Money. We spend it, stress about it, and plan our whole lives around it, yet for most families, it remains almost entirely off the table as a conversation topic.
Not in an obvious way. There’s no rule against it. It’s more of an unspoken thing: a topic that gets skirted around at dinner, avoided between partners, and almost never brought up with the kids. Research consistently shows that parents are more comfortable talking to their children about drugs and alcohol than they are about personal finance. Think about that for a moment.
This is exactly what Global Money Week – the OECD’s annual worldwide campaign – wants to change in 2026. This year’s theme is “Smart Money Talks”, and the message is simple: the more openly we talk about money at home, the better equipped the next generation will be to handle it.
So why don’t we? And more practically, how do you actually start?
The taboo runs deep
For many of us, the reluctance to talk about money comes from childhood. If your parents didn’t discuss finances openly, you probably absorbed the message that money is private, complicated, or even a little shameful.
Add to that the social pressure to keep up appearances, and it’s no wonder most households operate in a kind of financial silence, with each person managing their own bits, nobody really knowing the full picture.
The irony is that this silence creates the exact anxiety it’s trying to avoid. When money is mysterious, it becomes scary. When kids don’t learn about it at home, they have to figure it out alone, often the hard way.
What “talking about money” actually looks like
It doesn’t mean putting your bank statements on the kitchen table or debating your mortgage over breakfast. It means small, regular, age-appropriate conversations that make money a normal part of family life.
Things like:
- Explaining to a 7-year-old why you’ve chosen the supermarket’s own-brand cereal this week
- Showing a teenager your electricity bill and asking them what they think you could do differently
- Having an honest conversation with your partner about what you’re each hoping for financially in the next five years
- Talking through what a student loan actually means before your 17-year-old applies for one
None of these conversations need to be long. They just need to happen.
How to get started without it feeling awkward
Start with goals, not numbers. Numbers can feel exposing. Goals feel positive and forward-looking. Ask your kids what they’d like to save for. Ask your partner what financial freedom looks like to them. This opens the door without anyone feeling put on the spot.
Use real moments. When something happens like a bill arriving, you make a big purchase or you’re deciding on a holiday – these are natural openings. You don’t need to schedule a family finance meeting (though those can work too).
Be honest about mistakes. Nothing teaches kids more about money than hearing you say “we got that wrong and here’s what we learned.” It normalises imperfection and models the kind of reflective thinking that actually builds good habits.
Ask questions more than you give answers. “What do you think we should do?” goes a long way. It builds critical thinking and makes kids feel involved rather than lectured.
The bigger picture
When money stops being a taboo topic in your home, something shifts. Financial decisions become more collaborative. Kids grow up with confidence rather than anxiety around money. And the whole family ends up on the same page… not because everyone agrees on everything, but because everyone actually knows what’s going on.
That’s what Smart Money Talks is really about. Not perfecting your finances overnight. Just opening the conversation.
This Global Money Week, join millions of people around the world committing to do exactly that. Find out more at globalmoneyweek.org.
Know Your Dosh is proud to support Global Money Week 2026. #GMW2026 #SmartMoneyTalks #GlobalMoneyWeek2026 #LearnSaveEarn
