{"id":3405,"date":"2025-10-28T07:57:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-28T07:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ft365.org\/index.php\/2025\/10\/28\/survey-americans-would-rather-discuss-politics-or-religion-than-whats-in-their-bank-accounts-bankrate\/"},"modified":"2025-10-28T07:57:00","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T07:57:00","slug":"survey-americans-would-rather-discuss-politics-or-religion-than-whats-in-their-bank-accounts-bankrate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ft365.org\/index.php\/2025\/10\/28\/survey-americans-would-rather-discuss-politics-or-religion-than-whats-in-their-bank-accounts-bankrate\/","title":{"rendered":"Survey: Americans would rather discuss politics or religion than what\u2019s in their bank accounts | Bankrate"},"content":{"rendered":"
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As millions of Americans head home for the holidays, Bankrate\u2019s latest survey finds that there\u2019s one dinner topic that will likely generate more heartburn than the typical conversation taboos about politics or religion: it\u2019s money.<\/p>\n

The national opinion poll found that about 3 in 5 U.S. adults (61 percent) said they would be uncomfortable talking about their bank account balances with family members or close friends. And other financial subjects like credit card debt or annual salaries don\u2019t spark much enthusiasm either.<\/p>\n

In comparison, Bankrate\u2019s Financial Taboos Survey found that about 1 in 4 were similarly uncomfortable sharing their political (24 percent) views and nearly 1 in 5 were resistant to sharing their religious (18 percent) views.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Talking about money may feel weird, but Christine Benz, director of personal finance and retirement planning at Morningstar, thinks it\u2019s worth it to push through the unease.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor better or worse, money is a key determinant of what we\u2019re able to achieve,\u201d Benz says. \u201cEducation is expensive, and saving for retirement is an increasingly heavy lift as people live longer.\u201d<\/p>\n

More Americans are comfortable discussing politics rather than money<\/h2>\n

Bank account balances aren\u2019t the only awkward topic. Nearly half of U.S. adults said they would be uncomfortable discussing their credit card debt (47 percent) and salary (45 percent).\u00a0<\/p>\n

In comparison, a much smaller portion of Americans say they would be uncomfortable with such sensitive topics as their weight (31 percent), political views (24 percent) and religious views (18 percent). Even one\u2019s love life seems to be less awkward of a topic for some Americans than the state of their bank accounts, with 51 percent of U.S. adults saying they would be uncomfortable discussing matters of the heart with family or close friends<\/p>\n

Americans have consistently expressed this level of aversion to talking about money. In 2024, a similar Bankrate survey found that 38 percent of U.S. adults said they were comfortable talking about their bank account balance, and 52 percent \u2014 about their credit card debt.<\/p>\n

Younger people feel more comfortable with conversations about money<\/h2>\n

The survey found that younger adults were more likely than older generations to feel comfortable talking about money.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of it is generational,\u201d Benz says. \u201cOlder age cohorts were raised in an era when there were simply certain things you didn\u2019t talk about. Salary, for instance, was something you would never divulge, even among friends.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s an attitude that Joseph Mallia, 26, of Toronto, doesn\u2019t share. Mallia, who works in marketing for a fintech company, said he loves talking about investing and saving with his family and peers. Mallia began learning about these subjects at the age of 19 and enjoys encouraging others to do the same.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody has a different perspective and different lifestyle, and some people aren\u2019t fortunate enough to have disposable income to put aside or to invest,\u201d he says. \u201cIn terms of what I\u2019m learning, it\u2019s more just from other [people\u2019s] situations and how they think about money.\u201d<\/p>\n

Women are less comfortable talking about money than men<\/h2>\n

The stigma around money conversations might be especially present among women.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor a good part of the 20th century, many women weren\u2019t working outside the home or equal participants in family financial matters,\u201d Benz says. \u201cThere was this sense that money was something women didn\u2019t discuss, or even that it was impolite for them to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to the survey results, women are less likely to be open to talk about all three money categories.<\/p>\n

Money is a significant source of stress for many women. Forty-five percent of women say money negatively affects their mental health, according to Bankrate\u2019s Money and Mental Health Survey. The discomfort around the topic might further worsen the issue, preventing women from reaching out for advice and seeking solutions.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Yet it\u2019s vital for women to feel part of the conversation, Benz says, both to ask questions and challenge authority. Women face unique challenges in their financial lives, which can include leaving the workforce to care for children or elderly family members. And despite women doing well in terms of starting salaries and educational attainment relative to men, the pay gap persists.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Open, informed discussions about money can help women advocate for themselves and make stronger financial decisions. Thirty-six percent of women said they have never successfully negotiated for a pay raise, compared to 28 percent of men, according to Bankrate\u2019s Financial Habits Survey. More women feeling empowered when talking about money might be exactly the thing to improve these numbers.<\/p>\n

How to learn to talk about money<\/h2>\n

It may be tempting to leave money out of the conversation. It\u2019s a topic that often makes people feel vulnerable and triggers a sense of shame.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The best way to become comfortable with such conversations is to engage in them, Benz says. She recommends finding a group or community where people discuss financial subjects. Whether it\u2019s a group like the Bogleheads that talks about investing or a Facebook page where people share their debt journeys, it can be a good place to start.<\/p>\n

\u201cPractice really helps,\u201d Benz says. \u201cThe more you engage in financial matters \u2014 reading, joining a community where people actively talk about money \u2014 the more confident you\u2019ll become.\u201d<\/p>\n