It might interest you to know that men and women show differences in their borrowing habits. While keeping the truth that both genders may have unique credit approaches alive, let us explore their borrowing and credit habits and the factors contributing to these differences.
Men v/s Women: Borrowing or Credit Habits
So, if you are intrigued to know how both genders behave in the money management arena, here are the requisite details for you:
1. Credit Access
One of the prime differences between men and women borrowing habits is its access or availability. Women find it more difficult to get their loans and other forms of credit approved. According to the report published in the Times of India, women were termed better borrowers but they were less likely than men to be approved for loans. Women’s lower credit scores than men make it challenging to get loan approval.
However, TOI report also said that women have started gaining improved access to credit. Women have started making incredible progress, leading to an increase in their credit access. There are more number of women entrepreneurs who have started business ventures in recent years. They take business loans to finance their venture. According to the CIBIL data, the share of women borrowers became 29% in 2021 from 25% in 2016. The trend is projected to continue, and women will keep asking for funds to start, grow, and expand their businesses.
2. Credit Default
Men’s and women’s borrowing habits also differ when it comes to default. While both genders are responsible enough, various researches say that women have considerably lower default rates on home loans than men. One of the reasons for this could be that women are more risk-averse and think more about their financial well-being. Experian data says men carry 2% more credit card debt than women. They are more committed, research more, and evaluate all available options before signing a loan. Due to their meticulous demeanor, they avoid taking debt they cannot pay later.
Another potential reason for women to have lower default rates is their low debt-to-income ratios. Since their debt relative to income is lesser, they can easily manage loan payments. If you gather home loan data in India, you will find that women take most home loans. Whereas in the case of personal loans, only a meager percentage of women take personal loans.
3. Financial Goals
Men and women have different financial priorities. According to the Motley Fool surveys, men like to save for a vacation and see it as their financial goal, but women find debt repayment a bigger financial priority. The CNBC research showed that Social Security income is less for women, which stood at $1,437 on average compared to $1,824 for men. Women tapped Social Security early and had career breaks due to caregiving, affecting their income and savings.
4. Self-Monitoring
As per TransUnion CIBIL, women self-monitor their credit rose by 62% between 2018 and 2019, twice that of men self-monitor their credit.
One of the vital factors in debt management is self-monitoring. Women are known to excel in self-monitoring or their ability to monitor and alter their behavior. A person who is self-monitored is more likely to have impeccable debt management. Women stay on top of their finances and avoid missing their payments, improving their credit health. Women are known to have better credit monitoring skills than men, as they can better manage emotions and behavior. They are vigilant to warning signs and credit overhead.
5. Spending Habits
Women are known to be more conservative spenders than men. This means they apply for lesser loans and other lines of credit or choose lower amounts of debt. Women like to save for major expenses in the future, pay in cash, or apply for credit when they are confident that they can pay off in full each month. This conservative approach prevents women from getting into financial trouble.
6. Saving
Men and women have differences in how much money they keep aside for personal priorities. Women prioritize family planning, child care, parent care, etc., while planning their financial goals. Also, the United States Census Bureau states that men are more likely to have retirement savings. The survey says that 50% of women had no retirement savings, compared to 47% of men. Another study by the TIAA Institute by CNBC shared that men contributed an average of $8,271 to the retirement plan while women averaged $5,994.
7. Investment Preferences
In the current times, there has been an evolution in the investing methods. This is an era of innovative and technology-driven investment modes. The surge in online trading and investing has enabled people to invest in various assets. Investors invest their money in stocks and bonds, real estate, cryptocurrency, mutual funds, etc. While male investors are known to be more fond of the stock market and other traditional investing methods, women prefer new investment channels. As per a CNBC report, women are investing in cryptocurrency more than ever due to the higher returns.
Also, women prefer a buy-and-hold investing strategy to frequent trading, per the Fidelity Study.
Conclusion
The fact that men and women have their unique credit approaches cannot be denied. While women may face difficulty getting credit, they have a lower default rate than men. This helps them avoid financial challenges and equips them with better borrowing. Rise in new investment methods and women entrepreneurs, there will be significant growth in women’s borrowing habits in the future.