no tech for 1 year

SYDNEY – The handwritten letters from our 13-year-old daughter sit on our coffee table in a clear plastic folder.

With their drawings of pink flowers and long paragraphs marked with underlined and crossed-out words, they are an abridged, analogue version of her spirited personality – and a way for my wife, Diana, and me to keep her close as we watch TV and fiddle with our mobile phones.

They would not exist, of course, if Amelia were home with us in Sydney. But she is hundreds of kilometres away at a uniquely Australian school in the bush, where she is spending her whole ninth-grade school year without the Internet, a phone, a computer or even a camera with a screen.

Our friends and relatives in the United States can hardly believe this is even a possibility. There, it is considered bold just to talk about taking smartphones from students during class time.

Here in Australia, a growing number of respected schools lock up smart everything for months. They make tap-and-swipe teens learn, play and communicate only through real-life interaction or words scrawled on the page.

“What a gift this is,” we told Amelia, when she was accepted, hesitated, then decided to go.

What I underestimated was how hard it would be for us at home. Removing the liveliest member of our family, without calls or texts, felt like someone had taken one of my internal organs across state lines without telling me how to heal.

Yet, as we adjust, her correspondence and ours – traveling hundreds of kilometres, as if from one era to another – are teaching us all more than we had imagined. The gift of digital detox that we thought Australia was giving our daughter has also become a revelatory bequest for us – her American parents and her older brother.

Something in the act of writing, sending and waiting days or weeks for a reply, and in the physical and social challenges experienced by our daughter at a distance, is changing all of our personal operating systems. Without the ever-present immediacy of digital connection, even just temporarily, can a family be rewired?

Amelia is at Timbertop, the ninth-grade campus of Geelong Grammar, one of Australia’s oldest private schools, which has made outdoor education a priority since the 1950s.

The idea was to build courage, curiosity and compassion among adolescents, and their ranks have ranged from the children of sheep farmers and diplomats, as well as Britain’s King Charles III. He spent a semester at Timbertop in 1966 and later said it was “by far the best part” of his education.

The year is meant to be difficult.

Before we dropped Amelia off in late January, we received a video from Timbertop showing teachers sitting at picnic tables in the sun, warning that confidence and personal growth would come only with struggles and perseverance.

Within 24 hours, we started to understand what that meant. Not for Amelia. For me and Diana.

A few days in, I also could not avoid tough questions about myself. Was the fact that it was so hard to lose contact a comment on my over-involved parenting? My own ridiculous addiction to tech-fuelled immediacy? Or both?

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“Withdrawal” was a word we heard discussed in Timbertop, or “TT”, circles.

In Amelia’s first letter, arriving after a week that felt like a year, we could certainly see the symptoms. She was anxious about friendships, wanting them to form as quickly as they do on Snapchat.

In her Timbertop interview, when asked about homesickness, she had bluntly said “that is the least of my worries”, but, in fact, Amelia missed us – even her brother. Her early letters to us and to him made clear that she found the intensity of her emotions surprising.

Diana and I wrote back right away with encouragement.

The experiences Amelia told us about, including the occasional mention of a class in positive psychology to identify personal strengths, spoke to the importance of play and pushing adolescents into environments where they can learn they are far more capable of managing risks and taking on tough tasks than they (or we) might think.

But I was also starting to find value in the retelling, in the slow sharing of our lives by analogue means – in the letter writing itself.

Seeking more insight, I reached out to John Marsden, former head of the English department at Timbertop and a best-selling young adult novelist who later founded his own experiential learning school north of Melbourne, Australia.

He laughed when I asked about the meaning of letters. “It’s been happening for thousands of years,” he said. “It is just new for this generation.”

He went on to suggest that what I was discovering in our letters might, in fact, be something significant – what he often tells parents they should aim for in their own families, in their own ways.

He called it a “gradual divergence”.

Amelia’s experience involves not just the luxury of removal – the taking away of social media. It also includes an addition, something the letters capture and embody: the gift of agency.

Far from home at 13, in a messed-up world, she has landed where there is intellectual space and the means to practise a method for asserting and exploring who she is and wants to become. She has found a room of one’s own.

I am tempted to send her a letter detailing my discovery. Maybe this time, I will write it by hand. Better yet, maybe I will let her tell me what she thinks when she gets the urge. NYTIMES

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water

SINGAPORE – Wet weather and cloudy skies provided Singapore some relief recently, but this does not mean your children should put away their water bottles.

