Tougher economic conditions are seeing many women get tough with their finances.

A recent report from Citi shows women are making impressive progress with their financial well-being. Among the 200 women surveyed for Citi’s Fin-Q report, 50 percent were paying their credit card off in full each month, compared with 34 percent a year ago.

Over one in four women (28 percent) are sticking to a budget, up from 18 percent last year.

Tania Browne, investment specialist and advice coach for Citi, says: “In the past women may have relied heavily on men to handle their financial affairs, often putting money matters in the ‘too hard’ basket.

The Citi Fin-Q shows females taking practical steps in preparation for bad times ahead.”

Concerns over rising unemployment may be driving women to take money matters in hand, but the fairer sex can get a raw deal when it comes to personal finances. A separate report from AMP/NATSEM shows women still way behind men when it comes to lifetime earnings.

A 25 year old man is likely to earn a total of $2.4 million over the next 40 years, more than 1.5-times the $1.5 million prospective earnings of a 25-year-old woman.