Is the taboo on talking about money gone?
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During the past week or so, my husband & I have been asked the following questions:
- Did you refi your house in April?
- Are you using home equity for that?
- Was it expensive?
- Did you get more money?
- Did you get a raise?
And we’ve heard the following comments:
- I’m upside down on my car loan.
- Yeah I got a bad deal on the financing.
- Did you get screwed over on the total amount too, or just the financing? Yeah the total too.
- Oh we used equity so that we could take it off on our taxes.
- A big house means a big mortgage.
What’s interesting to me about these questions and comments is that they all came from acquaintances, and in some cases were mentioned loudly enough for 20-30 people to hear. This whole thing makes me wonder if the taboo of talking publicly about money matters is gone. Although family members, who you might expect to wonder some of those things, haven’t asked.
September 1st, 2007 at 8:49 am
I think maybe debt is becoming fashionable?
Or maybe the taboo about talking about money *generally* is gone, but there is still a taboo on *specific* things like the actual dollar amounts. Or maybe not. But I have noticed an increase lately in people talking about their general debtload.
Things to ponder.