Rain or shine, it is important to stay hydrated and it is not just to keep one from feeling thirsty, says dietitian Chong Yan Fong from the Nutrition and Dietetics Department at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH).

A fun fact to share with your kids is that 70 per cent of the human body is made up of water.

When they do not drink enough fluids, they can struggle to concentrate and stay alert in class, which affects their learning. They are also likely to feel more tired and irritable, she adds.

In some cases of mild dehydration, they may feel more thirsty, have dry mouth or skin and suffer from headaches and constipation.

Ms Chong points out that water – the main property of blood – is essential to help carry nutrients and oxygen to cells in the body, support the immune system, digest food and flush out waste materials.

The body loses water throughout the day and it should be replaced constantly, even on breezy days or when a person is not exercising.

During rainy weather, most people tend to feel less thirsty as it seems that the body does not need water to cool itself down.

“But your body is still losing moisture. Not drinking water or drinking less because you do not feel thirsty increases the risk of dehydration,” she says.

If fluids are not replenished in time, dehydration can progress from mild to severe, leading to rapid breathing, increased heart rate, dizziness, seizures and loss of consciousness.

Parents and caregivers should be mindful to get the younger ones, who cannot verbalise if they are thirsty, to drink regularly, especially if they are sick or out in the heat playing.

Children are more prone to dehydration, as their bodies are not as efficient at cooling down as those of adults. Encourage them to take water breaks every 20 to 30 minutes when they are active outdoors.

How much water should kids drink?

The amount of fluids that children need daily depends on various factors such as age, weight and physical activity levels.

They may also need to drink more when they are ill, for example, when there is severe vomiting or diarrhoea, and when they take certain prescribed medications such as diuretics.

Generally, the colour of kids’ urine can help determine if they are drinking enough.

“If they are urinating several times a day and the urine is pale and odourless, it is a good indication that they are well hydrated,” Ms Chong says. “Medium-dark yellow urine which smells suggests they need to drink more water.”

While needs vary between individuals, here is a recommendation of how much fluids a healthy child should take daily. One cup is 250ml.

One to two years old: four to six cups

Three to six years old: five to seven cups

Seven to 12 years old: seven to nine cups

13 to 18 years old: nine to 12 cups

Adults: eight to 10 cups 

Sugar-sweetened beverages, including bubble tea and sports drinks, are best avoided. They are not as effective at hydrating your body, do not provide nutrition and can contribute to excess weight gain and tooth decay.

“Encourage your children to choose water instead of sugary drinks. It is extremely important to adopt healthy eating habits from young,” Ms Chong says.

But what if your kids do not like the taste of water? Here are five simple and healthy ways to encourage and increase their fluid intake.

1. Infused water

Add fruit to water to give it a boost of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. PHOTO: PIXABAY

Add natural flavours to water by adding fruit, vegetables or herbs that your children like.

Try different combinations of ingredients to give water a boost of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

For example, try adding sliced strawberries and basil leaves; cucumber, mint and lime; grapefruit, orange and rosemary; or passion fruit and pineapple. Serve the beverage chilled.

2. Frozen fruity cubes

Freeze diced fresh fruit or 100 per cent fruit juice with no added sugar, and add the cubes to a cup of water.

The cubes give the water a hint of fruity flavour and provide small amounts of vitamin C. The variety of colours will also entice children to drink up.

3. Yogurt fruit popsicles

Add diced fresh fruit into small containers or popsicle moulds, fill with plain low- or non-fat yogurt and transfer to the freezer until set.

An alternative method is to puree your choice of fruit – for example, berries, banana or mangoes – with yogurt and divide them evenly into the moulds before freezing.

Get creative with your children and involve them in the preparation.

These popsicles will not only cool them down, but also offer a good mix of protein, vitamins, minerals and probiotics.

4. Fresh fruit

Offer fruit such as watermelon, oranges, peaches, papaya, pineapples and strawberries, which have high water content.

Whole fruit has fibre, vitamins and minerals. It is preferable to fruit juices which contain concentrated sugars and less fibre. Fruit juices can also be acidic, which can increase the risk of tooth decay.

If your children crave juices, look for those labelled with no added sugars or are freshly squeezed. Consider diluting them with water to reduce the acidity and sugar content.

