Welcome to the Money blog, Sky News’ consumer and personal finance hub. Today, we’re back with another long read feature for your weekend – this time, we’re delving into the world of so-called stealth shoppers. Have you ever concealed a purchase from your partner? We’ll be back on Monday.
Saturday 16 August 2025 06:58, UK
Hanging in Sally’s* cupboard is a £3,000 Dior coat.
It is also a secret, and her husband doesn’t know about it.
“It has yet to make an outing. It will do shortly,” she tells Money.
“I got the assistant to put it on hold for three months. I saved and bought it without my partner knowing about it. I did not need another coat as I have several.”
And while he has spotted it in her cupboard – though not on any bank statements because they keep separate accounts – he has never said anything.
“It’s not going to surprise him, as things do appear, and my wardrobe has investment pieces in it,” she says, clarifying that investment usually translates to “expensive”.
“If he had to guess the value of my wardrobe, he would guess within £10,000 of the value. His guess would be conservative.”
According to a recent survey, nearly two-thirds of Americans who live with a spouse or significant other have hidden a purchase in the past year – known as “stealth shopping” – and it seems Britons are no different. 
Brands even sometimes encourage it – the upmarket Fairfax & Favor has an “alibi box” you can tick when you place an order.
“We’ll include a tongue-in-cheek cunning little note saying your goodies are a competition prize or gift – pick your excuse and they need never know the truth,” the brand promises. 
‘He hoped I wouldn’t notice the TV had grown overnight’
For Alice*, a woman in her 40s living in Devon, it was her husband who tried to sneak a new television into the house. 
“He told our daughter he’d bought a new, bigger TV for Christmas and not to tell Mummy,” she says, explaining that he waited until she had fallen asleep before getting it out of the car and swapping it with their old one.
“He hoped I just wouldn’t notice the TV had grown in size overnight.”
After a discussion, she says she eventually dropped it, instead using it as a bargaining tool to get him to remove their surround sound.
“I think it’s about choosing your battles,” she says. “I wasn’t going to win this but I could get something I wanted out of it. 
“He knew I would never have agreed to the new TV if we’d discussed the purchase.”
‘It bugs me our relationship is old-fashioned in terms of money’
Natalie says she doesn’t think her husband would even care, but she still finds herself downplaying her purchases, with one of the latest being tickets to the Strictly Come Dancing live shows. 
“My boys are obsessed with Strictly and it’s one of the few things we all watch together as a family. For the four of us, it was £340, which is the most I’ve ever spent on tickets for an event,” she tells Money.
“I know my husband would think it’s outrageous, so I told him it was ‘reasonable’ and he didn’t ask the exact price.”
Natalie downplays purchases, she says, because she doesn’t want to justify the cost if she has “consciously researched and thought about what I am buying”.
In part, she attributes this to her upbringing – she grew up in a working-class family that didn’t have much extra money.
“My parents always saved for holidays and spent any extra cash on that, so they didn’t spend on ‘luxuries’ or expensive things – even now they love a bargain,” she says. 
“I think that made me quite frugal with money sometimes. So when I do spend on something I consider to be a luxury or an investment, I feel a bit guilty even though I’m not spending more than I can afford.”
Natalie also struggles with the wage disparity between her and her husband. 
She runs a small business and also works for a charity, taking home about 25% of the salary her husband, a lawyer, does (they both pool the majority of their money together in a joint account).
“I do more of the childcare and household stuff and when my children were younger, I worked part-time to be around more for them,” she says. 
“So we are both contributing in different ways but financially I’ll never earn as much as him. 
“I’m very conscious of the difference in income and it bugs me that our relationship is quite old-fashioned in that way.”
So why do we do it?
Catherine Morgan, a financial coach, author and wellbeing speaker, says hiding purchases can be a way of avoiding difficult conversations about our financial values. 
“The relationship we have with money is really a mirror reflection of the relationship we have with ourselves,” she says. 
“Therefore, the need to hide purchases often stems from our deep-rooted emotional relationship with money. When we hide purchases, we’re usually not just concealing the items themselves, but responding to underlying feelings of shame, guilt or fear of judgement.
“We worry what people might say that will often exaggerate these feelings. 
“Money isn’t just about numbers – it’s deeply intertwined with our identity, values, and a deep sense of security.”
