…that’s the finding of the latest Aviva family survey (they do them a few times a year and they’re usually quite interesting, would you believe?).

The survey has also found that sex is the only topic of conversation that is more taboo than finances for UK families. I’m surprised at that actually. I’ve found, on money programmes I’ve worked on, that people are willing to talk about every sexual position and partner they’ve had but the moment you ask them about their bank account they clam up totally and look at you like you’ve asked a disgusting question.

Another surprising find was that the typical monthly net income for families is now £2,066, in increase of 7%. Now I thought that incomes were flat, if not going down so this increase is a surprise, particularly as it’s above inflation. How come? Where has this extra income come from? Maybe some people have had pay increases but what we hear about most is people’s salaries being frozen. So, either many salaries have gone up or people are finding other ways of making money on the side.

If it is people finding ways of making extra cash on the side then I like to think that we have helped with that! As you know, we have a lot of money-making ideas on Moneymagpie and we’re adding to them every week. If your household needs extra cash – and who doesn’t? – making a bit on the side is a great way to help.