Money is very much taboo. And it’s a hard taboo to break.

I’m trying to teach my kids some of my money “values”. (saving early to capture compounding, saving for long term goals, paying down debt will give you more cash flow later since you won’t need to service the debt, etc.) It’s hard to have these discussions without getting into specific examples. Yet it’s ingrained culturally that you don’t tell ANYONE, even your kids, what your income or net worth is.

My husband is dealing with the finances of his aging mom. She has years of paranoid asset hiding that he’s trying to unravel and uncover. The taboo about money is directly impacting his ability to settle his dad’s estate and get her affairs ordered. If she hadn’t felt so strongly about “money is private” then it would be easier.

At work, you’re not allowed to know what others make. This wasn’t the case when I first started out. It gave me aspirational goals – Hey – if I work for 5 more years – I’ll be making close to double what I’m making as an engineering intern – I could buy a house!!! Now – NO ONE talks about salary. This is imposed by management because they want us all competing with each other – not encouraging each other.

On the end of life issues – very taboo. And you need to consider the case of physical health but cognitive issues. (aka dementia.) Have a plan for that – tell your kids, siblings, trusted people.

Other taboos. Politics is taboo in many circles.
Religion (or lack thereof) is taboo in many circles.

I’ll be a taboo breaker here –

This week I retired. (If I live cheap, I’m done working forever.)
The week before I paid off my mortgage. (Public record anyway).
I’m a lefty liberal for social issues, fairly conservative for fiscal issues.
I’m agnostic.
I have advanced directives and a written plan for dementia.