Blokes can be pretty open with each other, when we want to be. Even when we're the butt of the joke: think of all the stories of drunken antics, hurting yourself, falling off things...and that's before we even get to the bedroom. Lads are talking more and more about their mishaps and opening up about their problems, but there is one last taboo: talking about cash.
We always shout our round, even when it's our last quid, because saving face is more important than telling a mate that you're skint. We go out when we don't have the cash to do so, because we don't want people knowing that we can't afford it. It's silly, but we all do it. Well, StepChange are trying to do something about that.
They're launching a campaign to let people know how to get online help with their money worries, without having to have a potentially awkward conversation with someone over the phone. StepChange has been helping people with their debt problems for over 25 years and, according to their research, men are the least likely to come forward and ask for assistance with their finances.
That said, they helped over 45,000 men under the age of 40 between January and June 2019, just over 250 a day, owing close to £600 million between them. That's close to £14,000 per man, too. It's a lot of blokes, needing a lot of help, and StepChange were on hand to give it to them.
This time of year is particularly worrisome for many men as well. Christmas is on the horizon and that means a huge financial outlay, with plenty of people not knowing how they can afford it all. StepChange are there to help you prepare, to manage your money, to control your debts and, eventually, help you lift yourself out of them.
They're not here to judge you, to tell you what to do or lecture you. In fact, if you prefer, you can get personalised advice without talking to anyone at all, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Or, if you feel like you need to talk to someone, you can always pick up the phone to get advice, again - completely confidentially.
You can find them at stepchange.org - so don't just keep your money problems to yourself.