A new report has found that many people in the UK are spending money without telling their partners. The research, carried out by AJ Bell and Opinium, shows that more than half of adults in relationships make “secret purchases” on things like clothing, beauty items, gambling, and even cryptocurrencies.
According to the survey of 4,000 adults, men secretly spent about £2,545 in the last year, while women hid around £1,769. Clothing was the top hidden purchase for both men and women. After that, women mostly hid beauty product spending, while men admitted to secretly buying cigarettes, alcohol, or gambling.
The report also found that Gen Z (people born between 1997 and 2012) are the most secretive, spending an average of £4,303 without telling their partner. Adults over 55, however, only hid around £384.
Experts warn that while a little private spending is normal, hiding major expenses can lead to financial problems in a relationship. AJ Bell’s Laura Suter said secret habits can affect budgeting and long-term plans like buying a house or saving for retirement. Finance expert Iona Bain added that couples need to be honest about their money habits early on, or it can cause bigger issues in the future.
