Speaking of other halves ...

See also: being married!

No woman should ever agree to be the non earner in a relationship where they arent married.

Lovely men can make bad choices. Hit bad times and spiral downwards.

I havent had an escape savings account because of always having my own income so I could walk into an estate agent tomorrow and they would rent me somewhere based on my salary. But for housewives and stay at home mums it is essential as is their own pension pot.

I have always had my own account, copying my mother who called it her "running away fund". The only difference was my money was in the bank but we found mother's under the corner of her bedroom carpet after she died.

Lovely men can also go bankrupt, get arrested, die, get made redundant, get fired, have life altering illnesses or diseases, need residential care, have all savings in his name assessed for care funding etc....

A break up isnt the only scenario a woman needs an escape fund for

In my experience (not personal) even the loveliest of men can become extremely difficult when a relationship breaks up, best to be prepared

I was married at 18. By 19 I knew he couldn't be trusted with money so cancelled the joint account.

Yes to an escape fund and very glad I was always financially independent. A few years of poverty after I left, but mostly financially stable now.

Forget the escape fund, try gin, it solves any problem!

I never had a "leaving fund", but every time we hada row I`d sit down and decide what furniture, etc., I`d take if I left! Mind you, I never did.

Oh yes I have its what keeps me sane

Every time moshulu send me an email, I buy another pair of sandals, they are so comfortable, I wear them all day at work, and have some to match every outfit, love their boots too!

Regarding the escape fund, I’m the worlds worst saver, but I always used to have an escape route in mind, not for any reason, just felt if anything happened, I’d have a way out. I advise my daughters the same.
We all work together, so any break up could be awkward to say the very least!

No, he's always had more money than me (and kept me and our 2 sons for years when I was a stay-at-home mother. We've got a joint account, and he doesn't begrudge me anything. (I'm very lucky to have him)

Yes same as notanan2 I always maintained financial independence, my ex was unbelievably mean with money so I kept my own in self defence. So glad I did it made leaving so much easier.

As my Mum used to say "What's his is ours and what's mine's me own!"

I never had a slush fund but I was always capable of earning my living at a professional living. My mother was insistent that all her three daughters should have professions. Her mother and grandmother had been widowed in their 30s with young children and as Irish immigrants life for them was very difficult.

I have always had a personal bank account and all our savings accounts were joint. For most of our working lives, DH travelled abroad a lot so all the family finances were in my hands anyway.

Our mothers must have been related luckylegs, mine said exactly the same thing. I’ve always carried a little extra cash ‘just in case’, although I’m not sure in case of what. It feels a bit ridiculous now but habits die hard.

My maternal grandmother advised me to have a “slush fund” for whatever emergency may arise.

I have always had one, Mr.Gravy has always been aware of it. We have a joint bank account for household bills, several joint credit cards but I have always had several personal credit cards to ensure my individual credit rating.

If you are only a “secondary” card holder and have no accounts/cards/ bills in your name it can cause problems if/when your husband dies.

Never had a secret fund of any sort. Having said that I have always had my own bank account . We have a joint account that whilst I was working we both put in a % of salary to pay bills, mortgage , holidays etc.

My money in, my account is just that - mine. My husband doesn't ask me about it , if we needed it for something then I would be fine with that but I have always maintained my financial independence and after 43 years I see no reason to change.

I'm the finance manager in our house, and despite my best efforts, I can't get the other half to show any interest whatsoever in what goes in and out of the bank accounts. I have warned him that if he doesn't buck up and we ever split he'll be out of here without a pot to p--- in. He thinks I think I'm joking. I am - I love him dearly.

I wish I had known about an escape fund. I most certainly have set one up. Drunken husband was always leaving trousers on the floor with money in the pockets! He had no idea how much money he spent through the day and evening and would not have known if had taken some.

My mum always advised me to have a little money put away at the back of my purse, just in case. Just in case of - you want to do a bunk, or buy yourself something or treat someone, etc. Good advice I have always followed when I could.

Far too late for any running away now. I'll stick with the old bugger.

Kitty -basically anything you want! Might be a running away fund might be that treat for the other half who knows!! Your own stash

What for?

I ordered the most beautiful pair of Moshulu shoes. Unfortunately they were like boats on my feet and I had to send them back. ?
I never had an "escape fund", as I never felt I would ever need such a thing.

Ninarosa I don't have an 'escape' fund, but I did google Gabor shoes ... who have a sale on. Thanks for that.
In return do have a look at Moshulu shoes, who also have a sale on.

I have about 6 pairs of Moshulu and they are really well made and comfortable. My partner has 4 pairs too. ??