Writing on difficult subjects is always easier with a tea in hand. But I can’t lie to you, its been a hard week, so I have a glass of cheap but surprisingly smooth Tesco finest red wine to help me address the topic of money, and more specifically, why talking about it makes me squirm.
In my 21 years of life thus far, I have found four main topics which, when implemented into a conversation, make people either want to retreat, rant, or over share: Sex, Religion, Politics, and Money.
All are ingrained into our daily lives, yet shrouded in controversy and when spoken about can turn friends into foes and allies into assholes. Money is one of these subjects which, when spoken about, can say an awful lot about one’s character. Your upbringing, social class, views on materialism and consumption can all be expressed in how you talk about those small paper notes or virtual card transactions.
Money is a controversial subject for many reasons, of which I have compiled a list of only a few…
1. Some people want it. Not just want it – CRAVE it. Their thirst and desire for digits sometimes surpasses their need to be a decent human being.
2. Some people need it, but don’t have it. We need money to get by. Food, shelter, clothing – necessities to live a healthy life are largely dependent on it.
3. Some people have too much of it. I don’t think there is a lack of money in the world, it is more a case of an unequal distribution of wealth.
Charities which help to fundraise money to those who are suffering, such as Oxfam, Save the Children and Unicef, often use celebratory figure heads on their adverts to increase its publicity. I find these infuriating to watch. Not only is it arguably patronising, to have those who have money in excess, speaking about those who are without, but it just reminds me of the unequal distribution of money around the world. I know the actresses and musicians who help to support these charities are doing so from a place of compassion, and I don’t hate them for it, but I would be lying if I said it didn’t frustrate me.
I am fortunate that although being from a working-class background, I have a loving and supportive family who have always financially supported me to the best of their ability. I am aware of my privilege and find myself feeling guilty when I would be able to go on school trips or days out, that my peers simply couldn’t afford to. As I am getting older, I am more aware of the financial strain of celebrations like birthdays and Christmas, with the pressure and anxiety they give people to whom money is not so excessively available. The past few years I have tried to make a conscious effort to do more of the following: shop local to help those who are financially dependent on their sales, and to give back more – whether that is to charity or to those around me.
There is so much more I could ramble on about in regards to money, from how it structures our society, depicts our identity and causes family and friendship feuds. But for now I will finish with this – money can sometimes feel like the most important thing in the world. That is until a loved one’s health deteriorates, you lose those close to you, or happiness leaves you much quicker than a bank transaction ever could. Although it helps us in the modern world (from medical bills, housing, social stability…), for me it will never be the most important thing to have. Without sounding too ‘wishy’, your health and happiness are everything. I have to remind myself of this from time to time, and that although money is certainly important, it sure as hell isn’t the only thing of value in our lives.