To ask why money is sometimes quite a taboo subject to talk about with other people?

Because, dear God, it’s dull.

It’s cultural. The idea that talking about money is uncouth and success must be downplayed is a very British* idiosyncrasy.

Actually it’s not just British as there are aspects of it in German culture too. I think a lot of it is to do with Protestantism tbh, the idea that showing wealth is sinful. I really don’t see it in culturally Catholic or Orthodox countries, or indeed the Islamic counties I’m familiar with.

The three most boring things about people: 1) Their weight, 2) Their pronouns, 3) how much money they earn/have.

Not unless it was really difficult to explain something without mentioning it. It’s personal.

Whats difficult to understand about that?

It can create divisions sometimes.

From many threads on here, one sibling earning a lot more than the other, one thread will be from the more affluent sibling feeling put upon because the rest of the family think they should pay for meals or holidays for everyone, or threads from the less affluent sibling complaining that the affluent one will still benefit from parents inheritance and it's not fair.

Best all round to keep it under your hat.

I'm absolutely potless and have no shame in telling people so. But I wouldn't ask someone how much they get paid, how much debt they're in, how much is their mortgage etc. I'd wait for them to share that info if they wished.
People in a similar financial situation to me seem more open in talking about money. I'm guessing rich people also feel more comfortable talking to eachother about their wealth.

It breeds judgement and resentment.

She gets paid ££ for doing that? It is not fair that I only get £ for doing something better/longer/harder etc.
If you spent less on x, you could spend more on y (instead of saying crying poverty/complaining/borrowing money).

I was taught to never talk about sex, money, or politics at the dining table, which is a shame because I think dinner conversation would be much more interesting and I love a good argument.

My family and friends have always been completely open about money. I know how much everyone earns/ savings/ inheritance etc. I don’t understand secrecy, it’s not a big deal.

I always used to earn the least, so found it really interesting talking about different people’s circumstances. Having said that, I now have considerably more than anyone else; amongst my friends nothing has changed, but some of my family are really resentful.

It’s sad because when I was on the other side of the financial scale I was really pleased for those who were doing well, but I don’t think they like the fact that I’m no longer poor. (FWIW money was earnt, not gifted/ inherited/ won.)

Money doesn't define who you are.

It seems arrogant to be constantly talking/obsessive about it.

Invariably at least one person leaves the conversation feeling bad on some level. It could be the person with less money or the person with more. They might be angry, or sad, or embarrassed, or a million other things, but someone won't be enjoying themselves.

I don’t see why people are so curious about it. What does it tell you to know how much people earn?

Because talking about money can seed discontent and it's more trouble than it's worth.

Well house sale prices are freely available so no point being secretive about them.

There are low calibre people out there who will expect you to share / help them if they know you have money.
So easier and better for relationships that they don’t know imo.

That way you can listen to their stories of a broken dishwasher or cost of living crisis or how they don’t earn enough etc and just nod saying ‘oh yeah, jeez, so many people all in the same boat’ etc.

Cultural - it’s not v British. You’re an outlier if you’re comfortable sharing detail. It’s not considered v classy

My DH doesn’t know what he earns ( doesn’t care and not interested) and he has no idea what I earn ( reason as before). I handle all household expenses as he hasn’t a clue.

Because people equate lots of money to success and doing well in life and it’s intertwined with their self esteem so people don’t like to admit when money is tight.
I have to admit that while money is not especially important to me I find it easier to talk about with people that I work with who I know are on similar money so have similar challenges.

I think my answer depends on who you mean by “people”. My close friends & I discuss money how much things are quite openly, I know how much they make and they know how much we make, I know how much their mortgages are and they know how much ours is, we frequently discuss how much our food shops etc are, so with those people there’s no secrecy at all really and we are all totally happy with that.

If we’re talking “people” as in someone I sometimes bump into in our local park or my hairdresser or something though I wouldn’t talk about money openly, so it’s not something I’d share with just anyone.

Other than payroll and my boss, I don't think anyone knows my salary. No one knows my savings or pension. Partner has a rough idea but exact amounts.

It's no one else's business. It's crass to talk about it.

It's also impossible to do so without comparative being drawn and people says you earn too much or too little. Even in here, how many times does someone post about how much or how little they have, it leads to judgement and divisiveness.

Perhaps it's because it can cause difficulties - jealousy, competition, pity, trying to borrow money, feeling that people should pay more than their share because they have more?

My brother in law and my friend are from different countries, one European and one further away. Both have told me they find it really strange how private most British people are about money. They wouldn't think twice about asking someone how much they earn or what they paid for their house.

I'm happy to share these things so their approach suits me!

It’s because our society equates money with “worth”. It’s seen as better to have more or earn more. With a few romanticised exceptions (starving artist or charity volunteer doctor) people give more respect to people with more money and judge those with less.

But why wouldn't you ask them? Would you tell them what you earn?

For most people it falls into the 'none of your business' category, a bit like asking someone who they voted for.

I love chatting about money - I often find it a really interesting subject. I am aware that that's weird, and that most people don't.

(I don't have a lot myself, so it's not that!)

I don't see why people are so secretive and uptight about it.