It can be a “significant issue”, she says, as it may signal “deeper challenges” in a relationship.
And while the odd pair of shoes may not seem a problem, hiding purchases can be problematic when it starts to affect your emotional wellbeing, with warning signs including anxiety, guilt and consistently hiding purchases and bank statements. 
Your relationship with money
Like all relationships, our one with money can always be “healed and improved”, Morgan says. 
She recommends exploring what triggers your spending habits and what emotions arise when you feel the need to hide purchases. 
“Often it comes alongside feelings of boredom, stress or even hunger,” she says.
“Understanding your nervous system’s response to money matters is crucial. 
“When we feel financial shame or anxiety, our body often goes into a stress response – heart racing, shallow breathing or feeling overwhelmed. 
“Learning to recognise these physical signs can help you pause before making impulsive purchases. 
“Simple practices like deep breathing or taking a mindful moment before spending can help regulate your nervous system and create space for more conscious financial decisions.”
* Some names have been changed
So often, reporting on the cost of living is gloomy – but this week we had several pieces of welcoming news for your wallets…
Mortgage rates ‘turning point’
The average two-year, fixed-rate mortgage has dipped below 5% for the first time since September 2022, when former prime minister Liz Truss announced her ill-fated mini-budget.
The interest rate charged on a typical two-year fixed homeowner mortgage now stands at 4.99%, according to Moneyfacts.
Adam French, head of news at Moneyfactscompare.co.uk, said the move was a “symbolic turning point”.
Car insurance costs falling at fastest rate on record
The average price of car insurance has fallen at the fastest rate on record, figures from the Association of British Insurers show. 
A driver will pay around £60 less to insure their vehicle than this time last year, it said. 
Between April and June, the typical premium cost £562 – down 9.6% from £622 in the same quarter in 2024. 
That’s the largest percentage fall since records began in 2013. 
(Very slight) good news for holiday money
The pound has had a terrible six months against the euro.
Back in February, one pound bought you €1.21, but it has recently exchanged for as little as €1.14.
A rise to €1.16 in the last week represents some good – albeit marginal – news for British holidaymakers.
Against the dollar, sterling also rose and is hovering just below $1.36, a level not seen since last month.
The spike comes on the heels of better-than-expected (but still not very good) UK growth figures, which our business and economics correspondent Paul Kelso analysed here…
Restaurant owner’s rant about customers
Away from your personal finances, too many diners are becoming “insufferable pricks”, the owner of a renowned London restaurant has said.
Ferhat Dirik, of the upscale Mangal 2 Restaurant in northeast London, wrote a newsletter venting his frustrations with diners, saying the hospitality industry had become the “nation’s punching bag”. 
Lots of you agreed with him but one reader sought to hit back at his criticism – by doing the very thing Dirik moaned about. We rounded up your reactions earlier today.
Gala Bingo ‘victims’ talk to Sky News
Gala Bingo players have been left “angry” and “disgusted” after a technical glitch led them to believe they had won thousands of pounds.
Several punters received notifications saying they had won an online bingo game, with some able to withdraw the money. 
But they were later told there had been a “technical error” and the winnings did not exist.
Read Money reporter Jess Sharp’s report…
Here are some more of our other best reads this week…
Do check back with the blog tomorrow for cost of living specialist Megan Harwood-Baynes’s long read, looking at the world of stealth shoppers – and we’ll be back with live updates on Monday.
Have a good one.
The alarm has been raised for “existential threats” to long-standing chains after Claire’s fell into administration.
The British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA) has warned “urgent support” is needed for high street firms.
The fashion accessories brand was expected to appoint administrators on Wednesday for its UK and Ireland business – putting around 2,150 jobs at risk.
The move raises fears over the future of 306 stores, with 278 of those in the UK and 28 in Ireland.
“It’s deeply saddening to see long-standing high street chains announcing significant profit reductions and facing existential threats,” BIRA chief executive Andrew Goodacre told the Retail Gazette.
“These developments provide yet more examples, if they were needed, of the urgent need to support high street businesses across Britain.”
Fellow high street brand River Island is expected to axe more than 100 jobs and Hobbycraft will close nine shops later this year.
Goodacre called for a reduction in business rates and a ban on “low-value” products entering the UK duty-free.
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Share your story with us on Whatsapp here or email us via moneyblog@sky.uk.
