The One Thing We Never Talk About With Our Girl Gang

LearnLux
LearnLux
Aug 9, 2017 · 3 min read

Money, Money, Money

We tell our friends everything. I mean, what else is the group chat for? But beyond all the hookup stories, or the rants about terrible roommates or bitchy bosses, there’s one topic that we still classify as TMI.

Our financial lives.

In a world where the gender wage gap is still seen as controversial, but negotiating can be taboo, where it’s still an issue when women outearn their boyfriends or husbands, where talking about money can seem declassé, women still don’t see their friends as resources and confidants when it comes to personal finance.

Money can be a tough topic for a lot of people. It’s difficult to talk about something we’ve been actively socialized to avoid discussing. Many of us are afraid of of talking about personal finance because we fear revealing vulnerabilities or a lack of knowledge. Our hesitance in chatting about money combined with our insecurity in our personal finance knowledge can be incredibly disempowering.

Why you should have the talk

Just because we may have a few questions about Roth IRAs or maybe don’t fully grasp the concept of ETFs doesn’t devalue the financial savvy we do have. When it comes to women and men and personal finance, the real gap is not in knowledge, but in confidence.

But talking about money is actually one of the best ways to build confidence. Discussing savings accounts over bottomless mimosas can help ease the anxiety and fear that so many of us associate with managing our finances. Just like we talk about dating, life, and work with our friends to get feedback, feel understood and share knowledge, we should do the same with money.

Starting the conversation

Bringing up money with your friends isn’t easy, and in some ways, it can be even more difficult to bring it up with those closest to you.

The most important thing to remember is to be supportive and honest. Just like you’d tell your best friend that hooking up with Brad is definitely a bad idea, or cheer her on when she gets a baller new job, share your thoughts and fears about money with your friends. But recognize that everyone’s situation will be different, and that’s okay!

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Your friends can be amazing resources when it comes to personal finance, and even if they don’t have the answers, it’s reassuring to know other people are in the same boat.

Sharing is Caring

Just like you trade skin care tips or give each other a heads up on what bar has the best happy hour deals. Share what you know with your friends — and keep the conversation going!

Talking about money isn’t a short lived fad, like your punk phase in middle school when your entire wardrobe came from Hot Topic, but an ongoing conversation whether you’re 18, 28, or 78.

If you want to get a head start on the conversation (and make your friends think you’re already a personal finance guru), LearnLux can make the whole thing a little less scary.

So bring up the money talk with your girlfriends. It might be awkward at first, but the more you talk about it, the better you’ll feel. Financial literacy isn’t just about knowing things, but feeling comfortable talking about the things that used to scare the crap out of us.

LearnLux

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