The first time I realised I had an issue even talking about money was when I was a lawyer and I had to negotiate a settlement for one of my clients. As you can imagine, being able to talk about money was a big part of my job so I had to get over it quickly, but it never felt natural, I just acted as if it was. I don't think I understood where that awkwardness came from back then, but what I was very aware of was the fact that the men around me, fellow lawyers who happen to be men, didn't seem to have the same difficulty talking about money.

I've not practiced law for years but the time I spent in negotiation rooms listening to other people, mainly men, confidently discussing money and more importantly - asking for money, really stuck with me. They knew their worth (sometimes they over knew it but that's a totally different topic for another time), and they were not shy to say it.

As I grew older I realized more and more of my female friends had real inhibitions when it came to their finances, from not knowing enough about it to feeling like it was unladylike to even mention it. Women overall are more timid to ask for raises, and in many cases women undersell themselves, all because we'd rather avoid mentioning money in the first place.

The reason for this is that women are simply not taught enough about money.

Think about it - historically women didn't even own their own money. Even wealthy women's finances were controlled by their fathers, brothers and husbands, and there was no reason for women to understand or handle it. Obviously a lot has changed from those days but something about women talking about hard cash is still considered vulgar in some cultures, and even in 2021 you sort of don't expect women to be sharks when it comes to Pounds and Dollars.

There is also the reality that in many households one partner (usually the women) is the primary carer of the kids and so many women don't work and/or earn their own money. This contributes to the feeling that we don't know enough about financial stuff so how could we possibly invest or be smart about money in the first place?

I think a lot of women feel insecure about money for that reason, which is why I am really glad I discovered The Female Invest. It's a website with so much knowledge, information, practical tools and support for women. It's also a real community for women and a place to connect and share experiences.

They have basically created a private space for women to talk about money and investing, they have talks, online courses, Q&As and all of it is [resented in a chatty, simple way so it's suited even for those with no experience at all.

I am not sure if you know this but out of the 195 countries in the world, not one single one of them has achieved financial gender equality! This is what fuels their mission to empower as many women as possible because when women are given the ability to make the most of their money, the world becomes a stronger and better version of itself.

I can't stress enough how important I think it is for women to not only own our own money but to also have the confidence to talk about it and invest it. I realise that for many things may sound daunting but like any change the first step is always the scariest. Once you take it though, there is no looking back and you'll be supported every step of the way.

You can have a look at their site here: www.femaleinvest.co.uk use code Tova50 for a 50% discount on their annual membership.

Why It's So Important Women Invest Their Own Money

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