Women are now the main earner in one in five households and the  resulting financial imbalances result in rows for a fifth of married and co-habiting couples, according to a new survey.

Skipton Building Society says many of these women begrudge their men's lack of earning power - one in six resent their loved one for not earning more cash and one in 10 dislike being financially responsible.

For the men who have relinquished the traditional male provider role, one in seven feel stripped of their independence and one in 10 feel like they're always asking their partner for money.

The quarrels over cash manifest themselves in day-to-day situations. More than a quarter (26%) of those who argue with their partner over money say disputes stem from one paying a greater share of the household bills, whilst a similar number (23%) say their partner is irresponsible with money and nearly one in five (17%) keep secrets from their partner about how they spend their cash.

And it seems that relationships are less fiery when men are the main provider. For male breadwinners, only 7% feel resentment towards their other half for not earning as much. The loss of independence however seems to be a more pressing issue for financially reliant women – 18% cite this as a problem.

Christine Northam from Relate said: “Managing money is an important task in couples' relationships. Now that women's earning power has changed, deeply held beliefs about male - female roles and financial responsibility, which could be wholly outdated, can cause anger and resentment.”

“This can often lead to rows. Couples should try different ways to manage their outgoings – and with any luck they'll settle on one that suits both partners. Being open and honest about money from the beginning is a good place to start.”

Jennifer Holloway, head of media relations at Skipton Building Society, added, “For a long time, earning and managing money was firmly a male concern, but as more and more women become the main breadwinner, there's a need to ensure they're as financially savvy as possible. It can be daunting to learn about things like mortgages, investments or even inheritance tax planning, but there's a definite benefit in doing so to make every penny count – especially when money can be the cause of so many arguments.”