Why Managing Work Life Bank Balance Is Must For All Women

Managing work, family and money matters are top priority for most women now.

"Married or not, mothers or not, women of all ages are faced with far more monetary concerns than ever before," says Manisha, a forty-two-year-old unmarried media manager. Her thoughts sum up the changes that the Indian society has witnessed in the last two decades.

Society and financial ecosystem changed drastically

"In the last millennium, women were never worried about money matters. At best, they were managing husband's money. As the society changed, women become more conscious about their expenses and earnings," says Manisha. "More women were educated, who gradually got into the job-fold. The society changed too; it started viewing working women as a norm. The financial conditions urged women from middle class to take on jobs, and this is when women realised that they have to earn money and manage it too," says Manisha.

Her thoughts resonate the underlying sentiment behind how women got into jobs and gradually realised the importance of money and went on to device ways to manage work, life and bank balance.

Earlier, since most women did not earn, very few of them had any say in money matters.

But, the change hs come with its own set of challenges as well. Today, when nuclear families are a norm, this struggle to manage the balance between home, work and money has become more grueling. But it’s like a no-choice for most women like Manisha.

Education is a big leveler

"I am a mass comm graduate and I could have waited at my daddy's home for him to find me a groom. But that is not the way I was brought up. I was very clear from the very beginning that once I’m done with my education, I will manage my life on my own--marriage or no marriage. And I am happy that I made that call," she says. She manages her FDs, LICs, ULIPs and other jargon, and makes sure she has ample time for herself even with her grueling schedule.

There is yet another example in the form of Jaanhvi Hinduja. This mum of a five-year-old boy was a top executive with a well-known financial firm. She was based in Mumbai where life was fast-paced. "I left my home around 7 in the morning after leaving my kid at day-care center and leaving him with a bagful of tiffins and clothes. I travelled by the local train and ran from end to end to manage work and family affairs. Weekends were spent managing office calls and buying groceries. A lot of people asked me when my husband was doing well financially, why did I have to work?," she says.

Carving a niche for themselves

Her husband's transfer to Nashik got her to move as well. She had to leave her job but she pursued her interest in crafts and spun off her own company,  'The HandCart - Gifts & Home Accents’.

“A lot of people asked my why I have to work, but they don’t understand the criticalities of life. Today, life is smooth with a family, but life can change any day. A woman who knows how to earn money and manage it from end to end will certainly fare better in those circumstances. And even if nothing bad is coming to you, why should you sit at home and expect others to earn for you," she says.

All this doesn’t come without challenges. One is required to be efficient at work, runaround for family chores and be financially wise--all at the same time. The going is tough but the rewards are many, especially in the form of well-informed and go getter women who are managing it all.

Managing work, life and bank balance is not a choice anymore, but a way of life for many women. This is the reason why most banks and financial institutions have special schemes for women. Add to this fin-institutes like the Bhartiya Mahila Bank which offer more than a dozen of products only for women--working, non-working, entrepreneurs, homemakers et al.   

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