T
he deceitful depths to which women stoop to
conceal their spending from their partners have been laid bare in a new study.
Excuses, secretly stashing away purchases and downright lies are a regular ritual for a shocking amount of women throughout the UK.
Researchers quizzed 2,000 women and found two thirds of them relied on excuses to feel better about spending money on themselves.
"I haven't bought anything for ages" and "I deserve this" are the most popular pleas trotted out by women after a shopping spree, while a third use a pre-prepared list to justify their spending to their partners - "It's a bargain", "I need this to cheer me up" and "It was on sale" completing the top five.
The research, commissioned by money-saving website LoveFashionSales.com, found "I'll get my money's worth'" or "I really need this" were regularly used, while many are convinced they have nothing to wear.
"I've wanted one for ages" and "I'll wear it all the time" rounded off the top 10 excuses for shoppers - a third of whom admitted to reciting their justifications aloud to themselves, ready for a grilling on their purchases.
The researchers also found that half the women questioned confessed to hiding their buys and on average have stashed three big purchases in the last six months to avoid being caught out on their spending habits.
The bottom of the wardrobe was the most popular hiding place, although four in 10 use a drawer they know their partner will never look in.
A fifth of shopaholics stash their guilty buys under the bed, while kitchen cupboards and the bathroom were also popular spots.
More than a quarter of women admit to lying to their partner's face about their bills, while the fibs stretch to parents, friends and other family for a sneaky 30%.
42