A recent report from Barclays Wealth and Ledbury Research revealed that women worldwide are now responsible for up to 80% of household purchasing decisions. While that’s a big number, it’s not really surprising, is it?
It just proves what we’ve known all along: we make those decisions. It might be boring, but hey, it’s something at least. I mean, when last did your husband go out to buy cleaning products, toilet paper or groceries? Yip, that’s what I thought.
What should surprise and please you, however, is that the same research shows that men no longer dominate the world of finance.
According to Henry van Deventer, Head of Business Development at Acsis, the results confirm that times have changed from when the job market, family roles and ultimately the finances were dominated by men. “The empowerment of women has taught us some key lessons, namely that a man is no longer a financial plan to a woman.” Well it’s about damn time that everybody realised this!
And the reason for this “new found” fact? Well, to put it simply, we perceive risks differently due to the differences in our emotional responses. In other words, we think before we do. “Men and women both have different priorities. While men look for financial security when planning their future, women will seek financial well-being.
Men will look for an opportunity to get rich and by doing so are likely to be more confident and make hastier decisions. “Women on the other hand tend to see wealth as a source of security for their family, and as a result will take fewer chances with their money. For this reason, women investors are outperforming their male counterparts.”
So stop pretending that we’re all suckers for specials and spendthrifts when it comes to shoes.
If this isn’t enough to make you proud, the report also reveals that women are increasingly rising to senior positions in their professions, managing companies or running their own businesses.
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