According to an ING survey, women who save and are frugal are seen as sexy, but not so for men.
ING STATS:
- 61% of men think frugal women are both smart and sexy compared to 44% of women
- 33% of women think frugal = stingy compared to 20% of men
- 17% of women think a frugal date is boring
- Women are twice as likely to be annoyed with a partner who spends too little on them
- Majority of men & women (68%) agree that women are better at handling finances
- 39% of women women are less likely to give up shopping and chocolate to eliminate their debt
- 30% of women are more upset about gaining weight than accumulating debt (27%)
- And for men, they’re more upset about gaining debt at 34% than gaining weight (24%)
- More than 60% of Americans think that men are better investors
- Less than 13% of Americans are confident in their own investing abilities
- 50% of Americans are more intimidated about investing than by doing their own taxes, their in-laws or handling technology
Thanks to Lekker Leven Met Minder for this article: “ING DIRECT USA Survey“!
FINANCIALLY SMART = SEXY
I find a guy who can be financially independent to be very attractive (like BF).
I am not talking about being a millionaire or having tons of money, but more of having the right money mindset:
- He knows what a budget is and follows one to some extent
- He isn’t cheap
- He likes to spend his money but only if it won’t mean more debt and if he can afford it
- He can live below his means
- If he has debt, he’s working out of it with a plan in mind
- He knows how to save and invest his money
- He doesn’t freak out or stress about money
- He focuses on what is important (experiences and food :D) rather than image & spending
- He has the same money values as I do, and can offer sound opinions when I ask
- He isn’t lazy and will do what it takes if times get rough
- I’m an equal partner in his eyes and am part of the budget
- If he makes mistakes, he learns from them
- Is interested in personal finance and money in general (Note: I have my own Library page now of recommendations)
SAVING IS NOT ONLY SEXY, IT’S SMART
As if we didn’t need any more proof that just because you have money doesn’t mean you’re rich or smart enough to manage it, this post from Smart Money: Going Broke After Having Millions – How One Family Lost It All, made me re-commit to my budget.
59 year old Nick Martin teaches grape growing and winemaking at a local community college, and his wife and their two children now try to get by living in a modest rental home on a combined $34,000 a year.
They aren’t living the high life, but it wasn’t always this way.
In 1998 Nick received a $14 million dollar inheritance, $10 million dollars after taxes.
What did he and his family do with their newfound wealth?
They did what so many folks who find sudden wealth do, they started to spend their money with wild abandon.
[For Example] Mr. Martin treated his wife, Kate, to a birthday weekend at the Waldorf-Astoria, with dinner at the “21″ Club and a $7,000 mink coat.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Family’s Fall from Affluence is Swift and Hard
Smart Money: Going Broke After Having Millions – How One Family Lost It All
Came at an opportune time to for me to read, especially after my nasty November spending recap (ugh!).
It always boils down to these same, very sexy values:
- understanding your money and seeing the big picture of where it sits
- spending less than you earn
- saving, saving, saving
- being mindful of your spending
- not being extravagant, or indulging by showing off
Just a girl trying to find a balance between being a Shopaholic and a Saver.
I cleared $60,000 in 18 months earning $65,000 gross/year.
Now I am self-employed, and you can read more about 
Women who save are DEFINITELY sexy, because confidence brings that glow and poise, and a nice full bank account definitely brings a rosy glow to my cheeks.
My recent post My December Networth – Broken Down
And it isn\’t from blush right? 🙂
Fantastic subject. Just this weekend my boyfriend suggested we get groceries and cook at our ski condo instead of go to a restaurant. It made me love him even more.
My recent post Dreams Non-Negotiable
Awww…! 🙂 It\’s really much better having a homecooked meal 🙂
Great post!! Saving is sexy!
I am much more frugal than BF, but but is already frugal. I am definitely better at keeping track of finances than he- we got a joint account and joint credit card and I will be managing that.. because he'll likely forget when he has to pay the bill.
