57% of US Parents Say Money Talks With Kids Are Harder Than Sex or Drugs
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · Aug 31
57% of US Parents Say Money Talks With Kids Are Harder Than Sex or Drugs
1 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Aug 31
Summary
A nationwide Acorns survey of 2,000 U.S. parents and children found 57% of parents think discussing money is harder than talking about sex, drugs or alcohol.
One in three parents said they avoid money conversations because of their own finances, past experiences or money habits, underscoring how taboo the subject remains at home.
Debt appears especially fraught: 60% of kids said they know about buy now, pay later, and 30% think using it for groceries is a good financial choice.
Kids are picking up money ideas from YouTube, TikTok, video games and creators; 73% see influencing as a realistic path to wealth, though only 2.8% would trust an influencer to teach finance.
Even so, 85% of children still believe steady saving builds wealth and 91% say doing well in school matters for reaching financial goals.