The National Association of State Treasurers Foundation presents:
Tomorrow's Money for Today's Woman
Single Women Managing Money
For the first time in American history more women are single than married. Single women are earning more money than ever before, are making more financially-related decisions than ever before and yet most single women still do not feel adequate or empowered to successfully navigate their own financial life. Why? There are several reasons that women struggle to gain financial confidence:
They typically have very little (if any) formal training in how to manage money
They are raised to believe several “money myths” which can create confusion, feelings of inadequacy and anxiety about money when they become adults
They more frequently cycle in and out of the workforce
They typically enter more “help”-oriented careers (teaching, nursing, administrative work) that provide less income and earning potential
They do not feel confident about math and the math-orientation of managing money,
They live (either consciously or unconsciously) by the prevailing belief that it’s more important to invest in and maintain relationships than investing in their own personal financial security
They are more frequently victims of financial and wage discrimination
If you are a single woman it’s critical that you be committed to taking control of your personal finances because:
You do not have another income to help meet everyday expenses (groceries, gas) and obligations (utilities, rent or mortgage)
Most likely you carry some debt (student loans, credit card debt, etc.) that you need to repay
If you were to become sick, injured or disabled you would need to have savings and/or insurance to continue to pay your bills
You are solely responsible for creating your own retirement savings
Your long-term or future expenses will likely increase as your earning ability, over time, will decrease
Regardless of your background, abilities or feelings, you can learn how to handle your finances. This section is designed to help walk you through the most important concerns and questions around financial planning and increase your self-confidence in your ability to create a more secure financial future for yourself.