Written by: Christine Luken, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Have you heard of “Girl Math?” It’s an invented set of “rules” that women supposedly keep especially when justifying impulse spending. For example, any item under five dollars is so close to zero that it’s considered free, as is anything bought with cash because you never see the cost hit your bank account. (Search Girl Math on Instagram or TikTok and you’ll see thousands of examples.) Social media would have you believe that it’s a funny joke, but there are unintended dangers of Girl Math.
Girl math origins
The Girl Math trend appears to have started with a recurring radio segment by the same name, on a morning show hosted by a New Zealand-based radio station. Listeners send in details about their purchases, while the show’s co-hosts work to justify the spending until it is "basically free." I’m sure it started as innocent fun, justifying the fact that if you spend $100 on a pair of shoes and wear them every day for 100 days, the cost per wear is only $1 per day which feels like nothing. But the Girl Math phenomenon is now being used to explain away thousands of dollars spent (probably on a credit card) on splurges like travel and concerts.
The most ridiculous girl math example
FVHZM, the radio station behind launching the trend into the stratosphere on TikTok, helped a listener use Girl Math to justify $5,600 spent on a 4-day Taylor Swift concert extravaganza, getting it down to “basically free.” The Australian listener bought a round-trip flight to the concert, four nights in a hotel, plus four concert tickets for $5,600. The show’s hosts justified her purchase using downright ridiculous reasoning. “You’re not traveling to four different locations to see four concerts, just one. So, you’re saving the cost of three flights ($600 x 3 = $1,800). As for hotel accommodations, you have to live somewhere, right?” They continued the Girl Math reasoning to knock down the total to zero. Plus, the memories of the concert are going to be priceless. “So, it’s basically free,” The show’s hosts declare. This is the Girl Math mantra. (Listen to my podcast episode for the full breakdown and my rant about it.)
Girl math is everywhere
Girl Math isn’t just on social media; it’s now baked into marketing products and services to girls and women. I’m seeing ads with slogans like, “All makeup 50% off! Girl Math approved!” I received an email from an underwear company the other day with this exact wording: “Girl Math be like… If it’s a $60 bra that you wear over 30 times, it’s less than $2/ wear, so it’s basically free.” No, it’s not free unless it costs you zero dollars. Watch out for retailers trying to “Girl Math” their way into your wallet!
Girl math doesn’t help women get ahead financially
Yes, I know that Girl Math started as a joke, and many women defend it as a funny thing I shouldn’t be offended by. But women are now using Girl Math to justify unhealthy financial habits. If you’re buying on credit, this is not “basically free”! Let’s suppose the woman who went to the Taylor Swift concert charged $5,600 on her credit card with an ARP of 21%. Even if she makes payments of $500 per month, it will take her 13 months to pay it off and cost her $690 in interest. This means the trip costs her $6,290 – definitely not free!
Money is a powerful tool all women should understand
Even in 2024, women are still behind men in the money department. Women are less likely to invest than men, and, over time, this has serious repercussions. According to Motley Fool, women's retirement income is about 83% of men's. Women are 80% more likely than men to become impoverished after age 65, according to the National Institute on Retirement Security.
Women earn just 82 cents for every dollar a man makes. But the stats for women of color are even more disturbing. They make just 58 cents for every dollar a white man earns. A 20-year-old woman just starting full-time, year-round work stands to lose $407,760 over a 40-year career compared to her male counterpart.
Women are 40% more likely to have low levels of financial literacy than men. Despite the plethora of information available, Gen Z has the lowest level of financial literacy, only 36% could pass a basic quiz on the subject. 80% of women will be 100% responsible for their finances for at least some period in their lives, whether by choice or by chance (singlehood, divorce, or death of spouse).
Let’s trade “girl math” for “wealthy woman math”
Wealthy Woman Math is doing real math to make solid financial decisions for yourself. Listen, I love to get a deal or a free gift with purchase as much as the next woman. But I don’t spend extra money on things I don’t need or want to get free shipping or a bonus lipstick. Wealthy women know the cost of debt and avoid it unless they’re buying assets like real estate or business ownership. Wealthy women are smart shoppers, especially for large purchases. Wealthy women learn about advanced financial literacy topics like taxes and investing. They hire and learn from financial experts.
Here's the bottom line: Only you know if you’re using Girl Math as an occasional funny joke or as a way to justify self-destructive financial behavior. In my opinion, it's a cutesy way to keep women dumbed down about money. It’s opposed to my business’ core value, Financial Dignity®, and that’s why I don’t like it. My goal is for every woman to have a high level of financial literacy and confidence with money. That’s why I’m offering a free digital copy of my book Money is Emotional: Prevent Your Heart from Hijacking Your Wallet to any woman (or man) who wants it!
Christine Luken, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Ready for money to support your happiness, rather than stress you out? Then you need Christine Luken, Financial Dignity® Coach in your corner! As the Founder of the Financial Dignity® Movement, Christine has coached hundreds of high-earning professionals, business owners, and divorcing women to pay off staggering amounts of debt and massively increase their net worth. The author of several books, including Money is Emotional and Financial Dignity® After Divorce, Christine blends wise money management with emotional intelligence.
