And finally…1 in 10 secretive Scots admit hiding savings from partners

The latest ‘How Scotland Lives’ research shows that women are the most secretive, with 12 per cent of women admitting to having a secret savings stash.

Almost a third of females (31 per cent) also automatically transfer money into another account for short-term saving, compared to one-quarter of men (25 per cent).

Almost a third of males (30 per cent) keep their savings in their current account for short-term saving, compared to just one-fifth (21 per cent) of females.

Scots aged between 35 and 44 are the most secretive age group, with 12 per cent admitting to keeping their savings a secret from their partner.

Research from Bank of Scotland shows that Dundonians are the most secretive Scottish region, with 1 in 5 (19 per cent) keeping money squirrelled away from their partner.

And the people of Scotland aren’t getting any less secretive. In 2016, “How Scotland Lives” research also revealed that almost a fifth (18 per cent) of Dundonians were hiding money from their partners

Glaswegians are the least likely to have a secret stash, with the number of Glaswegians admitting to a secret savings account falling by over 10 percentage points in the last year, from 19 per cent in 2016 to only 8 per cent this year.

Despite the Bank of Scotland Happiness Index 2017 revealing that Scots with over £100,000 in savings are 89 per cent happier than those with less than £1000 savings, the same percentage of people in each group admitted to hiding secret savings from their partner.

14 per cent of Scots with over £100,000 worth of savings admitted to having a secret stash and an equal 14 per cent of Scots with under £1000 of savings also admitted to keeping money hidden from their partner. And these figures have doubled in the last year, with only 7 per cent in each group secretly saving in 2016.

Mike Moran, Director, Bank of Scotland, said: “It’s great to see people saving, regardless of whether they are saving into a secret savings account or not. Putting some money away each month is an important part of managing your finances and it’s good to see that so many Scots are getting into the habit.”

Although 1 in 10 Scots is hiding savings from their partner, 8 out of 10 Scots (80 per cent) don’t think their partner has a secret savings account at all.

Despite Dundee being the most secretive Scottish region when it comes to saving; only 4 per cent of Dundonians believe that their partner would be keeping their savings a secret.

Glaswegians are least likely to suspect their partner of saving secretly, as of all Scots surveyed, not one Glaswegian believed that their partner had any savings hidden from them.

However, Scots in Fife are the most suspicious; as 13 per cent believe their partners have secretly saved money.

And of those surveyed, none of those aged between 18-24 years old believed that their partner had any money hidden away.