Sarah Wells: A joke? No, here’s the REAL superpower behind the girl math social media phenomenon

No doubt you’ve heard or seen the term “girl math” on social media or heard it used by your friends.

It’s a playful term women use to creatively justify spending decisions, often by calculating the cost per wear of expensive purchases. I’ve used it myself . . . more than once.

For example, a $700 pair of boots worn seven times costs $100 per wear — or worn daily, just $7 a day. That’s #girlmath.

And while this TikTok trend is funny and quirky, it also reinforces the stereotype that women don’t take their money seriously. Why? Because it focuses solely on rationalising our spending, rather than encouraging women to take the time to understand their financial behaviour and mindsets.

It’s easy to fall into the habit of justifying splurges without looking at the bigger picture, and what we’re doing with our money overall.

But in a world where financial literacy is often discussed but never really understood, girl math can also be empowering.

Let’s take a moment to understand it for a second.

When you decode girl math, it’s genius really. And it’s making financial acumen for girls and women fun.

But as we chuckle at the quirks of girl math we must also navigate the potential pitfalls of this phenomenon. While it’s fun to calculate the cost per wear of that fabulous handbag or those dazzling heels, we must beware of the stereotype that women are frivolous with their finances.

This is not true and leads to a shameful, dumbing-down of the beauty of girl math.

This lighthearted approach can inadvertently reinforce the notion that women lack seriousness when it comes to money management. So, where’s the balance? How do we embrace the humour without falling into the trap of financial irresponsibility or — worse — hiding emotional spending and shame behind the illusion and sparkle of girl math?

Girl math relies solely on justifications for spending, while neglecting a broader understanding of our financial behaviour. It’s far too easy to slip into the habit of rationalising splurges and avoiding the tedious life admin of savings, bills, mortgages and our ever-trusty BFF, superannuation.

But here’s the twist. Instead of using girl math just to explain spending, why not harness that same creativity to supercharge our savings and investment goals?

What about “super girl math”, where calculations pivot from expenses to financial growth?

Imagine applying your talent for spotting a bargain and stretching a budget towards building wealth and learning about the stock market? Spotting an undervalued company and using super girl math to light up your share portfolio is way sexier than a pair of red-soled shoes.

And if you can justify a $700 purchase by calculating its cost per wear, why not apply that same logic to your savings? For instance, look at a yearly investment such as Botox, and ask: “If I invest $300 every other month, how much will that be in five years’ time?”

Just like those expensive boots or those wrinkle relaxers, your savings can become a valuable asset over time if you take the time to invest in them, especially when they’re compounded by interest.

This shift in mindset empowers women to approach their finances with a sense of ownership.

We often hear about the gender pay gap, but what if we flipped the script? By actively engaging in our financial planning and employing super girl math, women could not just close that gap, we could step over it in our stilettos, one savvy financial decision at a time.

I believe with a sprinkle of humour and a dash of creativity, your financial planning can become just an item on your to-do list that you might even look forward to.

Girl math isn’t just a quirky way to justify spending. It’s an opportunity to transform how we view our financial decisions. By flipping the narrative from spending to saving and embracing our creativity we can turn our female strength of financial justification into our very own superpower.

With a sparkle of girl math and an investment in self-education we can all become financial wonder women, spinning our way towards financial independence one fabulous financial decision at a time.

Sarah Wells is a Perth money and finance commentator