This Talk Money Week, read our conversation guides around money worries

Talk Money Week (November 3rd–7th), run by Money and Pensions Service, is an annual awareness campaign devoted to encouraging us to be more open about money worries and finances with our loved ones. It can be difficult to talk about money, and difficult to even learn about money management if you live with financial anxiety or feel overwhelmed at dealing with financial matters. Making money matters easily digestible is at the heart of what we do at Mental Health & Money Advice, so we want to encourage you to use our guides to support you in having open conversations about money.  

Why Talk Money Week is important 

Shame around money and financial anxiety are unfortunately common experiences. Research by Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) found that one in three of us (36%) say thinking about our financial situation makes us worried. With the cost-of-living crisis still affecting many of us, it’s important that we feel able to have honest conversations about money without shame. This can help us to develop better relationships with managing money and saving, but also, when we have conversations about money with young people, we can help them to develop positive experiences with money management that will support them through life.  

Talking about money can also help us face difficulties such as debt and financial hardship. Beyond having conversations with our loved ones, organisations such as National Debtline and Citizens’ Advice offer independent advice for everything from seeking benefits to seeking help with debt. If money worries also affect your mental health, you can seek talking therapy such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to tackle fears around money head-on.  

How to start talking about money and money worries

The theme for 2025’s Talk Money Week is ‘Start the Conversation’, so we’re encouraging everyone to have open conversations with others about money and financial anxiety. 

We understand that it’s not easy to talk about money and mental health, particularly if you’re struggling with debt, financial anxiety, or financial abuse. It’s important to start small, with someone you trust. Some ways you can start the conversation around money include: 

• Introduce the concept of savings and budgeting to a child
• Have a short conversation about budgeting with a partner or loved one 
• Talk to a debt professional about your options for dealing with debt 

Talking about debt can feel overwhelming. Many people carry money worries in silence – feeling ashamed, avoiding letters, or dreading the sound of the phone. But you’re not alone in this, and you don’t have to face it on your own. Debt advisors understand how heavy it can feel, and they want you to know they’ve truly heard it all before. No situation will shock them, and there’s never any judgement – just compassion, practical guidance, and a genuine desire to help. 

Advisors always work with your consent and in your best interests. They’ll fight your corner and help you find a realistic way forward. By being open and honest about your situation, you give them the full picture they need to prioritise what matters most for you. It isn’t about quick fixes or magic solutions – it’s about building a path out of debt, step by step, with someone on your side.

For many people, after that first conversation, the panic starts to ease, the knot in your stomach loosens. You begin to see a plan, a pathway, and a future that feels manageable again. Talking about debt might feel like the hardest step, but it’s the one that can transform everything.  

To help you start these conversations, you can use our conversation guides for talking about money. These conversation guides have been produced by Mental Health UK, the UK-wide charity that developed Mental Health and Money Advice. 

Read our conversation guides to support talking about mental health and money below:  

Conversation guide around money and mental health 

Conversation guide with young people about money 

Further Reading

The conversation around money doesn’t stop with Talk Money Week. The Mental Health and Money Advice website has several tools to make managing money easier. Get started with our Budget Planner, a guide to beginning to save money for the things you want in life, and our regular blog about money and mental health.  

We believe in the importance of having genuine conversations about money, debt, and welfare benefits, and the effect they can have on mental health.   

Please share these guides across your networks to encourage others to talk about money and mental health with people they trust using the hashtag #TalkMoneyWeek.