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Where do you hide your running away fund

332 replies

Somuchsugarinoneday · 17/01/2026 16:47

If you have one?

I’m soon going to be working more hours and earning almost double what Dp does. I’m not planning to run away, but I do want to save that money and Dp is hopeless with money and it all gets frittered away somehow.
I want/need to save the money for an important reason-medical tests and help for my ill Dd and then possibly a trip to Disneyland in a year or so. I plan to work very hard for as long as this opportunity presents itself and to save as much as possible.
I’m thinking cash in a larger envelope, but where? My thoughts are in a high up picture frame in Dd’s bedroom, but i’m not sure 🤔

Where do you hide yours, if you even do?

OP posts:
Gettingbysomehow · 18/01/2026 10:54

I just cant be with someone who is financially irresponsible. I have no respect gor them. I divorced my husband after he al.ost made us bankrupt and hid all the bills. Can't you talk to him about his behaviour?
Id put my fund in an ISA and make sure he cant get access to it.

Iloveeverycat · 18/01/2026 10:52

I have a separate savings account but its not a secret. It's my money. Then again we don't have a joint account.

Sharptonguedwoman · 18/01/2026 10:49

Premium bonds

Jellybunny56 · 18/01/2026 10:47

I don’t hide money, we’re married so all is joint and no plans to leave but if I wanted to do this I could do it in my Monzo account. No letters, no post other than the card being sent out which you get a date for and it’s all done on the app.

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 18/01/2026 10:33

I dont have one but if I did I'd ask my sister to put it in her account.

Ginmonkeyagain · 18/01/2026 10:25

I don't have a running aaway fund because it isn't 1950. I just have money that is mine. I have a number of bank accounts (current and savings accounts) with different banks and it is no ones business but mine.

Online banks like Monzo and Starlin operate pretty much completely paperless and allow you to do all the ID checks online. They send the card to you in the post but if you are worried about your partner seeing or opening it you have a lot more problems than money in your relationship.

AdaDex · 18/01/2026 10:23

OP are there safety deposit boxes where you live? If you need to store physical cash then that would be the safest option.

If you are looking for where to hide it at home that's more risky. If your partner found even one bundle of notes he may go looking to see if there's more.

The easiest way to hide the money is to spend it. For example, when you reach the point of booking your Disney trip, pay for the whole thing upfront instead of just a deposit. Book and pay for any Disney passes/excursions ahead of time.

It depends on the health system where you are but pay as much of the medical bills upfront as you can.

As I said in an earlier post, this money won't stay a secret. Your partner may not take this well. Your problem isn't where to hide it, it's why it's necessary to do so in the first place.

FriedFalafels · 18/01/2026 10:20

Open an ISA, double check that it’s all online only. I use trading 212 and have never had paperwork.

You can add £20k per year and any interest or dividends created within it are tax free.

Make sure your salary is into a separate account and have a joint account that you both transfer a set amount too. Ours covers bills and food only. The rest is your own.

IdleThoughts · 18/01/2026 10:12

I find it bonkers you are referring to this as your "running away fund" if you need a running away fund something is seriously not right.

If you'd asked "do you have a bank account/savings in just your name?" Yes I do, I have the same account I opened aged 16 and my husband has his own too where our wages are paid, plus our own isas, then we have a joint account we pay all bills and anything else from 50/50. We don't think of our money as mine and yours but we have money in our own names neither can get at technically, but if we lost our jobs or something happened to either of us we could use that money (well unless we were in a coma!). It isn't a secret what's in there. If we ever divorced it'd be split equally, so there's no point keeping it a secret. Granted I'm not with someone who is bad with money or abusive so I wouldn't call it "running away money", it's just my own savings but we can all use it if we needed to.

Why can't you just open a bank account/isa in your name and tell your husband? Why must it be a secret if you aren't in an abusive relationship? If it has to be a secret you should be taking steps to end your relationship now, not saving for disneyland.

Sunsetseascape · 18/01/2026 10:09

In an envelope?! 😂 crikey.

I don’t have a running away fund. I just call it my savings. My DP knows I have it, and I own the house we live in.

I find it very odd that you’ve called it a running away fund, then backtracked to say actually it’s just to save for a holiday and medical bills 🫤

SweetnsourNZ · 18/01/2026 10:07

Personally, I would just be honest but firm. I would just say that now that you are earning a bit extra you would like to put some of it in a savings account, then open one with just your name on it, or even one that needs both of your signatures to access money. Whether you say why is up to you.
I just don't like secrets in a relationship and they always get exposed sometime.

Cherryicecreamx · 18/01/2026 10:05

I had money in an envelope too. It went missing. So apart from some emergency cash that you can afford to loose, I would be a bit wary. I think you might always be on edge if it gets found.

I second the others on setting up a separate account (ensuring you opt for paperless). I personally wouldn't use the same bank just encase they say something in passing.