Car insurer Admiral has set aside £50m to compensate customers given an unfair settlement for cars that were written off or stolen.
The company is reviewing decisions on some claims made between 2019 and 2024 that may not have taken into account a rise in used-car prices.
The £50m pot, which does not include the interest Admiral would be required to pay on top, suggests tens of thousands of drivers may have received less than their cars were worth.
Admiral say only 3% of total loss claims over the six years being examined are affected.
Customers should wait to be contacted by Admiral, the Financial Conduct Authority said.
Admiral identifies ‘small percentage’ of affected customers
“Ensuring everyone who trusts us with their insurance has a good customer experience is at the heart of everything we do,” an Admiral spokesperson told Money.
“We regularly review our processes to ensure they meet the needs of our customers and that we are delivering fair value, and this includes the valuation of vehicles following a total loss. 
“Following a review of this, we have identified that for a small percentage of our customers the amount didn’t fully reflect the value of the vehicle at the time of the incident. 
“For these instances, we will therefore be applying a retrospective increase in their settlement amount, including interest.
“Admiral is committed to providing good outcomes for customers and we apologise to those who have been affected.”
Plans to raise business rates could put more than 100 large supermarkets at risk of closure, according to reports.
Tens of Tesco outlets and 50 Sainsbury’s shops will become unprofitable, industry sources told the Financial Times.
But the sources suggested Tesco and Sainsbury’s (with profits of £1.2bn and £420m respectively last year) may be in stronger positions to cope with the change than Asda and Morrisons, which have more debt.
Around 30 Morrisons supermarkets could be put under threat, but this wouldn’t necessarily mean closure for all of them, an insider told the FT.
Some 90% of Asda’s 600 supermarkets would be affected by the rate hike, the FT reported, citing a person familiar with the company.
What is the government’s business rates plan?
The government is planning to increase business rates on properties with a rateable value of more than £500,000 in order to fund a discount for small businesses.
A Treasury spokesperson said: “We are a pro-business government creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and levels the playing field.
“Our reform to the business rates system will introduce new, permanently lower business rates in 2026 while removing the £110,000 cap, benefitting over 280,000 retail, hospitality and leisure business properties. 
“This will be sustainably funded by a new, higher rate on the 1% of most valuable business properties.”
Tesco and Sainsbury’s have been contacted for comment. Asda and Morrisons declined to comment.
Drivers of electric vehicles are being urged to sign up for an automatic payment system that could ease the impact of London’s congestion charge by £1,000 a year.
EVs will no longer be exempt from Christmas Day this year onwards, and the daily rate will increase from £15 to £18 in January, under Transport for London plans.
TfL has proposed a 25% discount for EV drivers registered with Auto Pay, which bills them automatically for journeys within the congestion charge zone or through Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels.
A commuter driving via a chargeable route five days a week could save £1,035 a year with the discount.
Nonetheless, critics like Tom Jervis, consumer editor at Auto Express, have expressed frustration that EV drivers will have to pay the congestion charge at all.
“While we recognise the importance of funding clean air initiatives and reducing congestion in London, it’s deeply concerning that electric vehicle drivers – many of whom made the switch in good faith – will now be penalised,” says Jervis.
The proposed discount is set to be halved to 12.5% in March 2030.
Every Friday, we take an overview of the mortgage market with industry experts and round up the best rates with Moneyfactscompare.co.uk.
The number of homeowners falling behind on their mortgage repayments has fallen by 9% in the past year – but the number of homes being repossessed has increased.
In the second quarter of 2025, 87,380 homeowner mortgages were in arrears of 2.5% or more of the outstanding balance, according to the banking industry body UK Finance. 
The proportion of people with buy-to-let mortgages in arrears fell by 17% to 11,270. 
Overall, the proportion of mortgages in arrears remains low, at 1% of homeowner mortgages and 0.58% of buy-to-let mortgages.
However, the number of homeowner properties being repossessed has jumped by 47% in the past year, UK Finance found. 
A total of 1,340 homeowner-mortgaged properties were repossessed in the second quarter of 2025. 
The number of repossessed buy-to-let mortgaged properties also increased by 11% to 790. 
Despite the rise, UK Finance said the number of home repossessions remains significantly lower than long-term averages.
