I saw some silly reality show on TV at some point about helping people pay off their debts.  (Anybody know the name of it?)  One of the steps the couple had to face was coming clean with their family (parents) about their debt.  I never quite understood why.

Does your family know about your debt situation?  Do you think they have any reason/right to know? 

My parents know that we are having financial difficulty, but they have no idea what our total debt is.  I don't think they need to know.  It's not like they would help or that I would want them to.  Actually, I believe my mother would be less than supportive about it and only make the whole thing feel worse.

Boy, that sounds like a terrible show!

Generally speaking, spilling your guts to your folks about your financial condition is not productive, especially if you know they are going to be less than supportive.  I'm not in favor of it.

I hope this helps.

No.  I'm a grown up and I don't *have* to report to them.

Now if I thought they would have some good advice or tips for me that I needed to hear than that would be different.  But I know what I need to do so it's not necessary to seek their counsel.