The average forty-something wishes they had travelled, exercised and saved more

Advice to a twenty-something from a forty-something: Look after your money and your body. Well, that’s according to a study on Wednesday.

The Nationwide Savings survey found the average person in Britain between the ages of 40 to 49 likes watching Star Wars, Grease, and Only Fools & Horses, earns around £25,000 a year, has about nearly £9,000 in savings and wishes they had exercised and travelled more.

The survey asked 2,000 adults in their forties and found mainly two types of people: those who are young at heart and those who are married with children.

Over half are married or in civil partnerships and have been with their partner for about 12 years. Around 70% have teenagers and 64% have pets.

On average a forty-something will earn £24,638 – men earn £28,460, women £21,629 – owes £1,626 on their credit card, owes about £700 to their parents and has £8,665 in savings.

Overall, the forty-something has outgoings of about £291 per month in disposable income after taking out their outgoings.

Some 43% fear that their pension won’t be enough and are concerned that they won’t be able to support their children and one in five is concerned about looking after their parents as they get older.

The survey found that the average forty-something regrets not looking after themselves with over a quarter regretting not exercising enough and 53% not doing any exercise in a month.

More than quarter regretted delaying travel plans as one in ten decided not to have children due to the cost.

Nationwide’s Head of Savings Policy Andrew Baddeley said: “Given our 40s are when we statistically reach middle age it is perhaps unsurprising that this transition from youth to maturity finds many with a foot firmly in both camps.

“At a time when we could be considered in our prime, our research suggests that some Brits are finding their 40s quite tough.

“Their message to the younger generations would be to spend more time looking after your finances and your fitness – avoid that squeezed middle in both senses!”