5. Milk

Calcium is the key building block for strong, healthy bones and teeth, and is especially important during childhood and teenage years.

Low-fat milk as well as unsweetened, calcium-fortified dairy alternatives such as soya, oat and almond milks are good calcium sources.

Drinking milk is a good way to ensure adequate calcium and fluid intake.

Enjoy it chilled to beat the heat. Depending on your child’s age and needs, include two to three cups of milk a day as part of a balanced diet.

However, milk-based beverages containing added sugars, such as malted drinks, milkshakes, smoothies and iced chocolate, should be limited.

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Sun protection a must, regardless of weather

Apply sunscreen with an SPF level of at least 30 and broad spectrum protection when heading outdoors with your child. PHOTO: ST FILE

Sunscreen is not just for sunny days. You and your child should apply it even when the weather is cool as the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays can still cause damage.

“Being geographically located one degree from the Equator, Singapore receives a large amount of sunlight throughout the year,” says Associate Professor Mark Koh, head and senior consultant from KKH’s Department of Dermatology.

UV radiation is a part of the sunlight spectrum and is made up of three parts – UVA, UVB and UVC.

UVA and UVB can reach Earth in significant amounts, as opposed to UVC, which is mostly absorbed by the ozone layer.

Prolonged exposure to UV rays can lead to sunburn and cause premature skin ageing.

In the long run, frequent sunburns are known to increase the risk of developing melanoma, a cancerous type of mole, as well as other forms of skin cancer.

Apart from its effects on the skin, excessive long-term sun exposure can lead to eye problems, such as cataracts, and suppression of the immune system, which reduces the body’s ability to fight infections.

Prof Koh says sun protection should ideally start at birth.

Infants below six months old should not be exposed to direct sunlight, as sunscreens are generally not indicated to be used on them.

Babies older than six months need sun protection measures when they go outdoors. Choose a sunscreen with SPF level of at least 30 and with broad spectrum protection that covers UVA and UVB rays. Reapply it every 30 to 60 minutes.

If your child’s skin turns red and itchy after using sunscreen, it is best to consult a doctor.

During extreme hot weather, children with eczema should avoid going outdoors as excessive sweating can irritate their skin condition.

Prof Koh says they can take short cool baths twice daily, but avoid using harsh soaps and bubble baths. Follow up with applying moisturiser.

To further relieve the itch, consider using a moisturiser that contains low concentrations of menthol or place the moisturiser in the fridge.

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Muhammad Fathullah Asfa Muhammad (Rmps) <muhammad_fathullah_asfa_muhammad@students.edu.sg>

gen z richer

Generation Z is taking over. In the rich world, there are at least 250 million people born between 1997 and 2012. About half are now in a job. In the average American workplace, the number of Gen Zers (sometimes also known as “Zoomers”) working full-time is about to surpass the number of full-time baby boomers, those born from 1945 to 1964, whose careers are winding down. Gen Z is also grabbing power: America now has more than 6,000 Zoomer chief executives and 1,000 Zoomer politicians. As the generation becomes more influential, companies, governments and investors need to understand it.

Pundits produce a lot of fluff about the cohort. Recent “research” from Frito-Lay, a crisp maker, finds that Gen Zers have a strong preference for “snacks that leave remnants on their fingers”, such as cheese dust. Yet different generations also display deeper differences in their personalities, in part due to the economic context in which they grow up. Germans who reached adulthood during the high-inflation 1920s came to detest rising prices. Americans who lived through the Depression tended to avoid investing in the stock market.

Many argue that Gen Z is defined by its anxiety. Such worriers include Professor Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist at New York University, whose new book, The Anxious Generation, is making waves. In some ways, Gen Zers are unusual. Young people today are less likely to form relationships than those of yesteryear. They are more likely to be depressed or say they were assigned the wrong sex at birth. They are less likely to drink, have sex, be in a relationship – indeed to do anything exciting. Americans aged between 15 and 24 spend just 38 minutes a day socialising in person on average, down from almost an hour in the 2000s, according to official data. Prof Haidt lays the blame on smartphones and the social media they enable.

