One in four adults borrow money from their parents to help pay the bills without telling their partner, a survey says. 

And 29 per cent of them said they had lied to their parents about what they used the money for at least once. 

The proportion of adults sharing expenses with a partner but getting financial help from their parents was highest at 33 per cent among the Generation Z and Millennial cohorts. 

Meanwhile, 12 per cent of 25 to 35-year-olds said they borrowed money from their parents on a monthly basis even though they were employed. 

Despite outgoings such as groceries, mortgage and utility bills being shared, 25 per cent of the 2,000 adults surveyed by Compare the Market said they got financial support from their parents without disclosing it to their other half. 

More than a quarter of all ages surveyed said they used money from their parents for food shopping. Other common uses included buying a car, helping with mortgage repayments, holidays, energy bills and furniture. 

Meanwhile, 13 per cent said they borrowed money from their parents to keep on top of high energy bills. 

In a sign of how those struggling to cover their living costs are regularly having to seek extra cash, 21 per cent of 25 to 35-year-olds said they borrowed money from their parents every two to six months. 

Among this age bracket, 41 per cent have lied about what the money was for. This deceptive behaviour rose to 48 per cent of 21 to 24-year-olds.

Sajni Shah, money expert at Compare the Market, said: 'While it’s natural to lean on family from time to time, these findings suggest a lack of transparency and planning when it comes to shared finances – particularly among younger couples. 

'Open conversations about money can help avoid misunderstandings and set clear expectations, especially when it comes to repaying loans.'

A quarter of respondents said they were given a time limit to repay all the money back, while 24 per cent said it was given to them 'with expectations about how it would be used.' 

Only one in 10 parents insisted on the money being repaid with interest. 

While regular borrowing might be required from them, parents find it tougher to get the money back.

Across all age groups, 46 per cent said they had delayed repaying their parents, even when they could afford to. 

This was most common among 25 to 34-year-olds, at 60 per cent, and between 21 to 24-year-olds at 62 per cent. 

Abigail Foster, a personal finance expert at Compare the Market, said: 'If you need to lean on family support, try to treat it like any other financial commitment: be open about it, set repayment plans, and avoid it becoming a regular fallback.

'For parents, helping young people build confidence with money early on, whether that’s encouraging saving habits, talking openly about finances, or setting boundaries around lending can make a big difference in the long run.'

Not all of the money goes to the people supposedly borrowing it. The survey showed 19 per cent of adults had handed money their parents gave them to friends. This increased to 32 per cent among 25 to 34-year-olds. 

Across all age groups surveyed, 57 per cent said a lower cost of living would reduce their reliance on money from their parents, while 19 per cent said more job opportunities would help.  

Recent official figures showed more than one million young people aged between 16 and 24 were not in education, employment or training, representing the highest level in more than 12 years. 

Entry-level jobs have decreased sharply, with the number of mid-and lower-skilled jobs in the economy falling by around 1.6million over the past 20 years.  

In a recent report that fuelled fears of a 'lost generation', the British Chambers of Commerce said it expected the jobless rate among 16 to 24-year-olds to rise from the current level of 16.2 per cent to 17.9 per cent by spring next year.

That would be the highest level since early 2014 and add another 79,000 to the army of youngsters unable to find a job – taking the total to over 800,000.

The BCC warned overall unemployment is heading for a 12-year high of 5.5 per cent as the economy slows to a crawl with growth of just 0.9 per cent this year and 1 per cent in 2027.