Women better at money matters than men: survey

When it comes to money, women really are more responsible than men, with an international survey finding that they're less likely to get into debt and strive harder to become financially independent.

The global Reuters Synovate survey polled some 4,500 women in 12 countries about money matters. An equal number of men were also asked several questions related to finances.

The survey showed that just over half respondents of both genders said women are more responsible with money than men, with the highest level of agreement found in Mexico, where 72 percent of people believed women were better at handling finances.

And although more than 40 percent of women use part of their monthly income to pay off credit cards, some 70 percent of female respondents also said that having more than one credit card could lead to financial debt, revealing women's higher awareness.

"It's obviously not the card itself that causes anyone to use it. So the statement is really about control and temptation," said Claire Braverman, international market research firm Synovate's senior vice president of Financial Services in the United States.

"The ability to spend more, that you don't have in the first place, can certainly lead to debt. It means people have to control themselves and their spouses," she added.

More women believed in their financial ability than men, with 61 percent saying they were more responsible, while only 40 percent of men agreed.

But nearly half the women surveyed also conceded that they were bigger spenders than their male counterparts, with nearly 60 percent of men agreeing.

The survey was conducted in December in Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, France, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, South Africa, Britain, and the United States.