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New research commissioned by Creditspring finds that 23% of women have cut back on food or household bills in the past year to afford period or personal care products. For some, the financial impact goes further: 16% have used Buy Now, Pay Later to cover a female-specific cost, while the same proportion have dipped into savings.
The pink tax is often talked about as a pricing issue. But its impact is broader - a steady drain on the money women could otherwise use to cover everyday needs, build savings and plan for the future.
The cost is not limited to a single purchase. It is the cumulative effect of recurring essentials that can become difficult to absorb month after month.
Period products: 64% of Brits identify these as an unfair female-specific expense.
Menopause-related costs: 47% of women identify these as unfair, reflecting the cost of products, prescriptions and support during a financially demanding life stage.
Personal care products: Everyday items such as razors, deodorant and shampoo can cost more when marketed to women, despite offering little meaningful difference.
Pain relief and healthcare: Costs that are easy to overlook in a monthly budget can become another unavoidable pressure point.
On average, women report spending around £201 a month on female-specific costs - around £2,418 a year. For women aged 18-24, this rises to around £352 a month, or £4,225 a year.
When essential costs outpace what a household can comfortably afford, women are often forced into difficult trade-offs.
23% have cut back on food or household bills to afford period or personal care products.
16% have gone without pain relief.
15% have used a period product for longer than recommended.
13% have used toilet roll or socks instead of period products.
16% have used savings to cover female-specific costs.
16% have used Buy Now, Pay Later.
13% have borrowed money or used credit, including from friends and family.
Two-thirds of women (66%) say these additional costs put pressure on household finances. More than half (57%) say they make it harder for women to save money or build long-term financial security.
Tamsin Powell, Consumer Finance Expert at Creditspring, says: “Most of us think about our household budgets in terms of rent, energy and the weekly shop, but there is a whole layer of costs that fall on women simply because they are women. Period products, pain relief and HRT are not optional extras, yet almost a quarter of women are cutting back on food or bills to afford them.”
1. Compare unit prices, not the packaging: Check the price per item or per 100ml on shelf labels. Unisex, men’s and own-brand products can sometimes offer an equivalent product for less.
2. Budget for female-specific costs as essentials: Add period products, pain relief and prescriptions to your monthly budget alongside food, travel and household bills. Planning for them helps prevent surprise costs from squeezing everything else.
3. Consider reusable period products: Menstrual cups and period pants can cost more upfront, but may work out less expensive over time than buying disposable products every month.
4. Check whether you can save on HRT: In England, an HRT prescription prepayment certificate can cover eligible HRT medicines for 12 months for one fixed fee. Prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
5. Think carefully before using credit for everyday essentials: If you are regularly relying on Buy Now, Pay Later or borrowing to cover basics, it may be time to review your budget and seek free, impartial money guidance.
