Page 10 | To think every woman should have at least £20,000 in savings she can access independently?

MolkosTeenageAngst · 07/04/2026 16:47

Absolutely ridiculous to put a figure on it. Yes, everybody should aim to have savings but £20k in joint savings is way, way out of reach for many households, let alone a figure to hold independently. Equally in a household where both are high earners it may be sensible for each to hold independently excess of £20k. Rather than put an arbitrary figure it would be better to look at a percentage of annual outgoings or income, for example to hold savings equivalent to 1/3/6 months annual income. Although even that would be unobtainable for many. I’m a single woman and my savings are way under £20k, equivalent to about 2 months take home pay. I’d love to be able to save more but it’s just not realistic.

MerelyPlaying · 07/04/2026 16:46

She should also have a unicorn in which to ride off into the sunset ….

I think everyone, man or woman, should save if they can. But £20k is unrealistic unless you’ve had a well-paid career or inherited money. Most of the people I know are just managing to pay the bills.

Original poster

AmusedPlumMember · 07/04/2026 16:45

ilovepixie · 07/04/2026 16:42

I barely earned £21,000 last year. How am I meant to save £20k out of that as a single person?

On that kind of income it’s not realistic at all. My point was more about the principle of having your own financial buffer where possible, rather than expecting everyone to reach a specific amount.

OP posts:

Parker231 · 07/04/2026 16:45

AmusedPlumMember · 07/04/2026 16:42

I don’t see it as either/or to be honest. I think you can contribute to your family and still have some level of financial independence at the same time, even if it’s just a small amount.
For me it’s more about having a bit of security, not choosing yourself over your family.

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So if you had an additional £1,000 as a bonus from work, you would add it to your personal account rather than spend it on your DC’s?

tripleginandtonic · 07/04/2026 16:45

Unrealistic.

Original poster

AmusedPlumMember · 07/04/2026 16:44

GrandmasCat · 07/04/2026 16:41

Why stop at £20k, why not £100k? Or a million?

I suppose every woman tries to have some savings but how much you can put together depends solely on personal circumstances.

£20k was just an example of a level that would feel like a meaningful buffer to me, not a hard rule. I agree it depends entirely on personal circumstances and for some people even a much smaller amount would still serve the same purpose.

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gamerchick · 07/04/2026 16:43

Sure we've recently had this thread. De ja vu.

DarmokAndJaladAtTenagra · 07/04/2026 16:42

Aside from this not being achievable for a significant amount of people, 39% of UK adults have less than £1k in savings.

But all women? A woman in a non-abusive, loving, stable, decades long marriage where the couple have completely joint finances should have a £20k put aside which the husband isn't allowed to question or access?

"Sorry DH, I know we'd like to give our DC a house deposit, but we can't because that money is set aside for me incase I need to leave you"

"Sorry DH, I know we'd like to travel to see DC in Australia, but we can't because that money is set aside for me incase I need to leave you"

DH might need his own £20k exit fund!

ValidPistachio · 07/04/2026 16:42

You are being wildly unrealistic. There must be millions on a low income who could never hope to save a fraction of that, and still hope to meaningfully participate in society.

ilovepixie · 07/04/2026 16:42

I barely earned £21,000 last year. How am I meant to save £20k out of that as a single person?

Original poster

AmusedPlumMember · 07/04/2026 16:42

Parker231 · 07/04/2026 16:38

Would you not rather spend that money on your family instead of keeping it for yourself?

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I don’t see it as either/or to be honest. I think you can contribute to your family and still have some level of financial independence at the same time, even if it’s just a small amount.
For me it’s more about having a bit of security, not choosing yourself over your family.

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Anonanonanonagain · 07/04/2026 16:42

I have feck all savings and I am not a low earner however I do have my own home/car/job and everything else as a single/sole parent so self reliant anyway I guess. Would be nice to have a good chunk of savings.

GrandmasCat · 07/04/2026 16:41

Why stop at £20k, why not £100k? Or a million?

I suppose every woman tries to have some savings but how much you can put together depends solely on personal circumstances.

JHound · 07/04/2026 16:40

Savings - yes.

such an arbitrary number - no.

Nanda66 · 07/04/2026 16:40

It’s not about the amount, but I believe every adult should aim to be financially independent and not dependent on another adult.

TheCurious0range · 07/04/2026 16:40

I am financially independent I earn well, I could run our home on my own, I also have a good amount of personal savings separate to our joint savings, not quite your 20k but almost. I still think YABU. I recognise my privilege, I grew up with the electricity cutting out because no one had 50p for the meter. Those women aren't going to have 20k to hand, often not even £20, every penny goes to staying afloat or on the children. You must recognise that.

DinoLil · 07/04/2026 16:39

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Sosaidkaye · 07/04/2026 16:39

AmusedPlumMember · 07/04/2026 16:36

I do understand that and I agree it’s much more complex in reality. My point was more about the principle of having some level of independent financial security where possible, rather than suggesting it’s straightforward or achievable for everyone. It wasn’t meant to be goady, more just something I’ve always been told and wondered how others see it.

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It is ludicrously unrealistic and the kind of thing someone would say either without thinking or because they are not very intelligent.

IPM · 07/04/2026 16:39

Lol yes OP.

And soft boiled eggs should be runny.

What exactly is the point of this thread?

Parker231 · 07/04/2026 16:38

AmusedPlumMember · 07/04/2026 16:36

I do understand that and I agree it’s much more complex in reality. My point was more about the principle of having some level of independent financial security where possible, rather than suggesting it’s straightforward or achievable for everyone. It wasn’t meant to be goady, more just something I’ve always been told and wondered how others see it.

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Would you not rather spend that money on your family instead of keeping it for yourself?

ProudCat · 07/04/2026 16:38

Yes, why not. The government should give everyone £30,000 when they reach the age of 30. No benefits for a year. Let's see who makes it ...

Although that might be the script of a dystopian sci-fi film.

Instructions · 07/04/2026 16:38

I think you're wildly unrealistic

luckylavender · 07/04/2026 16:37

AmusedPlumMember · 07/04/2026 16:27

I’m going to be quite direct here.

I personally think every woman should aim to have at least £20,000 in savings that she can access independently, whether that’s in an ISA or another account. For me, it’s about having a level of financial security and not being completely reliant on anyone else, even in a committed relationship. I know that won’t be achievable for everyone at all times but as a principle it feels important.

AIBU to think that’s just sensible or am I being unrealistic?

I think it's completely unobtainable for most women.

Original poster

AmusedPlumMember · 07/04/2026 16:36

Meridas · 07/04/2026 16:33

Well yes surely the ideal is for every woman to have access to her own money, be financially independent of their partner and free from financial abuse.

In reality how a woman can make or ensure that happens is far more complex. The majority of individuals and families are just not in a financial position to make savings, particularly in a cost of living crisis, with soaring housing, food and fuel costs and underfunded childcare.

So your post reads as a bit goady?

I do understand that and I agree it’s much more complex in reality. My point was more about the principle of having some level of independent financial security where possible, rather than suggesting it’s straightforward or achievable for everyone. It wasn’t meant to be goady, more just something I’ve always been told and wondered how others see it.

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Indianajet · 07/04/2026 16:36

You sound completely out of touch with the real world.