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PRICE OF PERFECTION
Eight out of ten women admit regularly ripping the price tag off newly-purchased items before arriving home - to hide the true cost from their other half, it emerged yesterday (Fri).
A study found millions of women try to cover their tracks after a spree by fibbing about the price of clothes, shoes and accessories.
The report revealed two thirds often describe new items as 'an absolute bargain' in a bid to throw their partner off the scent.
Others regularly claim 'it was in the sale'.
A quarter said they hide new purchases in the wardrobe, while just under half wheel out the old 'It's not new - I've had it for ages' yarn.
Yesterday Lynsey Walden of Gocompare.com, which conducted the study of 3,000 women, said: ''The most common reason for women lying about their shopping habits is because they feel guilty for spending money.
''And often girls already have plenty of clothes in their wardrobe to cover every occasion.
''But it's always disappointing returning home with a purchase and feeling all excited from the retail therapy, only to get a disapproving glance from the husband or boyfriend.
''So women have invented a whole list of little white lies which they bring out whenever they suspect the other half won't like the fact they have gone into the overdraft or arrived home with bags of goodies.''
The study also found other fibs include 'I bought it with Christmas or birthday money' (20 per cent) and 'I have nothing else that fits' (19 per cent).
A fifth of girls said they often tried to convince their other halves clothes they bought were dramatically reduced, while 17 per cent claim they had vouchers which needed using.
Another 17 per cent have been known to pretend the item was bought for them by someone else.
The study also showed women will fib at least once a month about their purchases.
Luckily, 48 per cent of ladies said their partner rarely has a clue what they buy, and so it was easy to escape interrogation.
But 47 per cent did say they felt guilty about their spending even if their partner didn't mind.
A quarter of women said they usually withdrew money from their joint account to pay for clothing purchases so they didn't show up on the bank statements.
The good news for men was that the average British female actually only spends #42.34 on clothes a month.
Lynsey Walden added: ''At the end of the day, as long as women aren't delving into the overdraft or totting up a huge credit card bill, there is no reason why they shouldn't indulge in a bit of shopping every now and then.''
TOP 10 CLOTHING LIES
1. ''It only cost ...'
2. 'It was in the sale'
3. 'Oh this old thing, I've had it for ages'
4. 'But I have absolutely nothing to wear'
5. 'I bought it with birthday / Christmas money'
6. 'I had to buy it because I have nothing else that fits'
7. 'It was reduced to #10 from #500, what a bargain!'
8. 'I had vouchers in my purse'
9. 'Someone bought it for me'
10. 'Everyone else is getting a new outfit'
