Follow these tips to master the awkward financial talk

Money, it’s a gas. Unless you need to borrow some from your parents. Then it’s a conversation many adults will avoid at all costs, even if it means paying for groceries with couch nickels.

That’s not the only money conversation we avoid. More than 60% of millennials have never asked for a raise, largely because they don’t feel comfortable doing so, according to the salary data site Payscale.

Avoiding these conversations often yields worse results than simply facing them head on. These tips will help you get through tough money talks, such as asking your parents for money or negotiating your salary.

Even bonafide adults

Asking your parents for money:

need help from the bank of mom and dad sometimes. In fact, 70% of young adults (ages 18 to 34) received financial support from their parents in the past year, according to a 2018 survey by Merrill Lynch.

Asking your parents for money can be humbling, but swallowing your pride is better than letting your car insurance lapse. Here’s how to approach the conversation.

• Be specific. Tell your parents where you could use their help, whether it’s covering some (or all) of your rent, paying your car insurance or buying groceries. Say upfront if you need ongoing help, rather than going back to them each month for more money.

• Own your mistakes. This will play better than blaming other people or circumstances, says Nathaniel Ivers, an associate professor in the department of counseling at

Wake Forest University.

• Present a plan. Create a budget to show your parents that you are trying to get your finances under control. Ask for their input and avoid getting defensive if they scrutinize your spending.

Negotiating salary: Your salary serves as the basis for future raises and job offers. Here’s how to approach the conversation.

• Research industry salary. Use sites such as Glassdoor to research salaries by city and company and ask people in your network what someone with your experience can expect to earn. If you’re comfortable, talk to current coworkers about their compensation.

• Bring a list of wins. Come to the conversation armed with tangible examples of how you’ve added value to the company (if you’re asking for a raise). Prepare a list of business you’ve brought on, successful campaigns you’ve run or other metrics you’ve moved.