First, there were lazy girl jobs. Then girl dinner. Now, we have ~*girl math*~.
If you're not familiar, girl math is the supposedly female trait of justifying any purchase, no matter how erroneous or unbudgeted. TikTok creator @samjamessssss explains it perfectly:
@samjamessssss just girl things #girldinner #girlmath ? original sound - samjamess
"I got a Starbucks today that was $4.90 – anything under $5 feels like it's pretty much free. Girl math. Returned something at Zara that was $50, bought something else that was $100 – it only cost me $50. Girl math. Even, like, tickets that I buy months in advance, I show to the concert and I'm like, this was like a free concert, right? Girl math."
The thing about girl math is that it makes sense to most. Returning an item of clothing feels like you've made money. Free shipping on a P1,000 purchase seems like a wise financial decision. The mental gymnastics required to justify "little treat" spending is something that comes easily and girl math does also.
@fvhzm #girlmath ? original sound - FVHZM
But where did girl math come from? According to the internet, the phrase originated on the New Zealand podcast Fletch, Vaughan & Hayley.
The episode, which was first aired a month ago, released a short clip of the hosts discussing girl math on TikTok. The video has since gone viral, being viewed over 1.7 million times. Since, the hosts have helped people justify expensive concert tickets, the cost of flights, and hair extensions – all using girl math.
During the girl math section in one of their podcast episodes, the hosts helped a caller justify NZD $5,600 (P190,074.08) that she had spent on attending all four nights of Taylor Swift's concert in Sydney, along with flights and accommodation.
@fvhzm Replying to @Sarah Dennis Girl Math- The Eras Tour Edition ???? Let us know if you need us to justify your spending ???? #girlmath #theerastour #itsbasicallyfree ? original sound - FVHZM
The comment section largely agrees with the hosts. One viewer said, "She paid for it all way in advance. so once shes theres [sic] she only has to get food. the trip is technically free." Another looked at the money she'd be saving not using her home: "Hear me out she’s saving money on her water gas and electricity by not using it for 4 days."
An inventive comment focused on the value added from seeing T-Swift in the flesh, writing, "It’s a 44 song setlist so don’t forget that’s by 4 nights is 176 songs so even by the total that’s $30 per live song, that’s a bargain."
The key to girl math, it would appear, is an unfailing willingness to think seriously and creatively. TikTok creator @mckennaelianna detailed the way she does in another now-viral video with over 11 million views.
@mckennaelianna somehow it makes sense #girlmath ? original sound - kenna ????????
"Here's a list of things I firmly believe because of girl math. Anything under $5 is free. Anything I buy with a gift card is free. If I buy something and then I return it, I've made money. Going to an event or a concert is free because I purchased the tickets so long ago it doesn't even count. I load my Starbucks card in advance, so Starbucks is free. Anything discounted more than 50% is free and I am losing money by not getting it.
"If I don't buy something – like I don't buy a pair of shorts for $50 – I've made $50 and I can then go and spend $50 on something else."
If we take girl math to be a tongue-in-cheek understanding of the fact that we're all susceptible to splurge at times and that friendly support during those times is crucial then that's okay. But if you find that you're needing to use girl math almost every day, then you might be in need of a financial reset. Perhaps something the "no spend" side of TikTok could help with.
Ultimately, girl math is a funny online trend. Debt can have lifelong consequences and impact you emotionally, mentally, and physically. If the thought of confronting your back account brings you out in hives, out-of-control spending could be soon to follow. Let's start together. Here is how to make a monthly budget you stick to and this is how the experts suggest beginning to save money. Small steps. You can do it.
WORDS BY: Morgan Fargo
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This article originally appeared on Cosmopolitan.com/uk. Minor edits have been made by the Cosmo.ph editors.
