Is it more expensive being a woman or a man?

[CouponAddict]

Originally Posted by Gruntina

Sorry I did not realize this was limited to necessities.

I did not take the thread that way either. Oops

[syracusa]

Originally Posted by Broken Arrow

Haha, I used to be like that too; very idealistic in that I used to have a disdain for anyone who emphasizes cash over character.

However, after having been through a marriage, I don't blame any woman who sizes up a man through his finances. I still disapprove of gold-diggers, and I still believe in character, but financial security is far too important for anyone to ignore....

Yes. Character would be a hard one to give up in exchange of financial security or even more so, financial "oomph". (Security is one thing, "oomph" s another).

But that part about being well-read, cultured, well-spoken, smooth, artsy, etc...all those socialistic European values ...I am probably less swayed by those today than I was at the time. Against my will, of course.

We are doing OK financially (or so we think...?) - but I would not mind my DH making a bit more than what he currently does so we will be less paranoid about every penny / the future.

[markusk]

Women also pay more in certain intangibles....

For example, a single man or a woman just starting a career in a new city looking for a place to live. A man may choose to save some money and live in a less desirable neighborhood. For safety reasons, a single woman may not have that option -- for good reason. She may choose a better neighborhood, an apartment with a doorman ect. Women in general will thus pay more in rent. If I had a sister and a brother in a similar situation, I would insist that my sister live in a very secure building (and help may for it if necessary).

[Gruntina]

Originally Posted by momof1in150

Then how come a 6-pack of Hanes for my DH cost $6 and one pair of underwear can cost me more then $6. Women's clothes are much more expensive and most of the time not as good of a quality. Men can get away with fewer clothes then women when working.

My DH does spend money on shoes but he only needs 2 pairs for work. He can wear them year round and most of the time they can be resoled and he gets a lot of years out of them. His average shoe cost is about $100 per pair. I have at least 8 pairs of shoes and they all are worn at different times of the year and they average $60-80 a pair.

DH's haircut costs $8.00 - mine cost $45. He does get his cut every 4 weeks but I get mine done every 8 weeks so mine is much more expensive.

The list could go on and on.

There is a difference between going basis with necessity needs and splurging. Do women really need the perfumed soap when they can get by with regular dove soap? For several women, cute clothing’s and style is more of a hobby and that should be considered when comparing men vs women.
I am a women and just as happy as my guy to shop for clothes at Target. Underwear’s do not cost 6 dollars for one! You can buy 4 packs for 6 dollars at least. But I do think women have more article of clothing’s need more by needing bras which is something men do not need is where I can see that cost more than men beside medical.
Buying more expensive name brand clothing’s, fancier materials and etc is a luxury outside the basic necessity like we can get at Target or even goodwill might have some good finds.
Cost cutters charge the same for men and women with the basic but if you have a more advance style cut, you would have to pay more for which is a choice and not a necessity.

[Gruntina]

Originally Posted by markusk

Women also pay more in certain intangibles....

For example, a single man or a woman just starting a career in a new city looking for a place to live. A man may choose to save some money and live in a less desirable neighborhood. For safety reasons, a single woman may not have that option -- for good reason. She may choose a better neighborhood, an apartment with a doorman ect. Women in general will thus pay more in rent. If I had a sister and a brother in a similar situation, I would insist that my sister live in a very secure building (and help may for it if necessary).

That makes sense! I agree. I think it is the same with cars where a women may feel unsafe if having a clunker that can break down in the middle of nowhere. Women in the past used to get ripped of by auto mechanics as well. I am not sure if it is that way anymore. (I married a grease monkey!)

[pearlieq]

Originally Posted by CouponAddict

Where are you going?? I want to know, so I can go there, got to love a deal!!

Every haircutting place in my town has a childs, mens, and a higher woman's price.

We actually go to this really nice place called Hair Cuttery. There's a franchise in every town by us and we found one with a staff we like. Our has 2 prices--adult and kids. The prices just went up, but I think it's $14 for a shampoo and cut.

