We have family-approved finance topics for your upcoming holiday gatherings.
Personal finance is a triggering topic for many families, especially if it’s the topic of discussion during family dinner. Festive gatherings—intended to bring people together—can quickly become the backdrop for Grinchy behavior when money enters the conversation. But with some creative questions (and mindful boundary-setting), finance doesn’t have to be a polarizing subject.
Here are six financial topics you can safely steer towards if you don’t want your great uncle or next-door neighbor giving you the side-eye during dinner.
Personal finance wins
Financial topics don’t always have to be stressful. In fact, there are plenty of reasons to celebrate your personal financial wins. Did someone in the family receive a promotion at work or a scholarship in 2022? Did you pay off your car loan or celebrate your child’s lucrative lemonade stand profits? It’s easy to associate finance with stressful periods in our life, but we should also acknowledge and celebrate our positive money milestones.
Gift gab
Americans, on average, spend around $998 on gifts and holiday-related purchases. But with inflation impacting everyone in 2022, gifts can be a tricky financial topic. Keep the focus on meaningful gifting versus big-ticket item comparisons. “What is the most memorable gift you’ve ever received?” or “What is the funniest gift you’ve ever given?” are fun financial topics to use as conversation starters.
Gratitude
The holidays are an ideal time to take inventory of your helpers and mentors. Who offered their support in 2022 during a financial hardship? How did someone in your family exhibit resourcefulness when it came to solving a money-related hurdle? Consider how you feel when your helpful gestures are acknowledged and pay it forward.
Lessons learned
Are there grandparents visiting this season? Ask them what their landscape looked like when they were new homeowners or new parents. What financial advice would they have imparted to their younger selves? And could you benefit from their wisdom now?
Cool tools
63% of smartphone users have at least one financial app. Ask your family what resources they rely on for budgeting, investments, and savings. From financial literacy apps like Zogo that rewards you for learning to video banking convenience with Clearview Live®, financial tools are streamlining the way people navigate their personal finances.
New Year’s resolutions
With 2023 quickly approaching, spend a little time talking about your personal finance goals. Maybe this will be the year you explore the idea of buying your first home and apply for a mortgage. Or maybe you’ll trim frivolous expenses and update your budget with our Money Management tool. There’s power in putting your intentions out there, even if you haven’t mapped all the groundwork.
Holiday Helpers
If talking about money during the holidays feels stressful, reach out. Our partner, GreenPath, provides caring Financial Wellness Experts to assist in assessing your financial situation.
GreenPath Financial Wellness works with thousands of people each month to pay off debt, improve credit, and lead a financially healthy life. It all starts with a conversation and a customized action plan that will allow you to work towards your specific goals.
This article is shared by our partners at GreenPath Financial Wellness, a trusted national non-profit.