Money Magazine recently reported that almost 80% of married people hide some purchases from their spouses. And it’s the men who are more likely to do so!

Addictions and compulsions aside, secret spending is often done simply to avoid conflict or criticism. And while a little white lie here and there may keep the peace, over time, increasing secret spending can cause big problems in marriages, because it ruins the trust necessary for healthy unions.

So when is secret spending a problem? The author suggests asking ‘if my partner found out, would this damage the trust between us?’ Hiding bills or receipts, or telling the kids ‘don’t tell mom/dad about this purchase’ are other signals of problems.