Mothers ‘not valuing their role in home’

SCOTS women are leaving their families at risk of financial ruin by undervaluing their role in the home, according to latest research.

Three-quarters of women north of the Border say that if they became seriously ill or died their dependants would struggle with chores and bills, a poll shows.

Some estimate that without their contribution to the family coffers, their loved ones could cover household expenses for only seven months.

Despite this, only 37 per cent of women in Scotland have life insurance and just 7 per cent have critical illness cover, according to Scottish Widows.

A survey by the financial firm found two-thirds of Scots women place importance on insuring their belongings but only four in ten say the same about their own lives and health.

This attitude could be putting families at risk of ruin, and suggests women are undervaluing their work in the home.

On top of day jobs, women in Scotland spend at least 23 hours a week on childcare and chores such as school runs and housework – tasks they believe their families could not afford to fund.

Jackie Leiper, protection director at Scottish Widows, said: ‘One of the most important things a woman can give her family is security, but financial protection is still too far down the priority list because women simply do not recognise their own value.

‘It is crucial that everyone, no matter what stage of life they are at, considers whether they have the right protection in place to ensure loved ones are not left with financial strain on top of emotional trauma if the worst were to happen.’