Money Rules That Every Woman Should Know

Money rules are generally the same for everyone, but women need a special bit of financial attention, until society adjusts to compensating women as equally as it does men. Here are a few basic money rules that every woman should know:

1. Don’t rely on a man for everything, but still reasonably expect something
Society still hasn’t embraced the idea that men and women should be compensated equally (although, I think women should be compensated way more). Thus, when entering a relationship with a man, it’s great to be independent, but it’s totally and completely acceptable to expect that he provide some items for you. Allow a man to be a man. Don’t knock him if he can’t provide, but where he can, allow him. Don’t overdo the “independent woman” bit, unless somehow the ratio of women’s pay to men’s pay becomes astronomical. (P.S.: hasn’t happened yet).

2. Never back down in a financial battle
There’s no place for shyness or other timid behaviors in the world of finance. If you earned money, claim it. If you made money, grab it. Whether there’s a recession or not, you must stay on the offense and avoid being bullied into situations that will leave you with less compensation than you deserve. When it comes to money, be aggressive – and ensure that you’re just as qualified, if not more qualified than the Boys Club, so that no one can even argue that you don’t deserve what you deserve.

3. Save-aholic, not shop-aholic
Before, when the economy was booming and everyone was a millionaire (huh? when was THAT?), it was cool to be a fashionista and a shopaholic. Now? The buzz words are: economista and save-aholic. You don’t want to be that dummy who spends too much and makes too little. Get on the bandwagon and start saving like your life depends on it!

4. If you can’t pay for it in cash without going into debt, don’t buy it
Credit cards are evil. Regardless of what other personal finance gurus tell you, do not rely on “credit” to help you out of jams. Stick to this rule: if you can’t pay for it in cash, then don’t buy it! The only credit that’s acceptable is a home loan or school loan–and even those can be evil too. If you do use a credit card to raise your credit score, get it, keep it open, but cut up the cards and/or barely use them. Otherwise, here’s the rule again: if you can’t pay for it in CASH that you have, without going broke, then guess what? Don’t buy it! ‘Cause ya can’t afford it. Period.