More than a quarter of women said they would like it if their partner paid for everything, with 51 per cent regularly accepting handouts from their other half, a survey indicated yesterday.

Around 28 per cent of those questioned said they would like to be a kept woman, and 53 per cent thought their partner should contribute more towards the household bills if they earned more than they did, according to website MyVoucherCodes.co.uk.

Among those who accepted money from their partner, three-quarters admitted they often let their partner pick up the tab for a meal out, while 69 per cent let them pay for holidays and 81 per cent accepted money for food shopping.

More than 50 per cent also accepted money for petrol, their mobile phone bill and the cost of buying appliances, while 31 per cent even let their other half pay for clothes and visits to beauty salons.

But 82 per cent of women who said they would not want to be a kept woman said they would find it demeaning, and 77 per cent thought it would be unfair on their partner.

Farhad Farhadi, personal finance expert at MyVoucherCodes.co.uk, said: “I was very surprised by the number of women that said they would like to be kept by a man, as I really thought more would view it as quite a chauvinistic lifestyle and it’s certainly a way of life that’s frowned upon by many.

“Perhaps some women get caught up in the fantasy of living a life of luxury and having a lavish lifestyle funded by a wealthy man.” MyVoucherCodes questioned 1,471 women during July.