It's always wise to have your own separate money, they don't need to know. It's our security - even the best relationships could go sour.

SpaceRaccoon · 18/01/2026 10:04

Yeah don't do cash, it will devalue, and it's not safe from theft or discovery.

Just open a new savings account and have it set up so you don't get paper mail from them.

SweetnsourNZ · 18/01/2026 09:58

Newdoggo · 17/01/2026 17:26

Do you have an address (ie parents) you can use as a correspondence address? Even online banks sometimes send post as per regulations

Yes. Sometimes they will send the odd letter snail mail such as informing you of an interest rate change, or trying to sell you insurance or something.

wherethewildrosesgrow · 18/01/2026 09:54

Are you safe?
I would open more than one account, that way if he finds one. you are only going to lose half.
Most post offices have a facility where you can despot cash into most banks.
He shouldn’t find out about these accounts if you ask to go completely paperless.
Ive never had any written communication other than a cash card from Monzo, which you may not need?
Would you be able to provide a paper trail if asked by one of these accounts where the cash is coming from?
Would he force you to share this money if he discovered it, how would he do this if you didn’t have a cash card?

Phonicshaskilledmeoff · 18/01/2026 09:53

I wouldn’t usually think it’s ok to hide money except in DA cases and a true running away fund is needed. Most of our savings are in my name, largely for tax purposes.

he earns the lion share of our money, but I am entirely in control of our finances. I determine what goes in savings, on mortgage and in spend accounts. He is completely aware of what is held where though and I would never hide anything from him but he doesn’t really have access to the savings.

I am very strict - once the fun money is gone it’s gone (for both of us). We are, however aligned on financial goals.

The other posters are right about just setting up a paperless easy access savings account in your name. I just wouldn’t personally keep it a secret is the vast majority of situations - even when someone is terrible with money. I don’t think it will end well in the end. if someone pulled a Disney holiday out their arse because they’d been hiding money I would personally be cross.

If you’re planning on leaving him anyway then I guess it makes no difference.

OuchAndAbout · 18/01/2026 09:51

Set up an online bank account. Check that all of the boxes are ticked/unticked for paperless correspondence. Use an email address he doesn't know about if necessary. Check how to pay cash into the online account - in the UK I believe you can do it via the post office, so I would hope there is a local equivalent. Good luck!

Elsvieta · 18/01/2026 09:39

Why do you need to hide it at all? Pay your salary into a solo account, transfer enough for your half of the bills into the joint account, and tell him why. It sounds like you've made many attempts to talk about his financial irresponsibility and he's refused to change. When someone won't listen, it's time to stop talking - and take action.

Dliplop · 18/01/2026 09:31

With my first marriage everything was joint and I had some money in a purse under clothes in a drawer. And I needed it.

Now everything is electronic, we each have some separate accounts mainly investments and then our main is a joint account. It works really well for us and if anything happens (more likely to die these days) then we each have funds we can access until everything is unfroze and accessible. I think we should all have some investments or savings of our own

zipadeeday · 18/01/2026 09:22

How much money are we talking about here?

Jazzcatt · 18/01/2026 09:18

I would never ever have a joint account with anyone. Never have, never will. ESPECIALLY one where both wages go in, I just think it's a recipe for disaster. At a push you could have one you both pay into for bills only. I think this is what you need to do or your going to be paying for his mistakes and it sounds like you need a running away fund.

Gonners · 18/01/2026 09:17

There is really no need to use a different bank. MrG and I both bank at the same branch - it's one of those rare creatures that still has actual high street offices! He has his own current account, into which his income gets paid, plus a savings account. I have the same. We also have a joint account for bills, general house spending etc.

When we look at our accounts online, he can see the ones in his name (including the joint one) and I can see the ones in mine (also including the joint one). I cannot see his personal accounts and he cannot see mine.

ElevensesKing · 18/01/2026 09:14

Like another pp suggested, you need to open a business account as the money will be earnings from your business. From this, you need to pay tax, NI & business related expenses. So it's not as simple as opening a savings account & hiding the money there.

ElevensesKing · 18/01/2026 09:13

Like another pp suggested, you need to open a business account as the money will be earnings from your business. From this, you need to pay tax, NI & business related expenses. So it's not as simple as opening a savings account & hiding the money there.

Porwrp · 18/01/2026 09:09

Do your wages currently go into your joint account?

I'd set up a new account in just your name at a different bank account. Then transfer your old wages, or a slight increase but not the full increase amount into the joint account each month going forward.

You aren't married and do not have to put your full wages into the joint account for him to fritter away.

Then I'd stick a set amount each month into an ISA at the same bank as your solo account. That way he can't access it and fritter it away, and it won't be instant access for you either making it a good savings pot.

Another old school option is wearable gold.

When I was in an abusive relationship I hid an envelope of cash in my mum's house. But this was at risk of fire, flood, burglary, etc. It was a risky short term thing that I wouldn't recommend.

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