His book has provoked an enormous reaction. On April 10, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders echoed Prof Haidt’s arguments as she outlined plans to regulate children’s use of smartphones and social media. Britain’s government is considering similar measures. But not everyone agrees with Prof Haidt’s thesis. And the pushing and shoving over Gen Z’s anxiety has obscured another way in which the cohort is distinct. In financial terms, Gen Z is doing extraordinarily well. This, in turn, is changing the generation’s relationship with work.

Consider the group that preceded Gen Z: millennials, who were born between 1981 and 1996. Many entered the workforce at a time when the world was reeling from the global financial crisis of 2007-09, during which young people suffered disproportionately. In 2012-14, more than half of Spanish youth who wanted a job could not find one. Greece’s youth unemployment rate was even higher. Britney Spears’ Work Bitch, a popular song released in 2013, had an uncompromising message for young millennials: if you want good things, you have to slog.

Low unemployment

Gen Zers who have left education face very different circumstances. Youth unemployment across the rich world – at about 13 per cent – has not been this low since 1991. Greece’s youth unemployment rate has fallen by half from its peak. Hoteliers in Kalamata, a tourist destination, complain about a labour shortage, something unthinkable just a few years ago. Popular songs reflect the zeitgeist. In 2022, the protagonist in a Beyonce song boasted, “I just quit my job”. Olivia Rodrigo, a 21-year-old singer popular with American Gen Zers, complains that a former love interest’s “career is really taking off”.

Many have chosen to study subjects that help them find work. In Britain and America, Gen Zers are avoiding the humanities, and are going instead for more obviously useful things like economics and engineering. Among those who do not attend university, vocational qualifications are increasingly popular. Then they go on to benefit from tight labour markets. Young people, following Beyonce’s protagonist, can quit their job and find another one if they want more money.

In America, hourly pay growth among 16- to 24-year-olds recently hit 13 per cent year on year, compared with 6 per cent for workers aged 25 to 54. This was the highest “young person premium” since reliable data began. In Britain, where youth pay is measured differently, in 2023, people aged 18 to 21 saw average hourly pay rise by an astonishing 15 per cent, outstripping pay rises among other ages by an unusually wide margin. In New Zealand, the average hourly pay of people aged 20 to 24 increased by 10 per cent, compared with an average of 6 per cent.

Strong wage growth boosts family incomes. A new paper by Dr Kevin Corinth of the American Enterprise Institute, a think-tank, and Dr Jeff Larrimore of the Federal Reserve assesses Americans’ household income by generation, after accounting for taxes, government transfers and inflation. Millennials were somewhat better off than Gen X – those born between 1965 and 1980 – when they were the same age. Zoomers, however, are much better off than millennials were at the same age. The average 25-year-old Gen Zer has an annual household income of over US$40,000 (S$54,500), more than 50 per cent above the average baby boomer at the same age.

Gen Z’s economic power was on display at a recent concert by Rodrigo in New York. The mostly female teenagers and 20-somethings in attendance had paid hundreds of dollars for a ticket. Queues for merchandise stalls, selling US$50 T-shirts, stretched around the arena.

Rodrigo will have no trouble shifting merchandise in other parts of the world, as her tour moves across the Atlantic. That is in part because Gen Zers who have entered the workplace are earning good money throughout the rich world. In 2007, the average net income of French people aged 16 to 24 was 87 per cent of the overall average. Now, it is equal to 92 per cent. In a few places, including Croatia and Slovenia, Gen Zers are now bringing in as much as the average.

Some Gen Zers protest, claiming that higher incomes are a mirage since they do not account for the exploding cost of college and housing. After all, global house prices are close to all-time highs, and graduates have more debt than before. In reality, though, Gen Zers are coping because they earn so much. In 2022, Americans under 25 spent 43 per cent of their post-tax income on housing and education, including interest on debt from college – slightly below the average for under-25s from 1989 to 2019. Their home ownership rates are higher than millennials at the same age. They also save more post-tax income than young people did in the 1980s and 1990s. They are, in other words, better off.

ST ILLUSTRATION: MIEL

What does this wealth mean?

It can seem as if millennials grew up thinking a job was a privilege, and acted accordingly. They are deferential to bosses and eager to please. Zoomers, by contrast, have grown up believing that a job is basically a right, meaning they have a different attitude to work. In 2023, Gen Zers boasted about “quiet quitting”, where they put in just enough effort not to be fired. Others talk of “bare minimum Monday”. The “girlboss” archetype, who seeks to wrestle corporate control away from domineering men, appeals to millennial women. Gen Z ones are more likely to discuss the idea of being “snail girls”, who take things slowly and prioritise self-care.

