Martin Lewis has highlighted what can prove to be a significant issue with household finances. He cautioned couples specifically against concealing financial secrets from one another.
During a recent episode of his BBC podcast, Mr Lewis invited listeners to share their personal stories of the biggest money secret they had ever kept from someone. One individual contacted the show to reveal how they had splurged on an expensive olive tree at the Chelsea Flower Show roughly 10 years ago. However, they told their husband they had acquired the plant in a raffle. Mr Lewis used this story as a chance to flag up a potential pitfall of hiding financial matters from a partner.
He cautioned: "Hidden debts are a really big problem. You need to come clean about your debt, because any joint problems can affect the credit score of the other person as well, if you've got any joint accounts."
Rising Demand for Debt Advice
Financial support organisation Money Wellness recently published its 2026 Debt Advice Insights report. The organisation assisted more than 100,000 people during the first three months of 2026, with a fifth of enquiries originating from people who are married or in a civil partnership.
The team observed a notable rise in the number of people contacting them for assistance over the Easter bank holiday 2026, compared to the previous year. There was a 13.3 per cent rise, with 12,706 people seeking help.
Rising Household Bills
Sebrina McCullough, director of external relations at Money Wellness, said: "The figures over Easter show just how much pressure households are under. Rising bills in April, along with higher petrol and grocery prices, have left many people worrying about how they'll make ends meet."
"Our advisers are seeing people reach breaking point, and demand for free, professional support continues to grow. If energy prices continue to rise and inflation and interest rates increase further, we could see even more households struggling in the months ahead. For thousands of financially vulnerable families, this could point to a very difficult winter ahead."
Tips for Managing Debt
The support group has shared several recommendations for those battling debt. One tip is to keep a close eye on your finances. Money Wellness offers a budgeting calculator to assist in weighing up income against essential outgoings, including rent or mortgage payments, food shopping, and travel costs. On a similar note, the group also advises prioritising covering essential bills first, before tackling high-interest debts, such as credit cards or payday loans.
