Partners are left out in the cold over frozen assets

SCOTS hide an average £1,743 from their partners to try and avoid arguments, according to new research - and the freezer is one of the most popular places to hide it.

Couples north of the Border are also the most likely to argue about it, 23 per cent admitting they have regular disputes with their partner over money.

The study by Sheilas' Wheels home insurance found that 28 per cent of British couples have no idea what their partner earns, or what savings or debt they have accrued.

Men are most dishonest when it comes to money, with almost a third admitting they are not open with their partner over finances.

Over half of Britons do not tell their partner when they buy something using the joint account, with over a quarter of those surveyed (26 per cent) admitting to sneaky spends on clothes and jewellery. Two-fifths of couples polled do not have a joint bank account because they think their other half is irresponsible with money, while one in five fears their partner would spend from it without telling them.

The survey, which included Scottish and UK results, found three-quarters of those living north of the Border hid money to avoid arguments - a higher rate than in the UK.

The survey also revealed that nearly a third (37 per cent) of those polled have a secret stash of money hidden in the home. The most popular hiding places are in a drawer (15 per cent), a cupboard (5 per cent) and the fridge or freezer (2 per cent).

Jacky Brown, at Sheilas' Wheels home insurance, said: "We thought that hiding cash under the mattress was just a myth but it seems this is becoming a reality."