The data support the memes. In 2022, Americans aged between 15 and 24 spent 25 per cent less time on “working and work-related activities” than in 2007. A new paper published by the International Monetary Fund analyses the number of hours that people say they would like to work. Not long ago, young people wanted to work a lot more than older people. Now they want to work less. According to analysis by Dr Jean Twenge of San Diego State University, the share of American 12th-graders (aged 17 or 18) who see work as a “central part of life” has dropped sharply.

Another consequence is that Gen Zers are less likely to be entrepreneurs. We estimate that just 1.1 per cent of 20-somethings in the European Union run a business that employs someone else – and in recent years the share has drifted down. In the late 2000s, more than 1 per cent of the world’s billionaires, as measured by Forbes, a magazine, were millennials. Back then, pundits obsessed over ultra-young tech founders, such as Mr Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook), Mr Patrick Collison (Stripe) and Mr Evan Spiegel (Snapchat). Today, by contrast, less than 0.5 per cent on the Forbes list are Zoomers. Who can name a famous Gen Z start-up founder?

Gen Zers are also producing fewer innovations. According to associate professor Russell Funk of the University of Minnesota, young people are less likely to file patents than they were in the recent past. Or consider the Billboard Hot 100, measuring America’s most popular songs. In 2008, 42 per cent of hits were sung by millennials; 15 years later, only 29 per cent were sung by Gen Zers. Taylor Swift, the world’s most popular singer-songwriter, titled her most famous album 1989, after the year of her birth. The world is still waiting for someone to produce 2004.

How long will Generation Z’s economic advantage last? A recession would hit young people harder than others, as recessions always do. Artificial intelligence could destabilise the global economy, even if young people may in time be better placed to benefit from the disruption.

For now, though, Generation Z has a lot to be happy about. Between numbers at Madison Square Garden, Olivia Rodrigo sits at the piano and counsels her fans to be thankful for all that they have. “Growing up is (expletive deleted) awesome,” she says. “You have all the time to do all the things you want to do.”

The time and the money.

© 2024 THE ECONOMIST NEWSPAPER LIMITED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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girl math

SINGAPORE - When a friend attended the Taylor Swift concert in early March, it was “free”.

This was not because she did not shell out over $200 for the tickets, but because she paid for the tickets in July 2023, and hence no actual money was spent on the day itself.

And you’ve guessed it right if you thought this has to be “girl math”.

This was a buzz phrase in 2023, with the TikTok trend’s hashtag racking up views of over three billion. And while we might use the term less now, the sentiment behind it remains – the use of excuses for indulgent purchases.

I find myself indulging in girl math from time to time. If I resist the temptation to buy bubble tea today, I save $4.50, which means I am $4.50 richer and I can happily spend it on something else another day. In reality, my bank account sadly continues to hold the same amount, with no extra inflows just because I stopped myself from spending some money.

But this grows even more dangerous when it comes to bigger-ticket purchases. For instance, I spent $500 less on flight tickets than I thought I would because I got them during a sale. This means I can spend $500 more on accommodation and get a nice swanky place in the middle of town on my next trip.

It seems like I am just one of the many who are girl mathing. The term started making its rounds in July 2023 when New Zealand radio hosts discussed a dress that cost NZ$330 (S$268). Their conclusion was to divide the cost by three because the dress would be worn thrice, meaning the dress really cost NZ$110.

It is all tongue-in-cheek and in good fun, but girl math has its fair share of serious critics who brand it as irresponsible spending, or take people to task for using it to justify logical leaps in spending habits.

Many of us often try to give various reasons to justify our spending, even if these reasons do not make sense, said Mr Ian Tan, a lecturer in strategic communications at the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information at NTU. 

Girl math was a fresh spin on this behaviour, resonating with viewers because it exaggerates the quirky excuses we sometimes make for indulgent purchases, he said.

He added that the trend could have gained additional traction due to the post-Covid-19 period of revenge travel and revenge spending by many consumers.

But DBS Bank’s head of financial literacy planning Lorna Tan said that more importantly, it points to the influence of psychology on an individual’s financial choices, and the fact that people cannot separate emotions from decisions around money and investing.

