Ohio State University finds that men estimate the income of the family as, on average 5% higher than their wives. They also estimate that the debts are less than their wives believe they are.

“There’s quite a gap between husbands’ and wives’ reports of their financial status,” Zagorsky said. “These differences may have significant impacts on everything from a couple’s relationship to national reports of economic statistics.”

While couples have very different views about their income, they agree even less about their total net wealth. Among older couples surveyed, half differed in their wealth estimates by more than $14,700, and 10 percent differed by more than $113,000. Among younger couples, who have had less time to save, half differed in their wealth estimates by more than $7,000, and 10 percent differed by more than $31,000.

This is potentially a major area of conflict within a relationship. Interestingly the survey reports those couples that had very similar estimates of their income, expenditure and total wealth were less likely to divorce.

Perhaps it's time you and your spouse sat down together and worked out exactly what you earn and spend.