Nearly half of Brits say they have a secret stash of money

According to Aviva’s recent research of 2,000 Brits with a partner, nearly half (47%) keep financial secrets, with more than £6,000 on average per person stashed away in secret accounts. This is despite almost half (45%) believing they ‘know everything’ about their partner’s finances.

Of those who have secret accounts, the average amount saved was £6,495 with those aged 55 and over having almost £12,500 put away.

Around a quarter^[3] of Brits have secret accounts set up to pay for a holiday (27%) or to pay for surprise gifts for their partner (24%). However, a similar number are likely to squirrel finances away to treat themselves, with 22% holding separate accounts to make purchases without their partner knowing.

Some conceal funds for more serious reasons, as 31% of Brits want to keep some control and independence over their finances, and 27% keep money aside to avoid feeling stuck or trapped. More than a quarter (27%) have secret savings in case their relationship breaks down, and 15% are looking to pay off debts without their partner knowing.

Over a third^[4] (35%) of couples find themselves arguing about money more than once a month, and one in five (20%) argue once a week or more. Spending habits are the most common cause of conflict – 31% argue about being too extravagant with money, and one in five (21%) squabble about being too tight. Similarly, one in five (19%) think being tight with money is a red flag, and 17% are put off when someone is ‘flashing the cash’.

Finances are a topic that many are looking to avoid, as more than a third^[5] (34%) say they only talk about money with their partner once a month or less. A further 5% say they never discuss money with their partner at all.

Alistair McQueen, Head of Savings and Retirement at Aviva says,

“Money can be a tricky topic to bring up with your partner, and it can be a source of conflict, especially if you have savings or debts that your partner isn’t aware of. However, having honest conversations about money is important, as our research shows we may not know as much as we think we do about our partner’s finances.

“It is great that people are saving up to treat their loved ones as a surprise. However, when it comes to the big decisions, whether it’s buying your first home, starting a family, or even getting ready to retire, it’s important to be on the same page as your partner.”

Top tips

1. Get it out in the open: Having open conversations about finances is the best way to stop financial secrets causing conflict. Regularly talking about your income, spending, savings, and debts will help to get you and your partner on the same page.
2. Set joint goals: Big financial decisions are often made as a couple, not individually. Make sure you know your partner’s priorities and tell them your future goals. These could be short term goals, such as a holiday or buying a new car, or long-term ambitions, like buying a house or saving for retirement.
3. Discuss income and expenditure: Trying to cover regular outgoings each month, such as paying the bills or filling up the car, can often be a source of conflict at home. Having a clear idea of who is paying for what should help alleviate some of the tension.
4. Prepare for emergencies: Sometimes things go wrong when we don’t expect it, and its best to be prepared just in case. Setting up a joint contingency fund in case of illness, redundancy, or an unexpected expense can give peace of mind - financial advisers recommend holding around six times our monthly outgoings in an easily-accessible cash account. Also, check you have a will or testament, and make sure your pension, health and life insurance policy beneficiaries are up to date.
5. Plan ahead: Once you and your partner are clear on where you stand financially, there are many online tools to help you plan for your future, such as investment or retirement calculators.

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Methodology:

The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2,000 general consumers who have a partner - married, relationship, civil partnership. The data was collected between 07.02.2025-10.02.2025. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of the British Polling Council.

References:

^1. _{The inverse of ‘I don’t have any secret accounts / money stashed away that my spouse/partner doesn’t know about’[↑]} 

^2. _{Stats refer to respondents surveyed who have a partner -  married, relationship, civil partnership[↑]} 

^3. _{Those who have any secret accounts / money stashed away that their spouse/partner doesn’t know about[↑]} 

^4. _{Combines ‘Every day’, ‘4-6 days a week’, ‘2-3 days a week’, ‘Once a week’, ‘Once every 2 to 3 weeks’ and ‘Once a month’[↑]} 

^5. _{Combines ‘Once a month’, ‘Once every 2 months’ Once every 3 to 5 months’, ‘Once every 6 months to 11 months, please specify a time e.g. Christmas, holidays’ and ‘Once a year’[↑]} 

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