Do you talk about money?

WITH people all over the country feeling the pinch, have attitudes to talking about money changed? Is personal finance still a taboo subject?

Jean-Marc Douat
63, retired bank worker

Money, as in my own personal finances, is not a subject that I discuss openly. I worked in a bank and even there colleagues only spoke about it if we hadn’t had a pay rise, but figures weren’t mentioned. Of course I talk about my finances with my wife but even with my children it has always been limited to how much holidays cost or whether we could afford a new television. I don’t really like people that constantly talk about how much things cost them, for me it’s a lack of tact towards other less fortunate people. I prefer people that are rich in conversation not in cash.

Anne-Sophie Vidau
24, looking for work after finishing a masters degree

I don’t mind talking about money with people who have money but with those who don’t it’s more awkward. In that case I prefer to talk about how to manage money. Both myself and my partner Laurent don’t mind talking about money if the subject is brought up, be it salary, debts we have or available money for little luxuries.

We find it very interesting to exchange opinions and experiences on the matter. However when you talk about money you need to have a calm and relaxed atmosphere so really we only discuss it at a meal or during an evening with friends.

Carole Michel
37, secretary

I don’t think money is as taboo a subject as it used to be. Having said that I think people who earn small salaries talk about money and their financial situation easier than those who earn a lot. I generally tend to talk about money with close friends and family. It’s always coming up in conversation.

We talk about the cost of living, salaries that aren’t high enough to make ends meet, the fact we don’t have much spare at the end of the month to be able to go out. However if someone I barely knew asked me how much I earned I wouldn’t tell them until I got to know them a lot better.

Brigitte Aymard
46, midwife

I will talk about money to anyone who asks me about it – it isn’t taboo for me. I do think it is very important to talk to my pre-adolescent children about it as it is necessary that they start to understand money and what it represents. So, yes, they know how much their father and I earn, the price we paid for our house and how long it took us to pay off the mortgage. I’m not sure all families are as open as we are. Having said that I cannot bring myself to question others about their finances so in conclusion I’d say that I haven’t completely resolved all of my taboos about this very complex subject.

Arthur Pinon
22, student

Whatever people say, talking about money is still a taboo subject in France especially for those that have inherited money. When I work in my parents’ shop I see it with clients – those that have money are almost embarrassed to show it and will wait for other people to leave the shop before buying a lot of things just so people don’t see that they can afford it. I don’t really talk about money, I don’t want to have to justify how little or much I have – for me it’s a private matter.