Research conducted by the UK's financial watchdog, the Financial Services Authority (FSA), suggests that three quarters of British couples find money one of the hardest topics to discuss.
The FSA says it has launched a website in a bid encourage people to be more confident about the subject of money. The website is said to include top tips on how to manage your money, how to plan ahead and where to get further help.
The FSA says the site also contains two simple interactive tests which are designed to help people identify their financial priorities so they can start to take control of their money.
The survey, which questioned over 1,400 people across the UK about their attitude to money, also found that despite an unwillingness to talk about money, it is was frequently the cause of arguments between couples. The study also revealed that 32% of couples lie to their partners about how much they spend on their credit cards.
Vernon Everitt, director of retail themes at the FSA, says: Money is a very difficult subject to talk about but ignoring financial problems can make them worse. To help we have created a friendly, straight talking website which gives people impartial information about the world of money and offers tools to help sort out their own individual situations. It will hopefully be a stepping stone to a healthier financial future.
The publication of the FSA’s research findings coincides with the release of Alliance & Leicester’s research results, which also suggested that subtle relationship issues where reflected in a couple’s financial arrangements.