“To reduce this bias, consider your finances holistically. This means understanding what your personal balance sheet is and being able to understand how one financial decision affects another. After all, money is money no matter where it’s from and where it’s lost,” she said.

With greater clarity on one’s financial situation, a person can build a plan that includes a realistic budget to better manage cash flows and achieve saving and spend targets, she added. Set aside at least three to six months of emergency cash, have adequate insurance and invest wisely for the mid and long term.

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OCBC Bank head of wealth advisory Aaron Chwee said that while some social media trends are just for kicks, having a warped or illogical basis for making financial decisions can have detrimental effects on one’s financial goals.

“For instance, if you believe that using cash to make a purchase is ‘free’ because your bank balance doesn’t drop, or if you go to a store and you don’t buy anything, you made money – well, you might need a reality check,” he said.

He noted that financial planning takes discipline and precision, such as consistently and accurately tracking expenses, so you know how much to set aside monthly for necessities.

“Only then will you be able to know how much you can afford to allocate to insurance, investments and other expenses,” he said.

But apart from the psychology of spending, girl math also takes on a social dimension because it plays on stereotypes of women being seen as impulsive and emotional, less able to handle money and unable to understand “cold, hard” finance.

In fact, the word “girl” already infantilises women, by referring to their supposed immaturity and frivolity when spending money.

In a way, girl math only makes sense to us because it speaks to cultural stereotypes that we already hold. It exposes those unspoken ideas and prejudices about gender and finance, but it also reinforces them through continuous usage.

But girl math at its heart is really gender-agnostic and also speaks to examples of “mental accounting” that have been around for a long time, said DBS’ Ms Tan.

For example, a man can say his car is “free” since he plans to use it daily for more than 10 years and it is his preferred choice over the inconvenience of not having a car and having to rely on other methods of transport, including private car-hire services, she said. A man can also say his Patek Philippe watch is “free” because he is merely looking after it for the next generation.

Hence, the term is really just the latest expression of the mental gymnastics people execute when they try to justify spending, and it became codified as a trend, thanks to platforms like TikTok. 

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Looking at data, it is also factually untrue that women’s spending habits differ significantly from men’s.

According to the 2023 OCBC Financial Wellness Index, a study which measures Singaporeans’ financial health, men and women had similar financial wellness scores. There was also an equal percentage of men and women citing “emotional” as their dominant financial personality trait, which measures an individual’s ability to separate emotions from financial decisions and assess whether they regret their choices.

“Thus, this gender stereotype is unfounded – from our index, we found that women ensure that they spend within their means, and they do not differ from men in the amount of unsecured debt they have accumulated,” Mr Chwee said.

He noted that regardless of gender, overspending is a negative financial habit.

“Everyone should spend within their means. It is important to cultivate a strong saving habit, in case emergencies like a job loss, urgent home repairs, or illness hit,” he said.

“But if you can plan your finances well, put aside sufficient emergency funds, invest for the future, buy adequate medical insurance and have some extra set aside to treat yourself to your favourite singer’s concert, then you can spend that extra budget without worrying about compromising your financial goals.”

Hence, my next trip overseas in June is not free just because I paid for the flight tickets last year. But if I have done my budget correctly and there’s money to spare, then the next trip will be guilt-free. And that’s not girl math, it’s just good maths.

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girl math v good math

SINGAPORE - When a friend attended the Taylor Swift concert in early March, it was “free”.

This was not because she did not shell out over $200 for the tickets, but because she paid for the tickets in July 2023, and hence no actual money was spent on the day itself.

And you’ve guessed it right if you thought this has to be “girl math”.

This was a buzz phrase in 2023, with the TikTok trend’s hashtag racking up views of over three billion. And while we might use the term less now, the sentiment behind it remains – the use of excuses for indulgent purchases.

I find myself indulging in girl math from time to time. If I resist the temptation to buy bubble tea today, I save $4.50, which means I am $4.50 richer and I can happily spend it on something else another day. In reality, my bank account sadly continues to hold the same amount, with no extra inflows just because I stopped myself from spending some money.

But this grows even more dangerous when it comes to bigger-ticket purchases. For instance, I spent $500 less on flight tickets than I thought I would because I got them during a sale. This means I can spend $500 more on accommodation and get a nice swanky place in the middle of town on my next trip.

