Women engage more with their finances than men - so why do they report less confidence?

Bristol, UK. 8th March 2025: New research reveals that while women interact with their finances more frequently than men, they feel twice as uncertain about managing their money. Why? A mix of social challenges, time constraints, and outdated societal norms.

To mark International Women’s Day, Loqbox – the UK’s leading credit-building business – has released exclusive research highlighting a clear divide in financial confidence between men and women. The data reveals that women check and interact with their finances more often than men. Yet, despite this, they are more likely to feel uncertain about where to start and less in control of their money.

Key findings:

• Women check their finances daily, more than men (17% vs. 13%), yet they are twice as likely to feel uncertain about how to manage their money (9% vs. 4%).
• Men are 36% more likely to feel “in control” of their finances than women (34% vs. 25%) – but is this confidence or overconfidence?
• Women cite time constraints as a major barrier (13% vs. 8% of men), reflecting the extra responsibilities they juggle and the real effort it takes to manage money well.

Dani Palmer, Chief Marketing Officer at Loqbox, says: “This isn’t about capability – women are more engaged with their finances than men, but they’re also facing greater constraints, earning less over their lifetimes, taking career breaks, and retiring with smaller pensions. They’re aware of what’s required to manage money well, but that awareness can sometimes translate into feeling ‘less in control’.

“The problem isn’t women lacking confidence. The problem is a financial system that wasn’t designed for them. We need to stop framing women as needing ‘more confidence’ and start fixing the barriers that hold them back.”

Bea Gelder, People Director at Loqbox, added: “Women don’t need financial confidence lessons, they need real-world solutions that fit their lives. They’re juggling careers, families, businesses, and everything in between. The last thing they need is to be told they should just ‘be more confident.’

“We need to create financial products and education that actually work for women – giving them back time, control, and options that fit their reality. It’s about removing barriers, not just telling women to push through them.”

“This International Women’s Day, let’s move beyond just celebrating achievements. Let’s talk about real financial change. That means normalising money conversations, demanding financial equity, and giving women the tools they need to take control of their financial futures – without hesitation, guilt, or barriers.”