If you have one by you, check it out. They're really good.

If I'm making a really drastic change or getting a complicated cut, I'll got to the local salon. But again there, the price is by stylist, not by person. The more experienced stylists charge $65/cut and the new ones charge about $40.

I think it's bollocks to charge men and women different prices for a basic haircut. I won't partonize a salon that does it.

I feel the same way about dry cleaning. If I walk into a shop and they try to charge me more for dry cleaning a woman's shirt than a man's, I walk right back out. I check these things before I shop.

[pearlieq]

Originally Posted by momof1in150

Then how come a 6-pack of Hanes for my DH cost $6 and one pair of underwear can cost me more then $6.

Again, it's all it what one chooses to spend. I could spend $300/pair on La Perla, but that's a discretionary choice that has nothing to do with gender. Basic tightie-whities and granny panties cost the same at Wal-mart.

Because I'm kinda bored and I'd rather do this than work or go do laundry , I actually checked out hanes.com. A 6pk of ladies undies were $8 (and they don't ride up!) and some truly hideous men's briefs were $8 for a package of 7. I suppose men do get an extra pair of ugly briefs for their eight bucks, but that's close enough to equal for me.

[Gruntina]

Originally Posted by CouponAddict

But are the powertools a male thing or a household thing, (I mow the grass more often than my DH)? I said we had to upgrade to the self-propell.

and the Jewelry collection of some woman offsets the tool expense in my mind.

Have you seen men showing off tools to other men? I know my guy does. He has more than he needs because he is fascinated with them. He use household as an excuse to buy them but does he get the chore done? He also has a collection of about 50 flashlights.

I realize my opinion on the power tool might be biased as this is my experience with my hubby and his friends.


But maybe I am the oddball here... I have 4 interchangeable outfits for work and only two work shoes and two exercise shoes. I have 2 rings (my engagement ring and wedding band) and 6 pairs of earrings that I wear. I do have make-up but stopped wearing them for daily use. I won’t go into the details of my undergarments and the like. Maybe that is why I think it’s a luxury for 50 pairs of shoes and etc.
I am quite content with that. I love to not have too many choices and more time to relax in the mornings before heading to work. Unlike my sister, I can run out the door in an instant if something comes up without the worry I don’t have my face painted.

[pearlieq]

Originally Posted by markusk

Women also pay more in certain intangibles....

For example, a single man or a woman just starting a career in a new city looking for a place to live. A man may choose to save some money and live in a less desirable neighborhood. For safety reasons, a single woman may not have that option -- for good reason. She may choose a better neighborhood, an apartment with a doorman ect. Women in general will thus pay more in rent. If I had a sister and a brother in a similar situation, I would insist that my sister live in a very secure building (and help may for it if necessary).

That's a good point--I agree completely.

[pearlieq]

Originally Posted by Gruntina

But maybe I am the oddball here... I have 4 interchangeable outfits for work and only two work shoes and two exercise shoes. I have 2 rings (my engagement ring and wedding band) and 6 pairs of earrings that I wear. I do have make-up but stopped wearing them for daily use. I won’t go into the details of my undergarments and the like. Maybe that is why I think it’s a luxury for 50 pairs of shoes and etc.
I am quite content with that. I love to not have too many choices and more time to relax in the mornings before heading to work. Unlike my sister, I can run out the door in an instant if something comes up without the worry I don’t have my face painted.

I think I'm a lot like you. I have a serviceable wardrobe that is clean and works for most occasions. I don't need a whole lot of fancy clothes or to slavishly follow trends. I have a few pieces that I splurged on, but that's discretionary spending.

I don't wear makeup except for on special occasions (not worth the money or time for me), and I don't have an elaborate hairstyle or lots of jewelry. I don't need 56 separate moisturizers and potions to get ready in the morning. I own 8 pairs of shoes--about the same as DH.

I don't think of myself as "butch", unattractive, or lacking style. I prefer to consider myself simple, clean, natural, and unaffected.

