7 Reasons Why It's So Hard to Talk About Debt

Posted on 7 October, 2022 by Eliza Garcia

Talking about debt is hard. At first, it's not even that you have a lot of debt. That would be manageable if only your credit wasn’t so bad, or if you had a steady job, or if your partner didn’t insist on splurging on trips and gifts for everyone but you instead. The truth is that most of us have some sort of debt in our lives – car loans, student loans, mortgages – and when we don’t pay them off slowly over time, they can feel like chains around our necks. It may be difficult to recognize just how much debt you have until you look at your balance sheet rather than the cash in your wallet right now.

But difficulty isn’t the only reason why it’s difficult to talk about debt. Here are seven other reasons why it feels so hard to discuss your financial issues with friends and family.

It's Not Easy To Talk About Money.

You may be able to talk about your hangovers, what color your socks are, or even how you feel when you are down, but talking about finances tends to be a lot more complicated. It can feel like a massive minefield of awkwardness that can make you feel like you’re about to say something wrong about yourself.

Add to this the fact that there are standards of what you are supposed to discuss, and it’s not surprising that many people don’t feel confident enough to open up about their money choices. Your friends and family may not know how to help you with your debt, but they can offer you another kind of support: by helping you talk about money.

You’re Ashamed of Your Debt.

No matter how many times you explain that you’re not a bad person, it’s difficult to get your friends and family over the fact that you have debt. Being ashamed of your debt makes it difficult to discuss it, because you don’t want to have to explain yourself. If you’re shamed by your debt, you may feel weird showing people the evidence. You might not even want to admit that you have a problem.

It Feels Like an Insurmountable Challenge.

Debt seems like a huge, complex challenge that you may never be able to tackle. Nobody wants to think about their debt at the moment, because it feels like a hopeless task that may never end. It takes an inordinate amount of effort to tackle debt, and you may be convinced that you simply don’t have the energy or desire to work on your debt. Perhaps you can’t even bring yourself to think about how much you owe until it’s too late.

There’s No One to Talk to At the Moment.

You may be able to talk to your partner about your finances, but if you don’t have a steady job, or if you’re dealing with financial difficulties of your own, there’s a good chance that your partner isn’t able to help you with your debt problem either. This means that you have to find a way to talk about your finances, even if you don’t want to. The first step is to find a friend or family member who can listen without judging you.

You blame Yourself for How Bad Things Are.

If you feel like you’re to blame for how bad things are – that you just couldn’t manage your money better – you won’t feel like you can change things. It’s not helpful to blame yourself when you’re struggling to pay off debt, but it’s also not uncommon.

If you’ve been struggling with debt for a while now, it may feel like you’ve just got to “get over it.” It’s not helpful to feel like you’ve got to pay off your debt, but it’s also not uncommon.

Nobody is Willing to Believe You When You Say There’s a Problem.

If your friends and family don’t believe you when you say that you have a problem with debt, you won’t either. It can be helpful to find a friend or family member who is willing to listen to you and help you work out.

How you can pay off your debt faster. You can get advice from a debt counselor, a financial advisor, or even a family member who is willing to listen to you.

Talking About Debt Doesn’t Feel Safe or Productive.

When you feel unsafe and unproductive in talking about your debt, you won’t be able to make progress. It’s important to feel safe and productive when you’re working on debt, so that you don’t end up putting yourself in danger or wasting a lot of time. You can start to feel safer by finding a friend or family member who can listen to you and offer advice without judging you.

How Payday Loan Can help

If you’re struggling to talk about your financial issues, payday loans online no credit check instant approval can be a great way to get the help you need when you don’t know who to talk to. With this type of loan, you pay back the amount borrowed over a short period of time, such as a few weeks. This way, you don’t need to deal with the complex issue of talking to your friends and family, who may not be willing or able to help you.

The Bottom Line

Debt is hard to talk about, even when it’s your own. It can feel like there’s nothing you can do about it and that you’re just going to have to deal with it for now. This doesn’t have to be the case. You don’t have to feel ashamed about your debt, and you don’t have to do it alone. Put some effort into talking about it, and you’ll be surprised at how much easier it is.