Martin Lewis has highlighted a major issue in household finances, urging couples not to keep financial secrets from each other. On a recent episode of his BBC podcast, he invited listeners to share their biggest money secrets. One contributor revealed spending a large sum on an olive tree at the Chelsea Flower Show a decade ago, telling their husband they had won it in a raffle.
Hidden Debts and Credit Scores
Mr Lewis used this story to warn about the dangers of concealing financial details. He said: '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 have any joint accounts.'
Rising Demand for Debt Advice
Financial support organisation Money Wellness recently published its 2026 Debt Advice Insights report. The group assisted over 100,000 people in the first three months of 2026, with a fifth of enquiries from married individuals or those in civil partnerships. During the Easter bank holiday 2026, there was a 13.3 per cent increase in people seeking help compared to the previous year, with 12,706 reaching out.
Pressure on Households
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 will 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.'
Recommendations for Managing Debt
Money Wellness offers several recommendations for those grappling with debt. One key piece of advice is to keep a close eye on your financial situation using their budgeting calculator, which helps assess income against essential expenditure such as rent or mortgage payments, food shopping, and travel expenses. The group also suggests prioritising essential household bills first, before tackling high-interest debts like credit cards or payday loans.
