Worries about money: Women feel more financially insecure

Women are more likely than men to feel uncertain about their financial security in old age. This emerges from a representative online survey commissioned by the independent money guide Finanztip.

As a result, 47 percent of women are very or very worried about their retirement planning. For men it is 35 percent. Insecurity is particularly great among young women: Only 37 percent of 18 to 29 year olds feel safe when it comes to personal finances - for men of the same age it is 55 percent.

No money to take precautions

The current life situation often also plays a role: many women simply do not have the financial flexibility to make more provisions. Almost 45 percent cite a lack of money as the biggest hurdle. After regular expenses, a good one in four women (26 percent) have less than 50 euros left each month or nothing at all to save, invest or put aside.

Among men, 36 percent say they are currently unable to do more for their future because they have too little financial flexibility. 17 percent have less than 50 euros left per month or nothing at all to save.

Rising cost of living

There are different reasons for the worse financial situation of women. In the survey, women cited rising living costs (51 percent), low income (36 percent) and debts and loans (22 percent) as the most important factors for their financial situation. Working hours also have an impact: 15 percent of women see part-time or reduced working hours as an influencing factor. For men it is only seven percent.

The fact that women mention part-time work significantly more often is because they work part-time more often, as shown by the Gender Hours Gap published by the Federal Statistical Office. While men worked an average of 34 hours per week in paid work across all employment relationships in 2025, women did just under 28 hours per week.

This means that in 2025 women spent 18 percent less time on paid work than men. And at the same time, women do 72 billion hours of unpaid care work in Germany every year, according to a study commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth.

No other financial products necessary

Many women want more financial flexibility for their financial future. 37 percent say this. One in five would like understandable explanations (20 percent), 17 percent would like simple step-by-step instructions.

"Women don't need other financial products. But they want understandable guidance that takes their own life situation into account - such as parental leave, part-time work or their own retirement provision," says the managing director of Finanztip, Mirjam Mohr.