Cheating is considered taboo in most relationships, especially at Christmas. You might think a big gift is a sign of love a devotion, but it is actually one of the signs your spouse could be cheating.
Christmas gifts can indicate that your partner might be having an affair, according to married dating website IllicitEncounters.com.
Eighty five per cent of men and 89 per cent of women stated that they spent lavishly on their partner because they felt guilty.
The site surveyed 300 married men and 300 married women to find out the most popular gifts they bought for their partner this Christmas.
Thirty five per cent of men spoiled their wife with designer jewellery, and 27 per cent with designer clothing.
Spending on designer goods didn’t stop there, with a further 20 per cent spending big on a designer handbag.
Women bought their husbands designer clothing (24 per cent) and gadgets (20 per cent) such as smart watches and smart speakers.
While your face might have lit up on Christmas morning when you opened the bracelet from Tiffany’s or the Givenchy bag, it could be also sign that your partner is having an affair.
Where both men and women agreed was on the motivations behind their high-end purchases.
The site’s spokesperson, Christian Grant, explains: “As you get older, and as you spend more and more time in the same relationship, Christmas becomes less about the gifts themselves and more about the act of giving.
“That’s why expensive and lavish gifts might not be a cause of celebration as you’d initially think.
“From the experienced adulterer to the first-timer, there’s an element of guilt, however small, that’s absolutely unavoidable.
“One small way to alleviate that guilt is to shower your significant other with material goods that you wouldn’t otherwise buy them.”
Is your wife or husband cheating? Over one in five married people admitted to cheating at their work Christmas party, according to a survey.
Why do people cheat? Relationship expert Dr Nikki Goldstein said in a blog that “trouble at home” is the most likely cause for cheating.
This means those who are unhappy who are most likely to cheat, rather than those who are simply tempted by an attractive co-worker or sexy stranger.