I'm Asking: Did Your Parents Discuss Money in Your Presence?

September 14, 2008

Between the incredible wardrobe and makeup, throwback office scenes, and complex drama, Mad Men is one show that has me hooked and I can't wait for tonight's episode. Last week's episode included a Draper family picnic scene where young Sally asks her mommy if they are rich. Betty tells her daughter that it's impolite to talk about money, period. Did your parents ever discuss money matters in your presence or did they keep it a mostly private topic?

Photo courtesy of AMC

22 Comments

thelorax 4 years 35 weeks

umm...why was my comment flagged?

thelorax 4 years 35 weeks

Oh yeah, I remember that as soon as I'd learned basic arithmetic, my dad would sit me down and show me his paycheck, the bills, etc. and taught me how to work out a budget. I learned amortization tables when I was like 8.

baybug 4 years 35 weeks

I gave it some thought, but I really can not remember. I knew there were some rough spots, but I don't ever remember them saying anything to me verbally

graylen 4 years 35 weeks

My parents would never tell me how much they made. I still don't know. However, they did try to teach us about budgeting/saving.

SugarKat 4 years 35 weeks

However, my in-laws talk about it all the time. They have lots of money. Lucky (or maybe luck has nothing to do with it.) them. They get embarrassed when I discuss SEX and I get embarrassed when they flaunt how much money they have around.

SugarKat 4 years 35 weeks

Not as much as SEX, but it was discussed. My parent's never had money, but they did try to teach us the value of a dollar.

SillyGirl 4 years 35 weeks

My parents wouldnt talk about money (how much they made or what things cost specifically). But they would talk about the "value" of things. Education = good value (no matter how much it costs). Fancy car - not good value cause you could buy a car that does all the same things for less money. So they compared things to describe value as opposed to talking about what they could afford.

ilanac13 4 years 35 weeks

my parents never spoke about money while we were around - at least not intentionally but there were time when we were struggling a bit and we all knew about it then. it's hard when you're a child and you're trying to grasp what's going on around you.i liked how in last night's episode though, they talked about the position of the wife and how she was the target demo for the beer since she was wealthy (i think that's part of how they put it). at least you know that they were buying into that a long time ago as well. it's defnitely interesting for me to watch this show since i work in the same industry now and there are the SAME things going on today as were in that time period.

ilanac13 4 years 35 weeks

my parents never spoke about money while we were around - at least not intentionally but there were time when we were struggling a bit and we all knew about it then. it's hard when you're a child and you're trying to grasp what's going on around you. i liked how in last night's episode though, they talked about the position of the wife and how she was the target demo for the beer since she was wealthy (i think that's part of how they put it). at least you know that they were buying into that a long time ago as well. it's defnitely interesting for me to watch this show since i work in the same industry now and there are the SAME things going on today as were in that time period.

HeidiMD 4 years 35 weeks

My dad was very careful about simply telling us "no" without saying that it was because he couldn't afford something, but that was about it. Our money (or lack thereof) growing up was kind an unspoken truth among my brother, my dad and I.

bigestivediscuit 4 years 35 weeks

ALLLLLLWAAAYYYS. That's why I'm totally paranoid about my finances and budgeting and my financial future! Although they paid for ridiculously expensive art, music and ballet lessons for me - I always knew exactly how much they were spending on me and I was also made aware of how much our bills cost. It wasn't to make me or my brother feel guilty, but just to let us know how hard they were working to support us and to give us the privileged lives we had. I like to think that my mom's savvy money-saving and spending techniques have molded me into the financially responsible adult I am today. Though I still need a lot of help - hence the reason why I visit this site daily.

karen zoo 4 years 35 weeks

Not if they could help it, and they always hid the fact that I might not get something I wanted because we couldn't afford it. Now that I'm older I resent that ... I think it made me a little ignorant money-wise, perhaps a little ungrateful, though I understand they didn't want to worry me with money matters whilst I was a child. Still, had they talked about it openly I think I would have been more career ambitious ... or maybe I'm just blaming my parents for my own lack of motivation!!

chocolatine 4 years 35 weeks

Yes, ever since I can remember. I grew up in the former Soviet Union, so there was a lot of talk about the dollar and the black market. I used to think that the black market was an actual marketplace where all stalls are black.My dad also tried to explain the stock market to me when I was 8 or 9, but I didn't understand much at the time.

chocolatine 4 years 35 weeks

Yes, ever since I can remember. I grew up in the former Soviet Union, so there was a lot of talk about the dollar and the black market. I used to think that the black market was an actual marketplace where all stalls are black. My dad also tried to explain the stock market to me when I was 8 or 9, but I didn't understand much at the time.

Mesayme 4 years 35 weeks

No way, I grew up with my grandmother and her policy was Don't ask, cause I'm not telling. I blame my bad credit on her solely. (JK..sort of)

JaeB 4 years 35 weeks

It was always out there, as a topic and something we were actively dealing with, and therefore it was never a big deal. It was just something I was aware of as a kid, so I understood what it meant for us at particular times, and how it would change our life and daily routines. I think it was good, to know if something had to be different for awhile, why that was. It would have been more dramatic and weird without the easiest explanation ever: "money".

valancyjane 4 years 35 weeks

My parents were very frugal; the only time money came up was when Mom would say something was too expensive. What she meant was, it cost more than she wanted to pay; but I thought she meant we couldn't afford it. So I thought we were poor; because if you had the money to buy a VCR or go to Disney World, why wouldn't you? Ah, 7-year-olds' logic ... I appreciate the things that their frugality gave us -- I knew that I could go to college, I knew there would always be enough money for necessities -- but I think I came out of it with a skewed view on things. I plan to be a bit more open with our kids -- about our own situation and about how money/credit/etc. works.

bluepuppybites 4 years 35 weeks

More than I'd like to remember.

bellaressa 4 years 35 weeks

No, money was never discussed or lack of. I just knew not to ask.

facin8me 4 years 35 weeks

How are kids supposed to learn about budgets and finances if parents keep it all private? My parents were very open with money when I was little, but they made it very clear that it was private within the family and I was never to discuss anything with my friends or anything like that.

facin8me 4 years 35 weeks