In the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, a peak of 13,200 properties were repossessed in the first quarter of 2009.
Charles Roe, director of mortgages at UK Finance, said: “Arrears are continuing to fall across both homeowner and buy-to-let mortgages, reflecting resilience in the market.
“The proportion of mortgages in arrears also remains below long-term averages, even amid the current economic uncertainty. Lenders remain committed to helping customers manage their payments, and we urge anyone concerned to contact their lender early.” 
What’s happening with mortgage rates?
Mortgage rates have continued to fall this week following the Bank of England’s decision to cut interest rates for a third time this year. 
The average two-year fixed-rate mortgage dipped below 5% for the first time since former prime minister Liz Truss’s mini-budget in 2022, hitting 4.99%, according to Moneyfacts.
Adam French, head of news at Moneyfactscompare.co.uk, said the move was a “symbolic turning point” and will allow a “sigh of relief” for borrowers coming off high fixed rate deals. 
But it still won’t be good news for those coming off a longer-term rate, with French warning they need to be prepared to see their monthly repayments jump. 
“In any case, it is crucial that borrowers choose a new deal suitable for them because there is a difference of more than 2% between typical fixed rates and the revert rate, compared to just 1% back in August 2023 – getting it wrong could add £100s to a household’s monthly outgoings,” he warned. 
If you’re looking to remortgage, Santander currently offers the lowest rates on the market  – all of these deals come with a free valuation, free legal fees or £250 cashback. 
As a remortgage customer, it’s possible you are looking to save on the upfront cost of any deal. You might also want a deal to cover a valuation or legal fees. 
A Best Buy mortgage could be the most cost-effective choice in this instance – here’s this week’s list… 
Professor Green is best known for his rapping talent, but he’s also an entrepreneur on a mission to help young people get their businesses off the ground.  
The musician and mental health advocate has embarked on several ventures since rising to fame more than a decade ago, and now he’s rolling out two more in a month.
I Used To Rave But Now I Roast is focused on events that combine dining and music, but with the bonus of a reasonable bedtime, and the Unlikely Dads Club will start with a podcast focused on parenting, with the aim of expanding into a wider brand. 
He hinted to Money that a third venture is also on the way, saying he’s been tasting for a new “fast food offering” – so watch this space, there’s something in the pipeline. 
“It feels like a really transitional time into a load of really new and exciting things, along with releasing new music almost every month this year,” he said. 
‘I still struggle in business’ 
I Used To Rave But Now I Roast was born from an idea Green (real name Stephen Manderson) cooked up 10 years ago, but which has been sitting on the back burner since then, as other projects took hold.  
It’s kicking off with two events at the Wilderness Festival with the highly acclaimed Michelin-starred chef Tom Sellers in September. 
“I struggle with decision paralysis and that’s long been a problem for me. Action is really, really important,” Manderson said.
He explained that due to “having no education”, he has often approached business decisions “based on feeling”.
He added: “Feeling is important for the creative aspect of it. It’s less useful when it comes to the business side of things  
“I still struggle, I’m very emotional and that makes things quite difficult. 
“I think if I’m to start another business, I need someone who’s less [emotional] who can make those decisions and just let me flourish creatively.” 
Despite this, he said his success has come from his “willingness to continue”. 
“I try not to use the word ‘failures’ but ‘false starts’. 
“I didn’t sell a record until I was 28 after signing a record deal when I was 20. I was always just carrying on, and I think that’s the most important part of anything.” 
‘F*** me was that a lesson’ 
Lots of lessons have been learnt throughout the 41-year-old’s career, especially from the experience of his failed liquid health supplements company Aguulp, which he launched in 2019 with entrepreneur and former soldier Kevin Godlington. 
“Some businesses have done great and some started off great and then failed,” he said.  
“I was walked into near insolvency with Aguulp just after we got our largest order from Boots and couldn’t fulfil it because our manufacturer went into bankruptcy to the sum of £7.2m, and that was in partnership with someone who has incredibly successful businesses and is still a good friend and business partner of mine.” 
When asked what the biggest lesson has been, he said: “Money solves all problems and people are always the hardest part of any business, and f*** me, was that a lesson.” 
‘I found myself in debt at times’
Coming from the East End and leaving school without any qualifications, Manderson said he was never taught any financial skills. 
