The investment company also found that 29% of women would rather share details of their dating history than talk about the state of their finances.

Fidelity found that secret funds have been setup by 21% of women aged 18 to 34, equating to 20% of those living with their partner, and 27% of those with children.

When asked for the reasons behind this, nearly half (48%) of women said they wanted to be prepared for any eventuality.

A similar proportion (44%) said they have always had separate savings and therefore always will; while 15% reported that they were aware their partner was pooling away their own money, so they chose to do the same.

One in eight (12%) women admitted that they find it difficult to discuss their household’s spending and budgeting with their partner, and another 12% said they find it difficult to discuss savings and investments.

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Maike Currie, investment director at Fidelity International, said: “When it comes to managing your money, being financially independent is one of the first steps to feeling financially empowered. It’s so important, particularly considering the economic uncertainty we all face, that people have sufficient confidence in their finances to make decisions about all aspects of their lives.

“Ultimately, everyone should have a back-up plan. This doesn’t necessarily mean you want to ‘run away’ from your partner, or that you are being secretive about your money. It does, however, mean you have the savings to make choices, whether that’s leaving a failing relationship, resigning from a bad job or toxic company, or even a controlling parent. It’s about having the means to make those choices.

“The growing number of women putting aside money for the future – regardless of their relationship status – shows that taking control of your own money can do more than just allow you to have an income of your own; money can also offer a sense of freedom and provide an opportunity to change your personal circumstances if necessary.”

“The Motherhood Penalty, combined with the gender pay gap, can mean that women’s personal finances suffer long into their retirement, compared to their male counterparts, with many facing a massive gender pension gap, as a result.”