Nearly half of all British adults are now participating in “secret spending.” They conceal their spending on beauty products, gambling and crypto from their spouses or significant others. AJ Bell joined forces with Opinium to field a new survey. They surveyed over 4,000 adults and found some really alarming trends in our financial habits. These results show us that more than half of adults in a relationship have purchased something without telling their significant other.
From these spending responses, we uncovered stark differences in how and why men and women spend. Men, on average, spent £2,545 unknowingly during the last year, compared to women who spent an average of £1,769. Most strikingly, people aged 55+ said they spent an average of £384 secretly in the last three months.
Clothing purchases turned out to be the most prevalent hidden expense for both men and women. A fifth of men confessed to buying clothes incognito, but an eye-popping 35 percent of women say they have. Men’s second most frequent undisclosed spending category included vices like cigarettes and alcohol, with 19% admitting to such purchases without their partner’s knowledge.
Among younger generations—especially those considered Gen Z (born between 1997 and 2012)—covert spending surged even more. This demographic racked up an average of £4,303 in hidden costs over the last 12 months. Yet this trend seems to signal an increasing financial murkiness for younger adults.
Laura Suter, personal finance director at AJ Bell, said such spending could have devastating effects, if undisclosed, on partners in relationships. She added that this type of behavior can create “financial infidelity,” causing a source of “financial friction” among couples.
“Ultimately, you don’t have to report every time you buy a coffee or get your nails done to your partner, but major costs, recurring habits or anything that risks derailing a joint financial plan should be on the table.” – Laura Suter
Suter cautioned that without open discussions about finances, it becomes “difficult to budget properly or plan for longer-term goals like buying a home, building an emergency pot or saving for retirement.” The survey results underscore the necessity for couples to engage in transparent financial conversations to avoid misunderstandings and potential conflicts.