Instead, he picked up what he knows about money from the stress that existed in his home.  
“My nan worked three jobs and still had f*** all, and there were debt collectors and the stress that came with that. 
“Sadly, some of that’s been repeated. I found myself in debt at times throughout my life,” he said.  
“I just think education-wise, we could definitely do better in teaching people.” 
To play his part in that education process, he has teamed up with Simply Business to help young entrepreneurs find a mentor and hand out 10 grants worth a total of £50,000.  
“The fact that we have to start a fund for entrepreneurship despite over half of the private workforce being employed by entrepreneurs or small and independent businesses is kind of crazy. 
“The word entrepreneur is a bit of a dirty word to some people… but it’s people willing to take risks and to devote their time and energy to something that they want to succeed,” he said.  
“The mentorship is going to be integral, just because of the minefield that starting a business is.” 
People aged between 18 and 30 can apply for the Simply Business Young Entrepreneur Fund until 9 October, with Manderson judging the entries and picking 10 winners who will receive £5,000 and six weeks of tailored business support.  
You can submit your application here.
Lots of you have been getting in touch with your thoughts after we shared the comments of a renowned restaurateur yesterday… 
Ferhat Dirik, of the upscale Mangal 2 Restaurant in northeast London, wrote a newsletter venting his frustrations with diners, saying too many of them are becoming “insufferable pricks”. 
In the piece, he ranted about last-minute cancellations, complaints, what he called unrealistic allergy demands and “loudness”. 
We asked our readers to share their thoughts on his comments. 
Lots of you agreed with Dirik… 
Good for the restaurateur saying this; as guests in restaurants we are also hacked off by these increasingly entitled and noisy people who act as if they are in their own sitting room, not in a public space. No courtesies to others!
freddo_lover
As a fellow operator in the hospitality industry, bravo to Ferhat for having the minerals to highlight some of these issues that the industry is largely afraid to speak up, fearing damaged reputation and being shunned. The “fence” is a relatively safe place, well done for jumping off!
Alex
I feel your pain and could not agree more. Had chippy guy gave 1 star because his two mates got served whilst at the counter, but he was behind them and didn’t. Didn’t think to speak but gleeful in keyboard moan. 
Chip Eater
Spot on.
Angus
Mangal II is spot on! Brits have this delusion that they own and control the world. They don’t. It is the main reason why Brits are utterly unwelcome in Europe and elsewhere. They feel entitled (G-d knows why) and then get hopelessly drunk, and trash the establishment. Ill-mannered.
Altea Messenger
I absolutely agree with Ferhat Dirik. Dining out has become a lottery. Not in the sense of restaurant quality and service, but because of the constant fear of being seated next to boorish, discourteous, or entitled diners.
Victoria Morrison
Rudeness and impatience seems to have become prevalent in all walks of UK life. The general lack of care or consideration is everywhere, just look at the way people drive and how people speak to service providers.
Floss
I think Dirik is absolutely right about customers in restaurants and I applaud his courage in saying it out loud! My wife and I are lucky enough to be able to regularly eat out and there are sadly many occasions where we find exactly this behaviour underway.
Petey980
Others thought he made a couple of good points – but didn’t agree with everything he had to say… 
I take the point about loud customers making it difficult to converse in restaurants. However, in many places, the main problem is that the interior designer did not consider acoustics when designing the restaurant. Tiled floors, metal surfaces and minimalist design are the culprits. 
Alex_C
Don’t disagree about people’s rudeness and the dissatisfaction with the government. But one additional factor could also be the restaurants themselves – over-cheffy, over-priced and often elitist. As usual takes two to tango.
DAG
If the TripAdvisor reviews are anything to go by, I suggest the Mangal 2 owner looks at his own management before criticising his customers. I agree regarding people not turning up when booking a table, but the allergy comments are out of order.
Seggamackem
Some of you had some suggestions for Dirik… 
That owner of that restaurant should be grateful for our custom.
Hammer
If customers are being rude, loud and/or offensive – ask them to leave, just as for those customers living their best imaginary life on a ‘super yatch’ as was described. Basic common decency and social skills are all that’s needed really.
Lauren
While this person didn’t share their thoughts directly with us, they have made it clear that they are a Sky News reader.
They went a step further and left a two-star Google review for the restaurant – which replied on its Instagram story… 
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