I don't begrudge anyone wanting to be more elaborate with their personal habits or clothing--it can be fun and some people really enjoy it. But you just can't blur the line between needs and wants.

[Broken Arrow]

Originally Posted by Gruntina

Have you seen men showing off tools to other men? I know my guy does. He has more than he needs because he is fascinated with them. He use household as an excuse to buy them but does he get the chore done? He also has a collection of about 50 flashlights.

Haha, now that's my kinda guy....

I mean, I could see why you would be upset. As neat as his tools and flashlights may be, he doesn't actually need all that. Absolutely.

Say, is he home right now? Just wondering what kind of flashlights... hello? Hello?

[jIM_Ohio]

when single, it could go either way. Men with toys and beer (and buying women drinks) to women and their necessities.

A man's expenses will spike before he gets married. Engagement rings are not cheap. If man insists on getting a similar engagement gift back (I got a 300 disc CD player, satellite dish and surround sound) it all evens out.

A tux for a wedding is around $100. My wife's wedding dress was $700. From that point forward it is clearly more expensive being a woman.

[Gruntina]

Originally Posted by jIM_Ohio

A tux for a wedding is around $100. My wife's wedding dress was $700. From that point forward it is clearly more expensive being a woman.

True! Wedding expenses is something that cost more for the women regardless if the women paid for it or if her family paid. I miss the very old days where the men had to have a house built in order to marry a women. lol!

[LuxLiving]

ehh, we bought my son a very nice tux at a garage sale for $10.

[Caoineag]

I resent the implication that as a girl I don't have expensive electronics (I am the video gamer and computer freak in my house). :P

Also, on the plain dressing issue, I would like to point out that where you work has a big impact on how expensive your wardrobe is required to be for both genders. I am definitely the simplest dressed person in my office and it has been noted.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Women for sure. My husband and I use the same shampoo, facial wash, etc. It's cheap stuff, but at least it's the same.

However, when you have less than 2 cm hair and my hair is 12 inches, um who do you think uses more shampoo? I use a razor to shave my legs, he doesn't. I use lotion afterwards, he doesn't.

He only uses 1 electric razor to shave. This does not count the feminine products. Also consider I need a "purse" to go out, he carries just a wallet. Since when do women only carry wallets?

Toilet paper, need I mention how much more women need to use because we sit? He mentions it all the time! And since we have a male roomie, whose had guests, he's noticed how little he uses and how much female guests use.

These are just a few differences in things which are supposed to be equal! Sorry but it doesn't work out fairly.

[Gruntina]

Can I change my mind?

As far as the nitty gritty bare basic, I can see it can cost more for women as they have to deal with more(except I do not believe men eat a mere 400 calories more than women, its seems a lot more by looking at consumption in the general public) this could break it even with the money that goes to the hygiene product. I could argue that men are the cause of pregnancy in women and they cause 50% of the medical bill to happen even though it is not on their bodies lol!

In a light note of general spending - I do feel that men go for bigger ticket item more often than women.

[Broken Arrow]

Originally Posted by Caoineag

I resent the implication that as a girl I don't have expensive electronics (I am the video gamer and computer freak in my house). :P

Oh behalf of internet geeks everywhere, I salute you.

[Snave]

I'm going to have to go with women as well. I won't say froma necessities standpoint, b/c I am sure anyone could find less expensive places to get hair cuts, nails done, etc... but if you throw that into a "semi-necessity" category, then it has to be women. My haircut costs $11. I gurantee my wife would not go to Jack's Barbershop to get her hair done. I also don't get my nails done, buy make-up, etc... If you throw in hobbies, etc...I would say that in our hosehold, when it comes to hobbies, mine are more expensive. I seem to have the higher priced toys. So, I guess it evens out.

[cptacek]

Originally Posted by Gruntina

I think it is the same with cars where a women may feel unsafe if having a clunker that can break down in the middle of nowhere.

In hindsight, it was a mistake, but I bought a new pickup because I was driving 8 hours one way about once a month to see my family. I didn't want to be stuck in the middle of Oklahoma in the middle of the night if something went wrong