk about increasing income. Side projects. Negotiation strategies. Teaching gigs, freelance work, investments, opportunities. Rising together doesn’t mean everyone makes the same choices—it means information flows freely enough that people can decide what’s right for them.

What’s interesting is that when these conversations do happen—usually accidentally, or one-on-one. Someone finally admits they’re confused. Someone else says, “Oh, I’ve been there.” 

I think most progress comes from shared knowledge and shared resources. Avoiding money talk preserves a polite distance, but it also keeps everyone reinventing the wheel alone.

I don’t want money conversations to replace joy, creativity, or connection. I want them to support those things. I want friendships where we can talk about food and spreadsheets. Dreams and deductions. The emotional side of life and the logistical one.