Let's Normalize Being Broke Friends Together

"I'd rather see you broke than not see you at all."

"I was too ashamed and in too much financial depression to admit that the reason I couldn't go get coffee was because I had negative $25 in my bank account at any given day - and that was a good day."

"being broke is not a personal failing; it's a systemic one, and it is not a reason to eliminate yourself from connection and from access to your community."

"We don't have to go to dinner, we don't have to get wine, we don't have to go shopping - let's go on a walk, "Come over to my house; we'll share a broke charcuterie of American cheese and Ritz crackers.""

Financial struggle often produces shame and social withdrawal, causing people to skip outings they cannot afford and appear flaky. Many people hide negative bank balances and feel embarrassed to explain why they cannot join friends. Economic precarity is frequently systemic rather than a personal failing, and social connection becomes more important during financial depression. Accessible, low-cost social options — walks, home hangouts, shared simple snacks, or homemade meals — can preserve community access and reduce isolation. Openness about money and intentional, inexpensive gatherings help sustain friendships and alleviate loneliness during financial strain.

Read at Scary Mommy