BOSTON -- If you watch reality television, you might get the idea every single woman in the world has one goal: to find a husband.

Many single women are having it all without tying the knot, Boston television station WCVB reported. Marriage may be in their future, but in the meantime, life is good.

For most of its six seasons, the women of "Sex and the City" did single really well.

Look at Nicole Kidman and Jennifer Lopez -- they both elegantly attended the Golden Globes solo. For many women, being single no longer means waiting for marriage when it comes to enjoying, consuming and investing.

Last December, 28-year-old Cheryl Glassman closed on a two-bedroom condo. She's a self-described corporate climber and said that the time was right.

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"It shows my independence that I can take on a big investment and do it on my own," Glassman said.

Glassman is part of an interesting statistic. According to the National Association of Realtors, single women purchased approximately one in five homes last year, outpacing single men, who purchased one in 10.

"They are the single largest growing group of homebuyers, and it will keep going up because they are marrying later and having children later, so it makes sense to go and buy," Babson College spokeswoman Katherine Harris said.

It's not just homes single women are buying. They're purchasing everything from high-end cars to power tools. A recent survey found at least 70 percent of women own power tools, and many singles aren't afraid to lavish themselves with expensive jewelry.

"If I see something, a piece of jewelry I want (like) a ring, and I can afford it, I will splurge and buy it," Glassman said.

In fact, the diamond industry came up with a gem of an idea to target single women -- the right-hand diamond ring.

It's advertised as "your left hands says 'we,' your right hand says 'me.'"

"We tend to sell them to young professional women who appreciate nice things and don't necessarily want to wait for an engagement ring, but want to wear a nice piece of jewelry," DeCensa Jewelers spokeswoman Siobhan O'Brien said.

Samantha Fowler bought one.

"I think more and more women today aren't waiting around for a man to buy them a diamond ring," Fowler said.

So, is this a renaissance for independent, single women?

"What I admire about my friends is no one is sitting around upset that they don't have a boyfriend. We are strong, independent women. We're all about enjoying life," Glassman said.

Another sign of the single times is that many stores have gift registries separate from wedding registries.

Also, on average, both sexes are less lonely when they spend time with women. Spending time with men doesn't seem to reduce loneliness.