It sounds flippant, but I'm deadly serious. Up to half the population could find themselves below the poverty line in the decades to come – and if you're thinking “Not my half” then consider your mother, sister, wife or daughter.

We're already getting an inkling of the looming disaster: single, 60-year-old females have the highest poverty rate in Australia at 36 per cent (Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey). Women are retiring with half the super balances of men, $105,000 versus $197,000 (Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia figures). And we have to make this last longer – females born today can expect to live 4.4 years beyond males (ABS data).

Here are my five red flags for a Girls' Financial Crisis – and the simple steps that if taken now can entirely avert it.

GFC red flag #1: You earn less than a man

Women earn an average 17.6 per cent less than men, says the government's Workplace Gender Equality Agency. This amounts to – brace yourself – $1 million over a lifetime.

Defence: Go for regular pay rises, change jobs and consider skilling up. Women are notoriously shy about asking for the salaries we deserve, often because we don't accept we deserve the job in the first place. Put a calm and convincing, evidence-based, case to your boss. Should they knock you back, target a higher paying position in your existing field or an entirely new one. An investment in yourself via study can be the most lucrative kind.

GFC red flag #2: You have taken/will take a career break

Just five years out of full-time work – three of them working part-time – will slash $46,000 from the average super fund and mean you run out of money three years sooner, says Rice Warner Actuaries (modelling based on a $40,391 salary plus periodic pay rises and promotions). Men too should heed this if they take a work "break" to look after children.

Defence: Act before June 30 to mop up this year's government giveaways (who knows how long they'll last), especially if caring for kids. The spouse contribution offers a tax offset of up to $540 if one spouse pays in an after-tax $3000 for another who's made less than $13,800 this tax year. And if you are in some kind of employment but will earn less than $48,516, make an after-tax contribution of $1000 to get a government 'co-contribution' of up to $500. This is free money that could make a massive difference in the years you need it most.

GFC red flag #3: You put everyone else first

OK, all parents do this but you can't afford to do it to your dollar detriment. Besides, what if your kids came to you for money as adults and you couldn't help?

Defence: Pay your (future) self first in a new twist on an old money mantra. I urge all women to contribute 2 per cent on top of what their employer pays each year they work; salary sacrifice this and it comes out before tax so won't even cost you as much. Two per cent is the extra amount Rice Warner pays female staff, something they had to clear with the Australian Human Rights Commission, to undo their financial disadvantage.

GFC red flag #4: You're not thinking about tomorrow

The daily scramble of life, love and (maybe) little ones can get all consuming but it's vital you make time for the future.

Defence: Actually read your year-end super statement. You'll know you're with a good fund if it's made an average annual return of 9 per cent-plus over five years and has an annual fee on a $50,000 balance of less than $400, says Superratings. If yours has fallen short, ditch it – giving up just one percentage point a year in performance and/or fees could shrink your ultimate balance tens of thousands of dollars. Then get dreaming and planning for what you really want. The situation for women is serious but simply thinking ahead will ensure you always have options and opportunities.

GFC red flag #5: You abdicate responsibility for “boring” money stuff

As you've seen, our earnings-based super system is dreadfully skewed against women. And at the risk of getting grim, death, divorce and even dire money decisions by your well-meaning man could all leave you broke.

Defence: Take an interest!

(We may have to add a sixth GFC red flag if budget proposals to deregulate universities and apply a real interest rate to student loans pass the Senate, as they could hurt women more than men. The National Tertiary Education Union says an accountancy degree would cost $75,000 and take someone who dips out of the workforce an extra 13 years and $21,000 to repay. The modelling is based on eight years completely out, then three years' part-time.)

Constantly, consciously heed the GFC red flags and your financial future goes from bleak to bright. I urge you to share them with every girl you love.

Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon is founder of TheMoneyMentorWay.com, the online money makeover program designed to fix your future.

@NicolePedMcK