It seems like I am just one of the many who are girl mathing. The term started making its rounds in July 2023 when New Zealand radio hosts discussed a dress that cost NZ$330 (S$268). Their conclusion was to divide the cost by three because the dress would be worn thrice, meaning the dress really cost NZ$110.

It is all tongue-in-cheek and in good fun, but girl math has its fair share of serious critics who brand it as irresponsible spending, or take people to task for using it to justify logical leaps in spending habits.

Many of us often try to give various reasons to justify our spending, even if these reasons do not make sense, said Mr Ian Tan, a lecturer in strategic communications at the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information at NTU. 

Girl math was a fresh spin on this behaviour, resonating with viewers because it exaggerates the quirky excuses we sometimes make for indulgent purchases, he said.

He added that the trend could have gained additional traction due to the post-Covid-19 period of revenge travel and revenge spending by many consumers.

But DBS Bank’s head of financial literacy planning Lorna Tan said that more importantly, it points to the influence of psychology on an individual’s financial choices, and the fact that people cannot separate emotions from decisions around money and investing.

“To reduce this bias, consider your finances holistically. This means understanding what your personal balance sheet is and being able to understand how one financial decision affects another. After all, money is money no matter where it’s from and where it’s lost,” she said.

With greater clarity on one’s financial situation, a person can build a plan that includes a realistic budget to better manage cash flows and achieve saving and spend targets, she added. Set aside at least three to six months of emergency cash, have adequate insurance and invest wisely for the mid and long term.

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Women hit back with ‘boy math’ after men miss the joke about ‘girl math’

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OCBC Bank head of wealth advisory Aaron Chwee said that while some social media trends are just for kicks, having a warped or illogical basis for making financial decisions can have detrimental effects on one’s financial goals.

“For instance, if you believe that using cash to make a purchase is ‘free’ because your bank balance doesn’t drop, or if you go to a store and you don’t buy anything, you made money – well, you might need a reality check,” he said.

He noted that financial planning takes discipline and precision, such as consistently and accurately tracking expenses, so you know how much to set aside monthly for necessities.

“Only then will you be able to know how much you can afford to allocate to insurance, investments and other expenses,” he said.

But apart from the psychology of spending, girl math also takes on a social dimension because it plays on stereotypes of women being seen as impulsive and emotional, less able to handle money and unable to understand “cold, hard” finance.

In fact, the word “girl” already infantilises women, by referring to their supposed immaturity and frivolity when spending money.

In a way, girl math only makes sense to us because it speaks to cultural stereotypes that we already hold. It exposes those unspoken ideas and prejudices about gender and finance, but it also reinforces them through continuous usage.

But girl math at its heart is really gender-agnostic and also speaks to examples of “mental accounting” that have been around for a long time, said DBS’ Ms Tan.

For example, a man can say his car is “free” since he plans to use it daily for more than 10 years and it is his preferred choice over the inconvenience of not having a car and having to rely on other methods of transport, including private car-hire services, she said. A man can also say his Patek Philippe watch is “free” because he is merely looking after it for the next generation.

Hence, the term is really just the latest expression of the mental gymnastics people execute when they try to justify spending, and it became codified as a trend, thanks to platforms like TikTok. 

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Looking at data, it is also factually untrue that women’s spending habits differ significantly from men’s.

According to the 2023 OCBC Financial Wellness Index, a study which measures Singaporeans’ financial health, men and women had similar financial wellness scores. There was also an equal percentage of men and women citing “emotional” as their dominant financial personality trait, which measures an individual’s ability to separate emotions from financial decisions and assess whether they regret their choices.

“Thus, this gender stereotype is unfounded – from our index, we found that women ensure that they spend within their means, and they do not differ from men in the amount of unsecured debt they have accumulated,” Mr Chwee said.

He noted that regardless of gender, overspending is a negative financial habit.

“Everyone should spend within their means. It is important to cultivate a strong saving habit, in case emergencies like a job loss, urgent home repairs, or illness hit,” he said.

“But if you can plan your finances well, put aside sufficient emergency funds, invest for the future, buy adequate medical insurance and have some extra set aside to treat yourself to your favourite singer’s concert, then you can spend that extra budget without worrying about compromising your financial goals.”

Hence, my next trip overseas in June is not free just because I paid for the flight tickets last year. But if I have done my budget correctly and there’s money to spare, then the next trip will be guilt-free. And that’s not girl math, it’s just good maths.

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