The Money Conversations We Need To Have

Money is a common topic of conversation, especially when it comes to things like the cost of living, the classic "who should pay on the first date" debate, Black Tax, etc.

But what about the money conversations that don’t happen as often? The money conversations we (actually) need to have?

We decided to ask: What's one thing you wished was talked about more openly when it comes to money?

Here are the responses:

Kolawole

There are ways to make money, no doubt, but when it comes to information on how to make that money? Crickets.

Even the ones who are supposedly “free giving” with information on how to make money only tell half-truths. You go and do the same thing with the same formula you were told, yet nothing clicks.

Another thing about money people don't love to talk about is feeling a certain way when you see your friends making more money moves than you.  

It’s not that you are jealous or envious in a bad way; it’s just that feeling when you see your friends doing things and making money moves while you feel stuck and are not making progress financially.

People need to talk about that feeling because it is real as hell.

Cassie

One - how to negotiate for higher salaries please. 

Two - how hard budgeting is when there's inflation.

Money is a sore topic for me - between never having enough and always struggling for more.

I wish people could talk more about their complex feelings regarding money—that it's okay to be grateful you can support people but also resentful that you have to. 

I wish more people spoke about money, not just the money context but also what it represents to them. Maybe then we'd be able to unpack the behaviours that money brings out of us.

Jojolola

Personally, I’d like to see more conversations about better loan agreements and how they actually work, with a focus on empowering the average person with the information they need so they don’t fall prey to predatory rates and loan sharks.

Melanie

 I think financial literacy, specifically for women, should be discussed more. I, for one, started learning about investing last year, and I really wish I'd done so sooner. 

Also, learning that the investment space is male-dominated intentionally opened my eyes. 

I'd read "Girls that Invest" by Simran Kaur, and what she's doing is exactly what I want for all women. I'd love women to have freely accessible education in their journey to financial freedom.

LynAnn

I wish people spoke a lot more about how they make their money and how much they make.

There is so much unnecessary secrecy around it. I feel if people shared more about their salaries, others would know if they were being underpaid or how much they could potentially earn. 

Also, how do people make money through investing? People are so secretive about that, and I don't understand. 

I keep thinking about how to invest my money when I stop being poor and get a well-paying job because saving is not enough. I try to look at people making money online and the tips they share because I can’t outrightly ask them about money because it would come across as intrusive. 

Tomisin

A number of people retain their wealth through loans and credit portfolios, but this isn’t really discussed in a wider sense. You only hear about it when the investments and loans when they go bankrupt or can’t pay back. Then, every observer turns into a financial advisor.

I work with process owners, and I see how much a number of salary earners survive on company or cooperative loans. 

Financial advisors discuss these things, but they can only cite samples. 

Sometimes, people learn or understand better when they speak to actual players.

James

You hear people say things like buy shares and buy stocks, but no one specifically says, in certain moments, that now is a good time to invest in Nvidia or Oando.

Well, I can understand the idea of not sharing investment opportunities as most people don't want to be blamed for other people losing their money.

However, many people are mature enough to weigh information and act on it. There is no need to gloss over the information; just share it in detail.

Lily

I want investments, such as stocks and shares, to be discussed more. 

There are multiple ways to keep a steady income aside from work, and a lot of people, more than we think, gatekeep a lot. 

When they do talk about it, they're very vague. Some of them also act like they're better than people who decide not to invest in something they don't understand.

Naz

One thing I wish people talked about more is how much they struggled with money—how difficult it is to get, how many times people had to assist them, their debt, and just struggling in general.

Making, keeping, and having money is not easy at all. I just wished we didn't pretend.