Disagree about money? The expert’s advice: “Stand on your feet”

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Disagree about money The experts advice Stand on your feet

All people have different views and attitudes towards money. It can differ even in the tightest groups of friends or within the family, and the probability that you will at some point need to settle about money in these contexts is quite high.

From small expenses such as a coffee, to larger dinners or a taxi ride, the topic of conversation about who should pay can feel awkward, and even more so asking loved ones to swish. For one in three Swedes, it is inconvenient to ask for a swish. This is shown by Sifo’s survey, which was produced together with ICA Banken.

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A Swedish behavior – “Fear of conflict”

But why is it so hard to ask for your money back? News24 have talked to Magnus Hjelmér, who is an everyday economist at ICA banken. He believes that it is largely about how one wants, or does not want, to be perceived.

– The Swedes have an ability to want to avoid being perceived as stingy or greedy, he says and continues:

– We also have some kind of consensus culture here and that we should preferably agree. And a split note, for example, you can have slightly different opinions about. Like if you have to divide it outright or if you have to pay your share exactly, and that can lead to disagreements, he says.

Magnus Hjelmér Press picture You should stop doing this

With some people, that particular culture is deeply rooted, and with that in mind, it is perhaps not so strange that money becomes such a complicated topic of conversation that can lead to conflicts.

Hjelmér urges those who find the conversation difficult to simply stop not taking responsibility.

– What I want to send is a bit of encouragement because you can always ask the question. If someone owes you money, you must get it back regardless of the amount. So stand your ground!

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The expert’s 3 tips – do it like this

For a group of six friends where everyone has a different approach to money, as well as different financial conditions, this can feel difficult. How then can we meet in the middle?

Hjelmér shares three tips on how to best avoid the troublesome aftermath of reminding and asking friends to swipe.

  • Split the bill immediately: Solve the Swish situation as soon as possible. The longer time goes by, the harder it gets. If you don’t want to ask for the swish right away, it’s good to resolve it immediately the next day. Or better yet, pay your own share separately, e.g. when visiting a restaurant, you avoid the Swish situation completely.
  • Use an app for shared expenses: On joint trips or other activities where you share several costs, an app that helps with the calculation can make it easier. It makes it clear who owes whom and how much, and you don’t have to “chase” the money yourself.
  • Make your conditions clear from the start: Before a trip, restaurant visit or other activity, be clear about your conditions, tell us if it is important to you that it goes right, and that you are happy to share all costs. Then there will be no ambiguity about what applies and the Swish request need not feel as unpleasant.

    • And remember to take responsibility and stand up for yourself!

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