Because discussing money makes me feel extremely awkward, it took me two years to even pitch this article idea to my editors. But since my friends and I will be starting our full-time jobs soon, we have been openly discussing starting salaries and stock options. Our conversations have made me realize that money doesn’t have to be, and shouldn’t be, an uncomfortable topic.

While my parents and I have always had very open conversations about money, I felt like I couldn’t have the same conversations with my extended family, let alone my friends. 

Perhaps it was because there are so many social stigmas associated with money: you don’t want to seem poor if you make less money, or if you make too much, you don’t want to seem like a show-off or attract the evil eye that will cause misfortune. Or perhaps, I just grew up in a bubble, surrounded by people from the same socioeconomic class, and these conversations just never seemed relevant.

I carried this awkwardness and lack of experience into college. On some occasions, I felt backed into a corner where, had I had an honest conversation about money, I would have avoided overspending out of embarrassment or peer pressure. 

For instance, if my friends and I had openly discussed our budgets for a birthday gift, I wouldn’t have stretched beyond what I was comfortable with. Similarly, I could have suggested splitting the restaurant bill in a way that reflected what each person actually ordered, rather than quietly paying for someone else’s cocktail while I sipped a glass of water.

I do take solace in knowing that I’m not the only one who feels uneasy in these situations. According to a 2025 survey from Bankrate, 45% of Americans are uncomfortable discussing their salary and are statistically more comfortable discussing other contentious topics, including their weight, political opinions or religious views. 

But people being uncomfortable discussing money being a widespread problem doesn’t make it any less important to have these conversations. As college students who plan group trips and activities, it’s important that we don’t price-gate any friend or push them to overspend. 

According to USC’s class of 2029 profile, almost two-thirds of students received some sort of financial aid, and the rest paid full tuition. Thus, we are surrounded by people from diverse financial backgrounds, making conversations about money a necessity.

Even beyond group trips or splitting meals, having conversations about money can help you make smarter financial decisions. For example, you can find out if you are being paid a competitive salary compared to your peers and negotiate a raise if needed, learn from bad investments or financial mistakes that others have made, become more comfortable expressing your financial boundaries, or learn how to budget so you feel less stressed about money. 

Despite understanding all of these benefits, I still struggled with initiating these conversations. But, as we grew older and became better at expressing our concerns, my friends started taking specific steps while having a conversation about money, which made me feel comfortable participating in them. 

Firstly, they were honest about their own budgets and spending limits, whether that meant saying they were cutting back after eating out too much the previous week or that they felt comfortable spending a bit more after receiving a tax refund. Their transparency made money feel like a normal topic rather than a sensitive one, which encouraged me to reciprocate.

Secondly, they set clear boundaries in group settings. On a recent trip, a friend stated her budget upfront and then asked everyone else to share theirs, rather than assuming we were all aligned, which helped avoid any pressure later on. 

The way they asked also mattered. Often, my friends used phrases like “What is everyone comfortable with?” or “This is my preferred budget. What does everyone else think?,” which gave everyone a chance to speak up. 

Lastly, they weren’t scared to ask questions when they were unsure. A friend openly admitted they didn’t know how to start investing, which was a question I was struggling with myself. But their speaking up helped us have a productive conversation where we could share ideas and learn together. 

As we become more financially independent, the stakes become even higher. Having open conversations about money with our peers is essential to help us avoid unnecessary stress, become more informed and grow together. 

Edhita Singhal is a senior writing about life lessons she has learned in college in her column, “Thinking Out Loud,” which runs every other Monday.