'Men better at investing & paying bills'

Men and Women handle their personal finances much differently, research shows, with men more likely to keep a close eye on their spending and investments and to pay their bills on time. The gender gap emerged in the results of financial planning questionnaires filled out by some 3,500 US workers nationwide for Financial Finesse Inc, an employee benefits company. The data showed two-thirds of men but just one-third of women said they regularly pay their credit card balances in full, said Liz Davidson, chief executive of the California-based firm. The data said 71% of men but 53% of women have a handle on their cash flow so they spend less than they earn. Women tend to be less educated in personal finance, said Manisha Thakor, a finance expert. Personal finance is not taught in schools and, while men may learn it in their traditional roles as providers, women do not in their roles as caretakers, she said.