DEBTS shrouded in secrecy and lies are tearing apart families buckling under increased cost of living pressures, financial and relationship counsellors say.

Ben Paris of Brisbane company Debt Mediators said some clients had hidden six-figure credit card debts from their partners.

“A lot of the inquiries we get are from people desperate to hide their debts from their partners,” he said.

“They feel embarrassed and like a failure and want to be able to make the problem go away without having to tell their loved ones. The fact that a significant number of people would rather get into debt than share their worries with those closest to them is a shocking indictment of the current state of people’s finances.”

Read more