Okay, let’s get real. The last time I tried to talk about money with my girlfriends, we ended up debating whether $28 avocado toast was “self-care” or a crime against our bank accounts. 🥑💸 But here’s the tea: women are statistically better investors than men (yes, really!), yet we still act like budgeting apps are scarier than a text from our ex. Why? Because the finance world treats us like we’re here to buy pink notebooks, not build generational wealth.
Let’s start with the ✨elephant in the room✨. A 2021 Fidelity study (don’t worry, I won’t bore you with jargon) found that women outperform men in investing by 0.4% annually. Sounds small? Girl, compound that over 30 years and you’re looking at enough for a villa in Tuscany and a lifetime supply of truffle fries. But here’s the kicker: we hesitate anyway. Why? Because we’ve been spoon-fed that “risky” stocks are for guys in ugly suits, while we’re “supposed” to stick to “safe” savings accounts that pay less than inflation. 🙄
Take my friend Clara. She’s a literal genius (PhD in biochemistry!), but when her brother joked that her 401(k) was “cute,” she panicked and dumped everything into gold… in 2020. Meanwhile, her brother YOLO’d into GameStop. Guess who’s now eating regret for breakfast? (Hint: it’s not Clara.) The problem isn’t knowledge—it’s confidence. We’ve been gaslit into thinking finance is a man’s game, even though we dominate household budgeting and long-term planning.
Let’s dissect the myths:
1️⃣ “I need $$$ to start investing”: Lies. I began with $50/month in fractional shares. Now my “latte fund” owns slices of Apple, Disney, and a solar energy ETF. It’s like a skincare routine for your net worth—consistency beats big splurges.
2️⃣ “I’ll sound dumb asking questions”: Honey, Warren Buffett still reads investing books. I once DM’d a finance influencer asking, “WTF is a dividend?” and she sent me a cupcake emoji and a 2-minute explainer. The right mentors won’t mansplain; they’ll hype you up.
3️⃣ “I’ll lose it all!”: Valid fear! But here’s a secret: everyone messes up. My first stock pick? A vegan leather company that went bankrupt because… turns out pleather isn’t edible. 💀 But diversified ETFs? Those are the real MVPs.
Now, let’s talk strategy. I’m not here to sell you a course (gross), but here’s what’s worked for me:
– The “Wine & Index Funds” Rule: Every time I skip a $15 cocktail, I toss that cash into a low-cost index fund. It’s like reverse drunk shopping—future me gets tipsy on compound interest.
– Automate or Die Trying: My paycheck automatically splits into bills, “fun money,” and investments. Out of sight, out of mind… until I check my app and do a happy dance.
– Invest in You: Taking a coding course doubled my freelance rates. That’s a 100% return—eat that, Wall Street.
And let’s not forget the real power move: talking money openly. When my mom finally shared her salary history, I realized she’d been underpaid by 30% for decades. Now, I negotiate like Beyoncé at a lemonade stand—polite but unshakable.
Bottom line? The system wants us to stay scared and small. But here’s the plot twist: every dollar we invest is a middle finger to the patriarchy. So let’s crash their boys’ club—in stilettos or slippers, whatever works. 💅🚀