How about automated finances for those bills?
My husband is balanced with money, whereas I am very frugal. He has influenced me to spend a little, and I influenced him to cut back a little. We are a good fit 🙂
BF and I are the same. He is more frugal than I am, and I\’m a bit more of a spender, although sometimes he switches it up and enables me. Not for makeup or shoes, but for practical things or gadgets.
I think I'm really attracted to intelligent decisionmaking more so than frugality specifically. One of my exes was habitually pennywise but pound-foolish, so he was forever eating crappy food to save a buck, but didn't really understand why he might need to save for retirement or for a house.
The guy I date now is great with his money – and what's more, he's really clear on his priorities. He'd rather enjoy meals out but drive an inexpensive, functional car. Much like me. This is why it works.
Do you think this will help me find a boyfriend? I'm VERY good at saving. 😉
My recent post Reverb10 Prompt 3- Moment
*LAUGHING* I think so. Most guys, at least a growing number find it hot that a woman likes to save.
Post title: total agreement here. And I think J. Money would also agree, given his blog title. Now if only my girlfriend didn’t fall under the “not thinking frugality is sexy” category.
*laugh*
I think she might be confusing frugality with being cheap? I know I did in the beginning.
It all boils down for me, to: why are you with that person? for their money or their company?
Sure, saving is sexy. But you know what's even sexier? Carrie Underwood.
The hotter she is, the worse she's allowed to be with money. 🙂
My recent post She Didn’t Want a Promotion
I\’m going to have to google that. Is she a spendthrift?
This is a great post! Even with all the information out there about how important it is to talk about money with your mate people still don’t do it (#1 cause for divorce is still over $!).
And, oh, I’m feeling totally sexy now!
VERY hot and sexy.
Money is definitely the #1 cause for divorce.
Yes, there's definitely research suggesting that the millionaires next door are typically more attracted to frugal women as well. My wife and I kindly explained this to my spendthrift friend who is looking to "marry rich."
My recent post Am I A Financial Hypocrite
I am married to a very unsexy man, as he knows nothing about controlling his spending, wouldent have a clue how to budget and is apparently never growing old as he has no financial plan for his retirement and he,s already 60 years old. Can I teach this old dog new tricks.????
My recent post PF Bloggers Christmas Cutbacks
Saving is Sexy. It is one of the reasons I married my wife. Much more fugal then I am. She really knows how to stretch the budget when we need too.
regards,
Jason
My recent post Follow Up Thursdays – Ask a Question
They say that\’s the best support you can get — a spouse that is more into frugality than you are 🙂
There is definitely a 'too cheap' line where some guys place savings above doing the little things that could make a girl feel special, but in general, a guy who knows his way around a savings account is HOT. My last BF would spontaneously buy things like motorcycles. Watching him deal with money made my head hurt–he just didn't want to have to think about it. I could *see* the fights coming up if we'd stayed together…bad news.
Some ladies can live with that and say that their guy offers some balance to their frugalness, but I just don't think that works for me. Also, I've seen it in action–my father is a spendthrift and my mom is really good with money, and all it has done is cause them fights, not offer any sort of 'balance.' I would ideally like a guy who would let me deal with the day to day spending while he also follows our shared budget and works toward our goals. He'd take care of the big picture stuff that I find paralyzing to think about, like investing options, life insurance, etc. And we'd each have our own personal accounts as well as a joint account–from what I've seen, some financial independence is necessary. Can you find me a guy like that? Sigh. I can dream…
I very much agree. My mom is the spendthrift, and so is my father, but he is way more frugal than she\’ll ever be.
I think what I have in BF is perfect. He and I have the same shared money values and we work TOGETHER on goals.
The together part is key. My wife and I work toward goals together or both saving and spending. It works well! Very interesting stats by the way. I wouldn't have guessed even close on many of them.
I agree that working like a partnership is really key. You have to both be on the same page for what to save for, how much, why and to be both watching your spending.