Clothes, gambling, guilt foods, adult entertainment and cigarettes came in at the top of secret purchases made, with women more than twice as likely to hide clothing purchases than men.

Young Beautiful Woman Shopping Traditional Clothes istock Credit:iStock

Gambling and adult entertainment were the most common secret spending outlets for men.

"Hiding purchases from a partner might seem harmless, however it's a deceptive habit worth breaking for the sake of your relationship," said Bessie Hassan, money spokeswoman at finder.com.au.

"If we earn it, do we have the right to spend it however we choose?" she said, adding that some Australians would be "very stunned" to learn their partners' spending habits.