What are the most pressing personal finance issues for women?

[user1490116531]

I've been asked to make a presentation to women age 25-45 about money on debts or money management or investing or wealth building etc. I can’t seem to see the wood for the trees. What do you wish you'd been taught about money at school/home or what do you think is important for women to learn about personal finance or what do you think is the pressing personal finance desire/issues for us women?

My big message for the 25-35 half of your audience would be:

No, childcare does not take up all of your wages.

Childcare is a family cost, it comes from both your wages.

You need to look at the bigger picture before quitting work.

Asked by whom?

Be financially independent.
Have "rainy day" money.
If you have a partner, make sure you save as much as them and make the same pension contributions - don't let them shortchange you, especially if you work PT after children.
Engage with savings and pension planning.
Don't undervalue yourself or your labour.
Join a trade union.

Agree with Ellisandra, childcare is a short term cost that needs to be weighted against both partners' salaries in a two parent household. When do you ever hear a guy say, "It's not worth me going to work after I've paid for childcare." It's much easier to stay in the workplace after children than resign and have to find a new position where you are an unknown quantity years down the line.

Not to blow your wages on prosecco and shoes!

Philodox given the 'user' name, and the fact that the OP appears to have no idea where to start (because you'd pick that person in a professional environment ) I would say the 'whom' is no-one, and this is for an uncommissioned article.

Personal finance is important. If the OP genuinely has been asked to present to 25-45yo women, they should decline and suggest the asker finds an expert. It's too important a subject not to.

Indeed, ellisandra, and i reported the thread prior to anyone posting, but it wasn't pulled

Looking back as a 60-something woman I would advise: a) the importance of having a separate bank account from your husband, b) always keep a foot in the door with your career after having children, even if you work part time for a while as you can upscale later c) contribute to a workplace pension and d) save, save, save!!! The unexpected does happen as one gets older regarding work, and if you save and have pensions then you have a buffer against unexpected situations, i.e. redundancy.

For that age I would say:

How to be financially independent within a relationship or marriage and the financial differences between the two.

Pensions and Investments.

The dangers of credit cards and what the interest rates (on store cards especially) actually mean in real terms.