"Girl Math" is the humorous TikTok trend where users justify expenses with tricks. "Girl Math" may just be "Buy Now, Pay Later" in disguise, the experts said. "To me, the popularity of the "Girl Math" trend indicates a lot of pent-up guilt around our purchases," said Barrow. That's why it's important to disclose when "Girl Math" is humor instead of fact, said Sara Samuels, a wealth management advisor at Northwestern Mutual. AdvertisementAdvertisementFinancial educator Ellis even suggests setting aside money for savings or an emergency fund every time you make a "Girl Math" purchase.

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Persons: Sam James, —, Ashley Morris, Isabel Barrow, Barrow, Erin Ellis, Ellis, Edelman's Barrow, Sara Samuels, Morris Organizations: Service, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Philadelphia Federal Credit Union, Northwestern Mutual Locations: Wall, Silicon, Philadelphia, Barrow