In some communities, it’s gauche to talk about how much you earn. In others, it’s as natural a question as «What neighborhood do you live in?» I happened to grow up in a community where it is considered bad manners to ask about money. But I sure as heck wish I didn’t. When money rules so much of our lives, we shouldn’t be afraid to talk about it. We should demystify it as much as we can in order to give it less power. 

If we’re all transparent with each other, then it’s easier to do things like ask for a raise or know when someone is taking advantage of you. In so many other areas of life we stress that «communication is key,» but when it comes to money many of us clam up. Maybe we don’t want to risk making others feel bad, and likewise to us. But it’s important to in order to avoid situations like this.