As the current economic downturn continues to take its toll, a recent survey shows that Canadian women are increasingly taking charge of their financial future.

Rethink Retirement, a survey conducted by Desjardins Financial Security in 2008, reveals that half of Canadian women are considering postponing retirement by an average of six years due to market conditions, and many would make other significant sacrifices

While more men than women have traditionally been involved in financial matters, the picture is changing: 20% of women admitted having little or no interest in preparing for retirement, compared to 27% of men.

“Women may be getting over what you could call the Sex and the City money mentality, where the main characters did not give much thought to saving for a rainy day,” said Karrina Dusablon, director of education centre and global management at Desjardins Financial Security. “Budgeting and putting money aside for retirement are hardly sexy plot themes, but many smart and successful women are becoming more financially-savvy, and that’s good.”

More than a third of women admit to feeling guilty that they are not saving enough for retirement and 38% believe they will never be able to accumulate enough retirement savings. These results are likely reasons that money is the most often cited source of stress among men and women, according to Desjardins.

But in order to save more for retirement, 84% of women said they would postpone a major purchase to avoid relying on financing or credit, 79% would take less expensive vacations, 69% would bring lunch from home rather than eating at a restaurant, 66% would significantly reduce the use of their car and 56% would consider getting rid of the household’s second car.

In addition, 61% would reduce spending on sports or cultural activities. But women were less willing to compromise spending on children’s activities: 60% were reluctant, versus 68% of men.

For 28% of the female survey respondents, budgeting is their top financial priority in 2009, while 24% said they would make it a priority five years from now. Paying off the mortgage and other debts was named second as a priority this year among 14% of respondents. Almost 20% of women said they would focus on saving for retirement and 12% on paying off their mortgages five years from now.

IE