Women buy clothes,men prefer cigarettes
(Shanghai Daily)
Updated: 2005-11-26 15:01

Women like to spend their disposable income on clothes and staying fit, while men prefer to spend their extra cash on books, smokes and booze, a recent survey indicates.

Sociologists surveyed 2,351 local residents between the ages of 18 and 64 to find out how they spend their money, and see what differences there are between the two genders and various age groups. Just over 52 percent of the respondents are male.

Men said their top four expense, after housing and food, are books and study, cigarettes and alcohol, social events and clothing.

Clothing topped the list for women, followed by books and study, tonics and fitness, and social events.

The study suggests women living in urban parts of the city are far more likely to spend disposable income on books and study than those living in rural area. About 48 percent of urban women listed books and study as a major expense, compared with just under 8 percent of rural women.

Researchers said education played a large role in the different spending patterns between urban Shanghai residents and those in rural parts of the city.

More than 53 percent of urban female respondents have at least a high school education, compared with only 13 percent of those in rural areas, according to Zhang Liang, who led the survey.

As women age, they are more likely to spend extra money on tonics or health care, as less likely to spend on clothing and cosmetics, the survey suggested.

Age, education level, and place of residency are the main influences on local women's spending patterns, researchers said.

Being married also has an effect the way women spend, the survey indicated. Married women are far more likely to consider whether a product is economical and practical than single women.

Younger women pay more attention to whether a product is unique and reflects their personality.

"Pretty and stylish clothes and brandname cosmetics are always my favorite and biggest monthly expenditure — the same as colleagues of my age," said Lily Zhu, a 27-year-old single office worker.