You have that feeling in your gut that something isn’t right. Something is off. But you can’t exactly put your finger on it. Perhaps your husband has been coming home late and acting more secretive than normal. Or, maybe it’s your wife who has suddenly changed her image, almost like she’s trying to impress someone. No one wants to believe that their spouse could be having an affair, but this happens more than we like to admit.
Here are ten classic signs that your spouse may be cheating.
Sign #1: Changing Habits
All of a sudden, your husband starts changing his habits, such as leaving for work early, coming home late or even trading in the family van for a new fashionable car. It could be a midlife crisis, but if it is, he shouldn’t be secretive about his behavior.
Sign #2: Unexplained Items
Have you noticed your wife with new clothes? Pieces of jewelry that may not be from a great aunt after all? Or maybe your husband keeps odd items in his car, such as blankets and cologne. Other questionable items that could indicate an affair include hotel keys, ticket stubs and restaurant receipts.
Sign #3: Excessive Spending
Unexplained spending is another red flag. Are there charges to your credit card that look suspicious? Large withdrawals from the ATM? If money is going out the window and your spouse can’t explain why, it’s possible that it may be funding an affair. Which leads to our next sign…
Sign #4: Secretive Accounts
Some cheating spouses think the best way to hide their spending is by taking control of the family’s finances. Or, they may take out new credit cards or set up an account in their name only.
Sign #5: Hidden Bills and Letters
It’s also suspicious if your husband begins hiding letters, stashing away bills or even having mail forwarded to a new address. In fact, people who hire private investigators are often shocked to learn that their cheating spouse had a secret mailbox.
Sign #6: Strange Communication
The phone rings at night, you answer, and the person hangs up. Or, you may notice that your wife receives text or email messages that are written in a coded language. This secretive, odd communication is another red flag.
Sign #7: Social Media Activity
It may seem childish, but you can learn a lot from social media. Some of the telltale signs that your spouse may be in another relationship: a separate profile, checking in places that you weren’t invited to or conversations, tags and status updates with a person of interest.
Sign #8: Extra Grooming
Your husband may be spending more money on expensive clothes, dying his hair or driving around a luxury car. The body he was once happy with isn’t cutting it anymore. It could be that he wants to improve himself, but it could be that he’s working hard for another reason…or person…
Sign #9: Business Trips
This is the one you probably see in the movies, but it’s not far off from real life. Business trips are the perfect excuse to get away for the weekend and have limited contact, thus giving attention to an extramarital affair. You’ll know when the business trips don’t line up with his job description anymore.
Sign #10: Picking Fights
A cheating spouse is always on the defense. If you find that all of a sudden, your spouse is constantly picking fights, making hurtful remarks or being unusually defensive about their whereabouts, keep your eyes open, especially if the behavior doesn’t pass.
What do you do if you believe your husband or wife is cheating? Contact a private investigator who can collect real information and get you the answers you need.