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

[AmusedPlumMember]

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?

Laughs in housing and energy costs. 😂😂😂😂😂😂

I wouldn’t say you should be doing anything in secret or asking for something that doesn’t feel right for your relationship. I was speaking more generally about the idea of having some level of personal financial security where it makes sense and feels appropriate, but I understand that every relationship is different.

I’d easily save that much if I didn’t have to ermmm buy stuff!

Why only women, should men not have the same?

But with a HH income of 60k I don't think we'll have 40k saved up quickly.

This is the second thread like this in two days. Odd.

I earn less than £24000 a year, I'm not sure how you want me to save £20,000 any time soon. I've got £160 in my savings after paying for a holiday this week.

Getting an education and having a good job is far more important than having savings. If everything fell apart tomorrow being able to work would last much longer than any savings.

Exactly. No way would I be looking to aim for £20k in savings which would then mean no entitlement to UC. Absolutely silly logic for those who rely on it.

Agree with this.

Not if you have no other way of paying the mortgage. 20k would last hardly any time if you're drowning in debt with no income.

Meanwhile in the real world...

This is true.
Unfortunately children don’t often have a lot of control over what kind of education they get.

Ideally, that would be wonderful.

Not realistic for the vast majority though.

Good grief another one.

What don’t you get about the broken economy of the last 20-30 years and the impoverishment of working people?

Exactly. Check out fuel costs right now OP. It ain’t pretty!

I have sole access to almost all of our (DH and I) family savings, following
inheritances and redundancy payment.
I think he has about 30k in his own name after I transferred some. Just the way it worked out.
I am not unhappy about it…. And he’s not bothered.

This OP makes the one from the other day who was "shocked" that not everyone has a trust fund savings look quite grounded by comparison.

See it, save it, sorted.

when I left my now ExH having a job was much more helpful, meant I could rent a place.
20k and no job will get you rejected from most rentals

If you started a thread saying you thought that everyone who had any spare cash at the end of the month should stash it away in an emergency account, you would have sounded fairly reasonable, if incredibly patronising. But you started with an unworkable premise and it’s gone downhill from there.

Do you think that you’re the only one it has occurred to that having a few quid in savings is a good idea? Even us poor people understand that savings and financial independence is a good thing. It also doesn’t seem to have occurred to you that the people who do have spare money at the end of the month are probably already tucking it away safely, and that if people aren’t doing so, then it’s more than likely because they don’t have any money left to save.

Chance would be a fine thing… Many women don’t even earn this in a year. Women have always been more likely to work in low income, part time or temporary/unstable jobs. They pretty much always bear the brunt of children. There’s actually little scope for ANYONE to save 20k and keep it there as a nice cushion. You’d have to be immensely privileged.

@Octavia6420k and a job doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to get a rental.

I did even post kids - have 40 K in my accounts - more together- then we bought a house. Left some over - house and the pre house kids have slowly drained all the savings I have in my name - and then stuff happens when I do get some and that goes.

As a couple we have some - not as much as I'd expect given our ages - and we have some mortgage left. We haven't ever inherited anything - and not clear we ever will - and paid for our house depoists and wedding ourselves.

I don’t know why you’ve picked £20k out of the clear blue sky, but otherwise yes I agree with you. While DH and I consider all money ‘ours’ in the bigger scheme, both he and I have savings pots that the other can’t access, in addition to our joint savings account. Our ‘personal’ pots may be dipped into for joint big expenses, but they also exist so we can both have some financial autonomy if it were ever necessary.

I am stunned. In a country where most people are just about scraping by you think that women should somehow be able to acrue that level of personal savings with ease?

I haven't but I have credit card with space on it and I could easily borrow cash if I needed to. I am financially independent though and my job can be done from anywhere so I'd be fine.