I have often wondered why some women are of the impression that they can have it all, without giving anything back. As the Saudi Arabian ambassador to the USA rightly put it ” a woman truly has her liberty when she can make financial decisions for herself.” No woman should be naïve enough to think otherwise.
What is Money?
Money is defined as a current medium of exchange in the form of coins and banknotes; coins and banknotes collectively. It is payment for work; wages. It is also the assets, property, and resources owned by someone or something; wealth” (Oxford Dictionary)
It is very common to see women around the world and especially in a masculine society like Africa, who is 100 per cent dependent on spouses or partners for their livelihood. This way of life is not sustainable and it should not be encouraged!
In Genesis 2:10-14, it is written that a river in Eden was separated into four rivers (Pishon, Gihon, Chidekel (the Tigris), and Phirat (the Euphrates).
A wise man once said this; “if the garden of Eden where God and his original creation resided needed 4 river streams to water it, then all humans including women need at least 4 sources of income to live comfortably.” What this means is that; making your man your only source of income, isn’t the smartest move.
Many would argue that the man is the breadwinner and should provide for his family. Whilst this is true, it should be noted that when God decided to give Eve to Adam, he said “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper as his complement( Genesis 2:14).”
God wasn’t giving a burden, a child, a dependent or a trouble maker to Adam. God knew that the man needed the woman’s help to navigate through life.
Some Shocking Statistics About Women, and Money.
Ms Kim Kiyosaki wrote a book “Rich Woman” in which she made some shocking revelations when it comes to women and money;
- In the first year after a divorce, a woman’s standard of living drops an average of 73%.
- Of the elderly living in poverty, 3 out of 4 are women and 80% of them were not poor when their husbands were alive.Â
- Nearly 7 out of 10 women will live in poverty some time in their lives.Â
6 Reasons Why Women Should Earn Their Cash.
Contrary to decades ago when women were seen as housewives only, the new generation of women are very well educated, professionals, who participate greatly in the evolution of our society. This can be reflected in an increase in the number of financially independent women like Oprah Winfrey, who alone is worth $3.5 billion.
1. Dilute the Extent of Dependence on a Man.
There’s a misconception that women who make their own money will find it hard to coexist with their partners. On the contrary, women who ask for money to fuel their car, go to a beauty salon, buy clothes, and even their sanitary pads, are likely to be disrespected in future by their partners.
Both the woman and the man should be able to meet halfway to sort out the economics of the home. The man should not be overwhelmed to the point where he loses his cool, develops stress, and eventually die from a heart attack.
Women should be able to relieve their partners of micro expenses. This will not only earn them respect and consideration, but will also reduce their partner’s stress levels (better health), and therefore, foster a happier and longer relationship bond.
2. Fulfil Her Passions.
Ever heard the saying “what a man can do, a woman can do better”? This couldn’t be truer! Women can multi-task fantastically well. And besides being a girlfriend, wife, mom, home builder and all that, they can contribute much more to society. Each one of us was sent to earth with a solution to issue mankind is already facing.
Women are endowed with natural gifts that can be showcased in engineering, entrepreneurship, activism, political and social leadership. A woman simply has it all and can do it all.
All ambitious women would most probably be passionate about one or two projects which can be financed with their own money, without having to convince their partner to believe in them or help fund their passion.
Princess Diana is a perfect example of such a woman.
When you earn your own money, you are more than capable of achieving your goals and fulfilling your destiny. Earning your cash simply empowers you!
3. Discipline Your Partner/Spouse.
If you take a keen look at homes where the men are serial cheaters and openly disrespect their partners or wives, the woman likely has little or no economic power.
For example, men often get away with open cheating when they have insignificant respect for women. This is prevalent because the man is of the impression that the woman will succumb to this emotional torture and blackmail as long as he’s funding her livelihood.
Women who are victims of such a men often have children, and such men will make sure to keep you financially dependent on then to enable their sinister actions.
A financially viable woman who can pay her rent, buy a car, shop for clothes, pay for fancy holidays, fund her dreams, and provide for her offspring will surely tame a cheating partner.
Being financially handicapped will tie you down to a man who treats you like his housekeeper, simply because you cannot afford to live without him.
Generally, men will not mess about with a financially independent partner or wife, because she is well capable of walking out any day, anytime. Earning your own money as a woman empowers you to walk out the door if you are unhappy with the status quo.
4. Economic Stability.
Earning your cash as a woman provides a safety net for you and your family. Judging from my personal experience, my dad may have been wealthy but after his sudden demise, life quickly became sour. After all, your man could be made redundant, lose his business, become ill, leave you for another woman, and may even die suddenly.
Some statistics revealed that men over 50 around the world are 60% more likely than women to die early. And based on Kim Kiyosaki’s findings, women are likely to suffer financially in the case of a separation, Incapacitation or death of their partner/spouse.
You never know when you will have to step into the man’s shoes and pay for your livelihood, or that of your entire family. Don’t be caught off guard like the 5 foolish virgins in the bible (Mathew 25:13).
More so, behind every great man is a greater woman. A man could be great on his own but with his partner, he is greater, and vice versa. Women should therefore strive to synergise their income and efforts with that of their partner, for greater returns. After all, the more the income the merrier. Family holidays, private schools for kids, and other pleasures will be taken care of effortlessly.
5. Exercise Your Knowledge And Skill.
I had a chat with an eligible bachelor who is passionate about entrepreneurship and female empowerment. This gentleman asked me why parents even bothered spending a dime to educate their female children.
He asked, “If they aspired to marry them off to a man who would make them housewives, why to bother educating them?” Some women spend years to gain formal education, surely this should not go to waste!
After acquiring all this knowledge, skills and experiences, isn’t it natural to step into the market place and trade your value for a reward? By putting your know how to constructive use, your value becomes a blessing to the world, you may provide employment for others, whilst fostering a robust self-esteem and financial wellness.
6. Complement Your Partner/Spouse.
When women fall for the full-time housewife story, they shoot themselves in the foot. No doubt, it is fantastic to be home to raise your kids, however, that’s a story most women tell themselves, for not putting in an extra effort to earn their own money. Remember that being limited to the role of a housewife (chores, kids, marital duties) caps your intellectual, professional, mental and emotional growth.
You become tied to this one man who on the other hand is growing exponentially, as a result of his job, outdoor exposure, and interactions. When the woman gets to the point where she’s unable to have the same level of conversation with her partner, they’ll likely drift apart. Their interests are no longer the same and they find it hard to talk about other stuff besides kids and food. This induces the man to eventually find the housewife/partner not as challenging, interesting or as smart as some of the women he encounters in his daily engagements. Every woman must be ambitious enough, be counted amongst the entrepreneurial women of our generation, live a fulfilled life, and grow together with their partner. Women must simply have A Currency Called Confidence..
Women are well capable of supplementing men in different aspects of life, just like God originally intended. Start a business today, no matter how small, and earn your own money.
Read Best Tips On How to Start and Grow Your Small Business.
Be a role model to your female and male children, whilst balancing everything up as a wife or partner.
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