What is financial enmeshment?

Financial enmeshment occurs when parents share far too much financial information and anxiety with their children. As Jordan Harbinger explains, this often involves parents involving their kids in financial stress or crises, which can be developmentally inappropriate. 1

Key aspects include:

• Over-sharing financial difficulties, like job loss or debt problems.
• Using children as emotional support or therapists for financial issues.
• Transferring anxiety and fear about money to kids, which can lead to long-lasting financial anxiety in adulthood.

Instead of sharing excessive details, it's crucial to communicate about money in a way that's appropriate for the child's developmental stage, teaching them about financial management without burdening them with adult stresses. 1