Share my bed, not my bank account

UK couples are happy to share a home but not a bank account.

Some 71 per cent of couples keep separate accounts from their partners, according to research by PayPal.

The main reason for not getting a shared account is – cited by 56 per cent – wanting to keep cash separate.

Seventeen per cent kept separate bank accounts because they refused to take responsibility for partners' overspending.

For 12 per cent, separate accounts helped people to not argue over money and finances.

However, keeping separate accounts seems not to be a solid form of conflict resolution – as 15 per cent of couples argue about money most of all.

A quarter of couples argue about their finances once a month and 39 per cent fight weekly about cash.

And cash raises its head early in relationships – with 59 per cent of couples arguing over finances while still in the early days of dating.

Cristina Hoole, PayPal UK spokesperson, said: "Our research suggests there is a growing trend emerging between partners and how they manage their finances, with people having separate bank accounts so they can keep control of their own finances.

"It also appears that arguments over money are most frequent after people have been in a relationship for a while, perhaps people wait until they feel settled with their partner before bringing up the sticky subject of finances."

Daniel Barnes