Consumers' confidence in their finances is at its strongest levels in at least four and a half years, a report has found.
But "empty nesters", aged over 45 years old, are feeling significantly more positive about their finances than the younger generations, the Lloyds Bank Spending Power Report found.
Seven in 10 people (70%) aged 45-plus whose offspring have flown the nest described their financial situation as good, compared with 61% of parents aged 25 and over with younger children and 58% of young singles aged between 18 and 24 years old with no children.
Across all age groups, the report found that people's financial confidence took a further step forward in June, with the index reaching an all-time high of 164 points, up from a previous record of 160 points reached the previous month. The report has been running since the start of 2011.
In general, the upward trend was driven by an increase in people's confidence in their personal financial situation and their household financial situation, as well as an increase in the proportion of people who said they now have some disposable income.
More people are also expecting to have more money to put away in savings and have more discretionary income in six months' time.
One in three (33%) empty nesters said they have money left over at the end of each month to put into savings, making them the most likely group to do so.
Claire Garrod, head of personal current accounts at Lloyds Bank, said: "Spending power confidence continues to increase with people spending less on essential bills in June, and having more discretionary income.
"However, the degrees of confidence are very different for different consumers. Empty nesters are feeling more positive about their personal finances than younger generations, who have greater concerns about the employment market and saving for the future."
Last week, a report from PwC predicted that in 10 years', a contrast will have grown between older home owners who own their home outright, without a mortgage, and the younger "generation rent" who are aged under 40 years old and are not on the property ladder at all.
:: The Lloyds report asked more than 2,000 people aged between 18 and 75 years old across the UK about their finances.