Double Take: bonds, NFTs and everything in between – how do women invest today?

What does Maaike, a 31-year-old professional dancer from the Netherlands, have in common with Vicky, 72, a retired community development worker from Scotland? Well, they’re both women exploring the world of investing. 

This is Double Take, where we bring together two members of the public for an open and honest conversation about money. No experts, no scripts and definitely no jargon. Just real people sharing their experiences.

Take a seat and read along as Maaike and Vicky chat about everything from NFTs to gender bias and saving for a rainy day.

What’s your take on investing?

Vicky: I’m no expert, but investing at the risk level that I can live with is significant. It’s a way to be responsible with the savings that I’ve got. [I’m most comfortable with] bonds and ISAs. Maybe they’re not the end of investing that some people are thinking of, like cryptocurrency, but that’s the world I’m familiar with. 

Maaike: For me, there’s so much more I want to know. Where I’m from, they teach you about saving but not how to invest. 

Do you think women investors are represented and supported by investing platforms?

Vicky: They haven’t been in the past, but I do think it’s getting better. I’d like to think I’m having a positive experience when I reach out for support and advice and that it’s not gender biased.

Maaike: My overall experience has been good too. I actually don’t feel like there’s any difference between men and women so far. Let’s keep it that way! 

Has anything surprised you since starting your investment journey?

Vicky: I’m always surprised but it’s been good news – I’ve not had any tragedies.

Maaike: Me too. I’ve always thought, if I can’t lose that money then I shouldn’t invest it. I wouldn’t invest all the money I have in the bank, but I can take a nice little bit and say, “this is something I can invest.”

Vicky: The first thing I learned about investing is that sometimes you have to grit your teeth and hang on, because something that looks bad today could actually be okay next week.

Maaike: Yes, investing is a lot of waiting. It’s not going to come tomorrow, it’s most likely going to take a little minute, and that’s okay. Patience is key. Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Vicky: Well said! 

Are you good with money?

Vicky: Fabulous, because I don’t like to spend it!

Maaike: Likewise. Why don’t you like to spend it?

Vicky: It must be something from way back when, a mentality of saving for a rainy day. It’s that feeling of needing a safety net, because if you use everything you’ve got, what happens when things go wrong? It’s fantastic to have a little something saved just in case someone needs it – that could be family or just a dear friend who’s having a bad time. It’s important to have something that you can fall back on.

Maaike: I’m a little younger than you, but I’ve definitely got that mentality from my parents. I’m from the Netherlands and it’s very much ‘save, save, save’, almost to the point that you take your money to the grave.

What’s your approach to investing?

Maaike: As a [freelance] professional dancer, I don’t always get the same amount of money [coming] in every month. So sometimes I can invest a little more, sometimes a little less. But I have a certain amount that I try to put away for my investments.

Who are your female role models in the money space?

Maaike: I would say my mum. I love how she thinks about money – she’s got this great mentality that you should always have something in the bank, and not buy things that you don’t really need. It’s funny though, because now I see her buying shoes that she doesn’t need, and I’m like, ‘wait, what happened?!’ So I’m seeing her enjoy her money a bit more now she’s older. But there’s still a mindset of: “If you can get 50% off in this shop next door, why don’t we go [there]?” So thank you mum, for making me see that I need to save money!

Do you think you’ve been impacted by jargon or lack of accessibility in financial spaces?

Maaike: Yeah, I feel like there’s a certain language being used that makes it hard for people to understand. I didn’t come from a financial background where I’ve been taught every single word. So for me, that was a problem. As someone coming to England, it would be lovely to have a bit more of an understanding of what things mean.

Vicky: Yes, sometimes you just have to remind them, “Hey, I’m just from the normal world. Why are you using that big fancy word? It must have a simple explanation.”

How has the culture around investing changed over the years?

Maaike: If I drew a picture of a banana right now and someone said: “This is worth 2 million, do you want to invest in it?”, then someone would. We have a whole new generation right now that’s investing in things like [NFTs].

Vicky: It’s like science fiction to me! I think the culture has changed a lot around investing. It’s a digital world. 

What’s your takeaway from today?

Maaike: I’d like to know more about investing in something that could better the world. What about you?

Vicky: Do a bit of research, talk to people in the know, and then ruminate on it, reflect on it, and do what makes sense for you.

Feeling inspired to take your first steps into investing? Learn more about investing with Monzo to see how you could get started.

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The people featured in this article are members of the public sharing their personal experiences. Their views are their own and don’t represent the views of Monzo. This content is for information only and isn’t financial advice.