- Klarna research reveals that a third of UK adults (32%) feel too uncomfortable to talk about money with peers, despite 44% worrying regularly about money
- A fifth (21%) have never discussed personal finances with friends or family, with 34% feeling too awkward to bring up the topic
- New data from Klarna coincides with the digital launch of its taboo-breaking and fun Money Talks card game after 16,000 people registered for the original card game
- Accessible to everyone, the game combines questions around money habits with a fun twist to help break the stigma around money
London, 17th February 2022: Klarna, the leading global banking, payments and shopping service that helps consumers save time, money, make informed decisions and manage their cashflow, has today launched the digital version of its successful Money Talks card game to help break down the barriers around money discussions.
New research from Klarna, coinciding with the digital launch of the conversation-starting Money Talks game, highlights the stark number of UK adults avoiding talking about money. It found that over a fifth of adults (21%) have never discussed money with a friend or family member and it doesn’t get any easier as people get older either, with 27% of over 55s admitting to have never discussed money issues with those closest to them.
The research further reveals the top five barriers to discussing personal finances with family and friends. Awkwardness tops the list (34%), closely followed by feeling discussing money would be an invasion of privacy (30%). Other barriers to financial discussion include the potential for making the other person feel uncomfortable (26%), potential for judgment from others (26%) and the pressures of comparing against peers (19%). Only by opening up the conversation in a comfortable and enjoyable environment, can these barriers be broken.
Informed by the Social Vulnerability Scale, which is proven to foster closeness in conversation through mutual vulnerability, Klarna’s Money Talks digital card game seeks to unlock open and honest financial discussions between players in a positive and fun way. With data showing that over two in five of UK adults (44%) worry regularly about money, the game aims to create an inclusive environment to discuss personal finances. Reflecting the Scale, the game comprises three levels and a wildcard round, with each level touching on a different theme including relationships, personal habits, mindsets and financial basics and is accessible to everyone.
Alex Marsh, Head of Klarna UK said: “As the old adage goes: ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’, but too often there are barriers in the way preventing people from discussing financial matters with family and friends. As humans, we’re inclined to bottle up our financial fears for a number of reasons and this new data offers a snapshot of why that is.
Klarna is committed to educating our users about responsible spending and encouraging financial wellness. Following the positive feedback from consumers around the Money Talks card game last year, we wanted to ensure as many people as possible could get their hands on the game so we have now created a digital version in order to spark conversation about money. By launching this digital version of the game, we hope to reach a wider audience and generate greater awareness around the importance of discussing financial matters.``
The digital version of the Money Talks game can be accessed online at www.klarnamoneytalks.com.
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Note to Editors:
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2055 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 20th - 21st January 2022. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).
About Klarna
We make shopping smooth. With Klarna consumers can buy now and pay later, so they can get what they love today. Klarna’s offering to consumers and retailers include payments, social shopping, and personal finances. Over 250,000 retail partners, including H&M, IKEA, Expedia Group, Samsung, ASOS, Peloton, Abercrombie & Fitch, Nike and AliExpress have enabled Klarna’s innovative shopping experience online and in-store. Klarna is one of the most highly valued private fintechs globally with a valuation of $45.6 billion. Klarna was founded in 2005, has over 5,000 employees and is active in 20 countries. For more information, visit klarna.com.
Klarna has been backed by Sequoia Capital since 2010 and more recently, Dragoneer, Bestseller Group, Permira, Visa, Atomico, Ant Group and Silver Lake, HMI Capital, TCV, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Merian Chrysalis Investment Company Limited, funds and accounts managed by BlackRock amongst others.
Press Contact:
George Rogers