If women didn’t exist, all the money in the world would have no meaning. ~Aristotle Onassis
I read a column in Grazia last week that quoted a report from an America magazine which found it costs more to be women. I always knew that being a woman has its pros and cons (hello, childbirth!) but this article says the fact is we have to spend more money on things because we’re women. Apparently, we pay on average three times more than men on dry cleaning, 20p more per ounce on deodorant, more to have our razors look pink and far more than men on haircuts and cars.
It’s like having our very own tax just for being women. Add to this the amount we spend on clothes, bags, shows, accessories, it’s clear we are pretty badly off. Plus many of us take work breaks to raise children and often don’t reach the same career heights as men so if you spread the cost over a lifetime, we are the poorer sex. Obviously, in monetary terms and not in intelligence and general fabulous-ness 
What can we do to stop this injustice – here are a few ideas:
- Use deodorant for made for men – it’s actually better. Just make sure you mask the scent with perfume or you might draw women to you (see the Lynx advert).
- Avoid razors – just let your hair grow. It’ll save time too.
- Buy clothes that don’t need dry cleaning.
- Dye your hair yourself at home. It’ll save you a fortune. Just don’t do it on your cream carpet.
- Tell your man save the extra money he gets from his cheaper lifestyle and then pay for you to get that designer handbag you’ve had your eye on.
Do you think you spend more as a woman?
Victoria
xoxo
terry1954
/ April 11, 2012i think we do, but times are changing, and mens lines are popping up more and more as men try to beautify themselves
Victoria-writes
/ April 12, 2012True, men like a bit of face cream now. Probably David Beckhams fault
Juliette
/ April 11, 2012i have to say that I’m always trying to live frugally. For example, I prefer to shop in the sales and that I buy things like razors etc cheaply…
Victoria-writes
/ April 12, 2012Good to search for a bargain if you can!
beckyday6
/ April 11, 2012Phhhhhhhhh!! Ajdffffhsoutieo!!!!!!!!!!! This is unbelievable! I’ve always thought it was true but…..it just makes me so mad! Grr.
Victoria-writes
/ April 12, 2012Hehe I know, right?!!
kford2007
/ April 11, 2012We totally spend more to look and feel beautiful. Men may gripe, but they beam when we take care of ourselves and look great. We don’t have to spend a million dollars to look great, we just have to look like we do. Bargains are out there…and women can sniff out a sale a mile away! It’s another one of our finer qualities.
Great post!
Victoria-writes
/ April 12, 2012That’s true, sometimes you just pay for packaging or the name anyway. I wish I had the sale sniff power, I’m useless at it
thoughtsappear
/ April 11, 2012Women definitely spend more. We already have to put on an extra piece of clothing (bras). A guy once told me guys have to buy ties and they’re the equivalent of buying a bra. Ummmm…I wear a bra every day. He wears a tie on days he has a meeting. Not the same thing.
Victoria-writes
/ April 12, 2012Yeah you’re right, we drew the short straw there!
Bonnie
/ April 11, 2012Great (and thought-provoking) post. Indeed we spend more to live as a woman. What immediately came to mind here is the annual OB/GYN exam and mammogram recently. hahaha!! Wait, why am I laughing?
Victoria-writes
/ April 12, 2012Haha yeah we definitely get a raw deal when it comes to medical treatment
faultlessfinish
/ April 11, 2012Love this! Haha “Avoid razors – just let your hair grow.”
I never really thought about that though – we do have to spend a lot more as women!
Victoria-writes
/ April 12, 2012Thanks
Reminds me of Julia Roberts a few years ago when she lifted her arm up to wave!
susielindau
/ April 11, 2012I think our “maintenance” costs are higher, but ask any man and they will tell you that it is well worth it….
Victoria-writes
/ April 12, 2012You mean they don’t like the gorilla look?! Could be where I’m going wrong
lbdiamond
/ April 11, 2012Hmmm, less money, more bills, sounds right. I have the same amount of student loans as my male counterparts, but they make more $. So, the way I figure it, I should only have to pay back about 60%. LOL!
Victoria-writes
/ April 12, 2012Sounds like a good idea to me
4amWriter
/ April 11, 2012I probably used to spend more money because I am a woman, but alas, since having children I have completely let my desires fly out the window and spend more money on them. (Here’s to Disney princesses and Ninjas).
If I splurge on myself at all, it’s really not because I’m a female and because I’m a writer, actually. The most money I spend on myself is on writer’s conferences, writing equipment, and beer when I meet out with my writing group, lol.
Cool, cool post.
Victoria-writes
/ April 12, 2012But then again women probably end up spending more on the children than men do?! You’re right, it’s expensive being a writer. I need a new laptop sigh
lilacandivy
/ April 11, 2012Love the last idea!
It could also be that women make a lot of small(er) purchases, like handbags and clothes… and men buy rarely but more expensive items, such as a truck, a guitar, a grill…?
Definitely not always the case.
Just a thought.
Victoria-writes
/ April 12, 2012Thanks
That’s a good point and they leave their clothes buying to the woman too probably!
redjim99
/ April 11, 2012I have to say I’ve never spent more as a woman, maybe I should give it a go? Will equality win in the end, go with the not shaving thing, that’ll work I’m sure.
Victoria-writes
/ April 12, 2012Yep worth a try
E.Arroyo
/ April 13, 2012We are high maintenance. I hate shopping. My husband loves it. We fit perfectly. =)
Victoria-writes
/ April 14, 2012Ah cute! I’m close to a shopaholic
Kourtney Heintz
/ April 15, 2012It always annoyed me that women’s slacks and blouses cost more than men’s to dry clean. How different is the process?! I think you’re on to something with the deodorant. I buy men’s jeans because they fit better. And they cost less.
Victoria-writes
/ April 16, 2012I could understand if it was a silk blouse but not cotton, Men’s are bigger surely so more fabric = more expensive?!
nrhatch
/ April 16, 2012Nope. I buck this trend, like I do most trends ~ I do NOT spend more than BFF on haircuts, clothes, jewelry, or grooming aids. But I suspect that most women do.
I don’t like playing dress up or getting made up. I’m cheap to keep!
nrhatch
/ April 16, 2012And I stopped buying anything that needs to be dry cleaned . . . or ironed.
Victoria-writes
/ April 17, 2012Actually i’m the same on that, much easier and cheaper!
Victoria-writes
/ April 17, 2012Haha cheap to keep, great expression!