Move Over Finance Bros, TikTok's "Girl Math" Is The Only Money Move Worth Investing In

    "Girl math: If it's under $10, I didn't spend money."

    Angeline Barion
    by Angeline Barion

    BuzzFeed Staff

    In the latest installment of "TikTok knows everything about my life", I've moved on from feeling attacked about my eating habits via "Girl Dinner" to getting called out for the way I handle my finances.

    to me, girl dinner is an act of self love. girl dinner is taking my time cooking myself a meal that nourishes my body and spirit. girl dinner is creating a meal that heals my relationship with food thru the pleasure of the eating experience. girl dinner pic.twitter.com/FIyt5WHoH5

    — ✮ Enjoy The Ride ✮ (@almondmilkhunni) August 9, 2023
    Twitter: @almondmilkhunni
    I feel so seen.

    If you haven't already heard, "Girl Math" is the newest Internet trend that has the girlies sharing their money mentalities. Each video explains how we rationalise our spending habits so that purchases are essentially 'free' or 'money-saving'.

    doing girl math to justify purchases is our version of being finance bros and im here for this new financial movement

    — thameenah (@thames0) August 9, 2023
    Twitter: @thames0
    No, it's not ✨ delulu ✨, it makes sense. Every. Single. Time. 
    Plus, it's rising-cost-of-living friendly and will give you a sense of belonging with the online sisterhood.

    It makes so much sense that Fletch, Vaughan & Hayley — a New Zealand radio show on ZM FM — has even made it a regular segment, theme song and all. In the segment, listeners call in and explain their expensive purchase to Hayley and two female producers. The three of them will then use the logic of "Girl Math" to justify the listener's spending.

    @fvhzm

    Using #girlmath to make an Italian silk dress basically free 🫡🇮🇹 Let us know if you need help justifying your spending 🫶 #itsbasicallyfree

    ♬ original sound - FVHZM
    TikTok @fvhzm / Via tiktok.com
    The two male hosts — Vaughan and Fletch — listen to the reasoning in astonishment and awe.

    And after listening to the flawless financial philosophies of the show and other women online, it would honestly be wrong not to share these with the class. Here are the best "Girl Math" justifications I've seen so far:

    1. First things first...

    Girl math : if it’s under $10 i didn’t spend money

    — Tanyaradzwa (@chicken_lickinn) August 9, 2023
    Twitter: @chicken_lickinn

    2.

    @_arianarosado

    it was actually only $6 but whatever #girlmath

    ♬ original sound - ariana
    TikTok @_arianarosado / Via tiktok.com
    You have to spend money to make money, as the saying goes.

    3.

    girl math is so real… i returned something for $90 and then bought something for $100 so i really only spent $10! what a deal

    — mar (@itsmariannnna) August 8, 2023
    Twitter: @itsmariannnna
    And if you recall from rule #1, anything under $10 is free.

    4.

    girl math is me waiting until the next day to buy something i really want whenever i feel like i’ve spent too much in a day because my spending resets at midnight

    — 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘆𝗧ᥫ᭡ (@ThenjiBopape) August 10, 2023
    Twitter: @ThenjiBopape
    Patience is a virtue.

    5.

    @fake.jules

    who knew therapy could be so rewarding #girlmath #fyp

    ♬ original sound - archived sounds
    TikTok @fake.jules / Via tiktok.com
    If you think about it, this means that you get paid to invest in your mental health!

    6.

    People on TikTok have been talking about “girl math.” I got an email from Macys today about a free Lancôme gift with purchase. Was I planning to buy Lancôme? No. But it’s a $158 value with a purchase of $39. So in girl math I’d be losing money not to do it.

    — ✌🏼💜 (@lulu_vohn) August 9, 2023
    Twitter: @lulu_vohn

    7.

    Girl math.

    If i pay for it using actual cash, i basically didn’t spend anything or it was free because there’s no proof of spending.

    — SpuraMaluda (@sthebee) August 8, 2023
    Twitter: @sthebee

    8.

    @lucywelcher

    Free starbucks hack! Lmk if you try🤍 #girlmath

    ♬ original sound - LUCY
    TikTok @lucywelcher / Via tiktok.com

    9.

    me: i can’t afford a $300 concert ticket
    also me: buys 3 separate $90 tickets instead

    and that’s on girl math

    — cam🌙✨HEARD 27 LIVE TWICE (@xofrnksfrthmmrs) August 9, 2023
    Twitter: @xofrnksfrthmmrs
    That's three separate experiences for one-third the cost. You're winning.

    10.

    TikTok @hajeraaxt / Via tiktok.com

    11.

    If I buy something and then return it, I’ve basically made money #girlmath

    — jannuhhhhhhh (@likethecityyyyy) August 8, 2023
    Twitter: @likethecityyyyy

    12.

    TikTok @emiliekat3 / Via tiktok.com

    13.

    Everything you buy for yourself on your birthday month, doesn’t count. And that’s called #girlmath 💕

    — Ándre (@andreabgc) August 10, 2023
    Twitter: @andreabgc

    14.

    TikTok @samjamessssss / Via tiktok.com

    15. And finally...

    According to girl math, since I get paid tomorrow, the sets I get are free ! https://t.co/0d2GO2akND

    — Caro✨ (@Carolina__Saav) August 10, 2023
    Twitter: @Carolina__Saav
    "Money is a construct," I say to myself as I open The Iconic app on pay day.

    We want to know your "Girl Math" rules in the comments below!

    I'll leave you with an affirmation for the day. Repeat after me: money isn't real and I'm not a snack, I'm a meal.