Old Rule:

Don’t talk about money. It’s tacky. It’s rude. It’s unladylike.

I grew up with all the mixed messages about money. Work hard, but don’t brag about what you make. Save, but don’t talk about what things cost. Want to be successful, but don’t let anyone catch you wanting too much.

Money was this strange, loaded subject that seemed to be everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Men could talk about their salaries, their investments, their deals. Women? We were taught to whisper about coupons or sales, but not about what we charged or earned.

So for years, I avoided the subject too. I underpriced my work because “I didn’t want to be greedy.” I offered discounts no one asked for. I stayed quiet when someone told me I was “too expensive,” as if their opinion was fact and not simply… their budget.

How We Show Up Quiet About Money

When we’re following the Don’t Talk About Money rule, it looks like:

• Whispering your prices instead of saying them with confidence
• Dodging the conversation when someone asks what you charge
• Adding a quick “but I can give you a discount” before a client even reacts
• Apologizing for raising your rates
• Pretending you “don’t care about money” when, really, you’re lying awake at night worrying about bills
• Feeling uncomfortable when another woman shares her success instead of celebrating her
• Accepting the first offer on the table without negotiating, because you don’t want to be “difficult”

Sound familiar? These small habits add up. And they quietly train everyone around us to undervalue what we bring to the table.

Why This Rule Doesn’t Work for Us

Money is one of the most powerful tools we have for freedom, choice, and impact. But when women don’t talk about it, we stay stuck.

We play small with our pricing.
We burn out because we’re over-giving and under-earning.
We quietly resent clients who get the best of us for half the rate.
We rob ourselves of the security, opportunities, and breathing room that money can provide.

And honestly, the silence keeps us isolated. When men swap numbers, they learn the going rates and negotiate up. When women stay quiet, we accept less than we’re worth—over and over again.

I had to learn this the hard way. I still remember the first time I quoted a price that made me sweat. My voice shook. My palms were damp. And then the client said yes—without hesitation. That moment cracked something open in me. I realized: I’d been undervaluing myself for years, and no one was going to come along and fix it but me.

The Rewritten Rule: We Talk About Money

Talk about money. Out loud. Without apology.

Money is not dirty. It’s not shameful. It’s neutral—a tool, a resource, a reflection of value exchanged. When we talk about it, we normalize it. When we claim it, we open the door for others to do the same.

That doesn’t mean telling strangers your bank balance. It means:

• Being transparent about your rates
• Saying your prices out loud without wincing
• Asking for raises, bigger budgets, and fair compensation
• Talking openly with trusted friends and peers about what things really cost and what they really pay

Because here’s the truth: silence serves the system, not us.

How To Start Talking About Money

In an hour: Practice saying your rates out loud in the mirror until you can do it without cringing.
In a day: Share one money win with a friend you trust.
In a week: Compare notes with a peer about pricing—it will feel awkward at first, but the clarity is worth it.
In a year: Normalize money conversations in your business, your family, your friendships. Make it a language you speak fluently, not something you tiptoe around.

Your Turn

Have you ever caught yourself whispering about money—or avoiding the topic altogether? Tell me in the comments.

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