TikTok Viral 'Girl Math': Redefining Or Rationalizing Spending Habits?

“Girl Math”, a new financial trend on TikTok, humorously redefines spending habits, suggesting purchases under $5 are essentially free and big-ticket items should be evaluated by cost-per-wear, Business Insider reports.

First introduced by the New Zealand podcast “Fletch, Vaughan & Hayley,” an episode of the show in July humorously deemed a caller’s $400 wedding hair extensions as “basically free” due to “Girl Math”. The episode has garnered 1.6 million views on TikTok.

Videos with the #girlmath hashtag have garnered over 36 million views since July. In another episode, the hosts advised a caller to see a $330 dress costing only $110, as she would wear it only thrice.

Users have added their own spins. One mentioned “cost per compliment”, suggesting an outfit pays for itself with enough praise.

Another joked, “If I buy something but then return it, I’ve made money.”

However, not all are amused.

“‘Girl math’ is just the latest iteration of us trying to rationalize financial behaviors that we know we shouldn’t be doing,” financial planner Brad Klontz told CNBC

Another Fox Business report compared the trend to buy now, pay later schemes.

Image via Shutterstock/ Kriang kan

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