The secret lives of Aussie spenders: 1 in 4 hide money from partners
A wave of financial deceit is sweeping through Australian households, according to new research by Finder.
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A Finder survey of 1,017 respondents, 591 of whom are in a relationship, found more than 1 in 4 (27%) are secretly racking up debt, opening bank accounts, and even gambling money – all without their partner's knowledge.
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The research found 1 in 10 (10%) have secretly accumulated debt via a credit card or personal loan, while 9% have opened a bank account or credit card in their name only.
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The same proportion (9%) confessed to gambling in secret.
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Other covert money moves include financially helping out a family member or friend without disclosure (8%), making a significant purchase like a car or luxury item (7%), investing or selling investments without discussion (6%), and even withdrawing large sums from a joint account (4%).
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Sarah Megginson, personal finance expert at Finder, said the widespread level of deception amongst partners is worrying.
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"Keeping financial secrets from your partner can be just as damaging as emotional or physical betrayal when it comes to breaking trust.
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"This type of behaviour can create financial chaos, wreck your credit, and in some cases, lead to relationship breakdowns. Money is a deeply emotional topic and secrecy only compounds that.
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"Especially if you are in a longer-term relationship, their money might be yours – and vice-versa – in the event that you decide to go your separate ways."
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Megginson said that while some might justify secretive spending or financial decisions as harmless, the long-term consequences can be serious.
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"Whether it's hiding debt, secretly punting thousands on the ponies or investing joint money without your partner's input, these actions can spiral.
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"You might think you're shielding your partner, but you're actually adding risks to your future together.
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"Love is first and foremost about trust. Open conversations about money – the good, the bad, and the ugly – are the only way to build financial intimacy and security."
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Megginson said sometimes, secret spending and hiding purchases can be a sign of financial abuse, and urged anyone who feels like their partner controls their spending to seek help.
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"You can speak to a financial counsellor at the National Debt Helpline for free – their services are confidential and they can help you create a plan to move forward if you're stuck in a difficult financial situation.
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"Create a safe space for discussing finances regularly and be upfront about both individual and joint goals.
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"If you're scared to tell your partner about a money decision, it's a sign something deeper might be wrong – either with your financial habits or the relationship itself."
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Have you done any of the following secretly without telling your partner?
| Accumulated debt (e.g. credit card, personal loan) | 10% |
| Opened a new bank account or credit card in my name only | 9% |
| Gambled money | 9% |
| Helped a family member or friend financially | 8% |
| Made a significant purchase (e.g. car, major appliance, luxury item) | 7% |
| Invested or sold investments without their knowledge | 6% |
| Withdrawn a significant amount of money from a joint account | 4% |
| No, I have not done any of these secretly | 73% |
| Source: Finder survey of 1,017 respondents, 591 of whom have a partner, June 2025 |  |
Methodology
- Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker is a monthly recurring nationally representative survey of more than 60,000 respondents.
- Figures in this release are based on 1,017 respondents from June 2025.
- The Consumer Sentiment Tracker is owned by Finder and operated by Qualtrics.
- The survey has been running monthly since May 2019.
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