Women & Their Finances
Real Simple|June 2024
We partnered with the brilliant minds at the finance site Investopedia to determine what’s holding women back in the money department. The findings? We’re on our way! But we’ve got some work to do.
MELISSA MATTHEWS
Women & Their Finances

MANY OF US, especially women, are taught not to talk about money. We're told it's rude, or crass, some kind of top-secret matter.
But experts agree that discussing finances helps normalize the topic, gives us ideas, motivates us to save, and makes complex situations less confusing.
Always down to discuss all things cheddar, we teamed up with our friends at Investopedia and built the Her Money Mindset Survey.
We posed questions to more than 2,000 women about how they think about money, what they do with it, what they'd like to learn to do with it, and more. Then we analyzed their answers.
Here's what we found, plus some advice for our survey

ON CONFIDENCE

SOME ADVICE
How to Get More

Money Confident Financial literacy-i.e., being informed about saving, investing, budgeting, managing debt, and spending wisely-is the key to feeling secure in your money decisions, says Anna Attkisson, senior editorial director at Investopedia.

"The biggest barrier everyone faces to becoming more financially literate is not knowing where to start," she adds. And if you weren't taught about money, taking that first step can feel especially overwhelming.

"You don't know what you don't know," Attkisson says. Her advice? "Pick one thing you think you don't understand and read a bit about it.
Doing one Google search or watching a couple of TikTok videos can only take you so far, but these can be baby steps toward financial confidence."

ON INVESTING

SOME ADVICE
How to Start Investing

If you're like the nearly 25% of respondents who said they want to learn more about it, follow these steps from Kathy Longo, a certified financial planner and the author of Flourish Financially.

This story is from the June 2024 edition of Real Simple.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the June 2024 edition of Real Simple.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM REAL SIMPLEView All
Christmas in the Desert
Real Simple

Christmas in the Desert

This Palm Springs home may be low on snow, but it's big on holiday cheer.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2024
Treat Yourself
Real Simple

Treat Yourself

These festive sweets all start with a clever store-bought shortcut, so you can stay as cool as a...log of slice-and-bake cookie dough.

time-read
9 mins  |
December 2024
Appy Holidays
Real Simple

Appy Holidays

Not a typo! We'll be noshing our way through the season on these partyworthy nibbles. And we wish the same for you and yours.

time-read
10 mins  |
December 2024
Gift Guide
Real Simple

Gift Guide

Got a few folks who stump you every year? Who may have regifted last year's present just as soon as they could? This is for you and for them. Pretty, fun, and even fabulous stuff at any price point. Every one is a keeper.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2024
Now Hear This
Real Simple

Now Hear This

If closed captions have become your best friend and it sounds like everyone around you is mumbling, we've got the latest feedback on why you're having hearing trouble-and what you can do about it.

time-read
7 mins  |
December 2024
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Real Simple

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

...is, actually, all the time! Whether you're looking to venture into the wintry world, stop to smell spring flowers, soak up the summer's warmth, or swim in fall's colors, these are the places that deliver.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2024
A NO-STRESS GUIDE TO GIFT GIVING & RECEIVING
Real Simple

A NO-STRESS GUIDE TO GIFT GIVING & RECEIVING

It's the thought that counts, right? Right?!

time-read
8 mins  |
December 2024
5 FINANCIAL MOVES TO MAKE BEFORE 2025
Real Simple

5 FINANCIAL MOVES TO MAKE BEFORE 2025

Don't drop the ball ahead of the ball drop!

time-read
5 mins  |
December 2024
NOT-SO-TALL TAILS
Real Simple

NOT-SO-TALL TAILS

Three of the sweetest doggo adoption stories you ever did read

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2024
ELIMINATE PET HAIR
Real Simple

ELIMINATE PET HAIR

It's time to reclaim your sofas, carpets, and black pants.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024