Doing Well
March 13, 2026 β’ Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes
Every March, International Women's Month gets people talking about equality. But one conversation that doesn't get enough airtime? The savings gap. The numbers are real, and the reasons behind them might change how you think about your own finances.
I've seen it firsthand: friends, previous colleagues, women who are smart and hardworking⦠and still somehow ending up further behind than they should be. And it almost never has anything to do with how they manage their money.
According to a recent survey, women have an average of $105,498 in total savings while men have nearly double that at $195,156.
But before we call it a willpower problem, let's look at what's actually going on.
The gender pay gap is still very real. As of 2024, women earn about 85 cents for every dollar men earn. That's not a rounding error. That's basically less money coming in every single month, which means less to save, less to invest, and less compounding over time.
Then there's the career break problem. More than 60% of America's 53 million unpaid caregivers are women. Whether it's stepping back after having a child or leaving the workforce to care for an aging parent, those gaps don't just pause a career. They pause retirement contributions, employer matches, promotions, and raises.
One analysis estimated the lifetime cost of unpaid caregiving for mothers at around $295,000 in lost earnings and retirement income.
And even when women are fully in the workforce, they're still underrepresented in financial spaces: talked over, sold to instead of educated, or made to feel like wealth-building isn't really "for them."
So no. The savings gap isn't about discipline. It's about a system that was never fully designed with women in mind.
If you want to talk through where you stand and how to start closing the gap, book a free 1:1 call below.
Average amount of hours Americans spent thinking about money
That's more time than most people spend exercising, cooking, or talking to the people they love all spent mentally spinning on finances.
And here's the thing: thinking about money and having a plan for your money are two completely different things. One drains you. The other frees you. If it's already living rent-free in your head, it might be time to actually do something about it.
Average amount couples lose in retirement wealth due to poor money coordination
This isn't about one person overspending. It's about two people both trying to do the right thing and still accidentally working against each other. Claiming Social Security at the wrong time, misaligned investment strategies, duplicate accounts, missed contribution windows. Two people rowing in slightly different directions still end up off course.
Americans who say credit card debt is a dating dealbreaker
But here's the more interesting number: 50% of people currently in a relationship admit they've lied to their partner about money. So while credit card debt might be a dealbreaker in theory, financial dishonesty is already happening in half of relationships in practice.
Money is one of the top reasons couples fight, and one of the most avoidable ones. A few things that help: have the money conversation early (before you merge finances, not after), get specific about numbers instead of staying vague, set a joint goal you're both excited about, and check in on finances regularly (not just when something goes wrong).
Need to talk numbers? We can help you sort out your money.
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Money is actually made from 75% cotton and 25% linen.
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