Budget Cuts Shock : Married men sacrifice wives for mistresses

In anticipation of next month's government spending review, cheating husbands around the UK are preparing to make some serious sacrifices to keep their heads above water - but one thing they won't give up is their mistresses...

Research by IllicitEncounters.com has found that unfaithful gents would rather forfeit regular holidays, a new car, an extension to their home, gym membership and nights out with their spouse, just so they could keep wining and dining their lover. Results also show that men would abandon nights out with their wife so they could afford to buy a new wardrobe. Over 900 cheating hubbies participating in the survey, which asked 'What expenses would you be first to cut from your personal budget?'. Participants could select up to three answers.

"When times are tough, sex becomes a necessity, rather than a luxury" comments Sara Hartley of IllicitEncounters.com "Without it, we become more susceptible to stress and the everyday grind. Ideally, we would look to our partners for such relief, but as we know, sometimes people possess needs that are outside the realms of what their spouse can, or wants to, provide."

"Material possessions like flash cars and shiny mobile phones may offer brief bursts of serotonin, but the excitement and euphoria of a full-blown affair is hard to beat."

"We've seen through extensive research that men who cheat have a great deal in common, psychologically, with men who gamble. For many monetary risk-takers, starting an affair may be another way of satisfying their urges without breaking the bank."

IllicitEncounters.com has been running since 2003, and now has in excess of 500,000 members across the UK.