Third Of Britons Think 'Financial Chat Is Rude'

People in the UK are known for their stereotypical fear of having their ‘dirty laundry’ in public. We, as a nation, tend to be taciturn and close mouthed about personal matters and it seems this is true when discussing money matters.

The majority of people in the UK believe that money is a personal subject that should not be discussed, new research shows. According to a leading online financial advice website, Britons like to keep their mouths closed when it comes to their finances.

Some one in six people are embarrassed by their debt whether this is accrued through store cards, personal loans or other means, while around 13 percent believe that they might be judged based on their level of wealth, the firm added. Furthermore, one in three Britons feel uncomfortable when disclosing the size of their salary and just under a third state that such talk is “downright rude”.

However, men appear to be the most confident in terms of discussing money. Just over one in ten of males are happy to talk about their financial situation, in comparison to just four per cent of women. Meanwhile, residents from the south-east of England and the Yorkshire and Humber region are most willing to speak about fiscal matters. On the other hand, those from London are the least prepared to do so as less than half of people from the capital are happy to discuss loans, savings and other economic matters.

Head of Personal Finance at the company commented " It’s a shame that when it comes to money, Brits are still stuck in the dark ages, too proud to talk about their financial situation which conforms to the typical British stereotype. Talking openly about money, especially with close friends and family has many benefits. Money matters can often spiral out of control if you don’t seek advice from others," said the expert.

It seems we should be talking about money as research from money charity Credit Action has revealed that the UK currently harbours a personal debt mountain of £1.3 trillion.

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