Planning trips, going out to eat or arranging a group gift with friends should be fun. You have so many ideas and everyone gets excited… until it comes to money. Who pays what? Who owes whom money? It's such a topic that a good plan can easily turn into a slightly awkward moment. The unwritten social rule is: don’t talk about money with friends — but sometimes it’s necessary, and you don't know what to say.

In reality, open, honest conversations about money can actually strengthen your friendship. It doesn’t have to be a challenge that keeps you awake at night while you reflect on all the social blunders of the day.

So how can you talk about money without it becoming too uncomfortable?

1. Start early, not late

• “Hey everyone, before we get too excited about the trip: shall we roughly determine how much we want to spend, so no one gets stressed later on?”

The sooner you bring up money, the smoother everything goes. Discuss how you will share costs before you book a trip or plan a dinner. This way, everyone knows what to expect — no surprises, no awkwardness. It’s much easier to talk about money when you're still happy about the plan than when someone has already paid the bill.

Money issues often come down to one thing: miscommunication. Agree in advance on how you will share the costs — for example, equally, or based on who participates in which activities. When everything is transparent, everyone feels involved and respected.

2. Be open about boundaries

• “I’m totally up for meeting later, but can we set a budget cap first? I don’t want to be the person who can’t afford the expensive alternative at the last minute.”

Everyone’s budget looks different, especially for students and young professionals. If someone can’t afford something, that’s okay; it shouldn’t get in the way of your fun. Encourage your group to be open about what feels comfortable to spend.

You’ll find that planning something smaller together is much better than one person silently stressing about the costs. Setting two budgets for the group’s expenses — one individual and one collective — can be a good idea.

3. Use tools that take the pressure off

• “Let’s create a monthly pot so that no one has to cover costs alone. Then we'll have a little fund ready for anything fun that comes up.”

Chasing up payments or keeping track in your head of who owes what quickly causes unnecessary tension. Instead, use a pot to create a shared fund for your group — for meals, trips or gifts. Everyone can contribute what they owe in one place, and you all can clearly see the balance. No more awkward reminders and no doubt about who has already paid.

Honesty is the foundation of trust. With a pot, everyone can see the total amount, contributions, and progress towards the goal. That visibility is not only useful — it makes managing money straightforward, coordinated and even satisfying.

• “Shall we set up a shared pot for next time? That makes planning so much easier.”

Talking about money doesn’t have to feel heavy or awkward. It’s just a part of taking good care of your friendships — being honest, considerate, and fair. Let the pot handle the practical side, so you can focus on what truly matters: enjoying the moments you’ve planned together.