That said, none of my friends talk about income. We discuss PT/FT work, but I have no idea what they make. Well, I have a very general idea. And none of them are hurting for money.

On the other hand, Tim and I are struggling right now. So I do talk about money on my site. Well, I mean exact amounts of money. And in talking to friends, it does sometimes come up these days. Mostly if I feel like something needs to be put in context.

I think money is too loaded a subject for most people to broach. Frankly, while I might be a tad envious, I don’t care if my friends make a ton of money. They work hard, and, by and large, they spend wisely.

Honestly, I think we all need to be a little more open about salary — just not with people we work with. I grew up having no idea what my parents made. I think I asked my mom once and she sort of brushed me off. I know for a fact she’d never answer others who asked what she made. (“Oh the usual: A little less than I think I’m worth and a little more than they think I’m worth.” It’s a great deflection technique.)

But money has so much emotion tied to it, it’s an explosive subject. If you try to advise a friend who is a spender and constantly in debt, you get resentment. If you say nothing, you get to hear about their woes. But no one will talk hard numbers, because somehow it’s tacky. I think we’re secretly all afraid of two things: 1. We’ll make a lot more and our friends will get distant and angry; 2. We’ll make less than our friends and we’ll wonder why they’re worth more.