It’s approaching payday again and if you’re scrambling around for coins down the back of the sofa, you’re not alone: regardless of age, we all struggle with our finances at times.
As teens, we might have thought becoming an adult was an inherent sign you’d be financially secure – but we live in uncertain economic times: a study by Shelter found millennial couples are putting off having children because they aren’t stable enough and many still rely on the bank of mum and dad.
So when do we become financial mature – where we’re sensible and in control of our money? According to a survey of 1,500 people by lending company Zopa, most people don’t reach this stage until they’re 31.
The survey found people are “most frivolous” with money at the age of 22, and then spend the next decade working towards stability and maturity.
But if you’re not there yet and you’re over 31, don’t fret. Women take a little longer than men, the study found, with the average ages being 33 and 29 respectively.
The study also looked at what the qualifiers of financial maturity are. This is what people believe are the top 10 most important things:
You have a savings account that you regularly pay into
You have a pension plan
You shop around for the best deals
You are never in your overdraft
You pay off your credit card bills monthly
You use loyalty cards
You have a “rainy day” fund
You know the exact balance of your account at all times
You don’t lend cash to friends if you are not likely to get it back
You prepare lunch to take to work