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 for. TikTok creator @samjamessssss explains it perfectly:
"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 me at least. Returning an item of clothing feels like I've made money. Paying back a friend with a forgotten £14 sitting on my Monzo feels like I'm quids in. The mental gymnastics required to justify 'little treat' purchases is something that comes easily to me and, because of that, girl math does also.
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.
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Recently, during the girl math section of their podcast, the hosts helped a caller justify NZD $5,600 that she had spent on attending all four nights of Taylor Swift's concert in Sydney, along with flights and accommodation.
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 creatively. TikTok creator @mckennaelianna detailed the way she does in another now-viral video with over 11 million views.
"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 I'm OK with it. 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.
Morgan Fargo is a freelance beauty and wellness editor. Her CV includes Women's Health Magazine UK (and sister publication Women's Health Australia), Stylist Magazine and more.
