The survey by Goldman Sachs new online savings bank Marcus suggest that while nearly a third of people (29%) of adults are “happy” with their financial situation the vast majority are not.

The survey of 2,004 adults conducted earlier this month found that 35% plan to save more, 33% plan to save less and 19% aim to pay of their debt.

Despite the uncertainty of Brexit, younger people were the most optimistic about their future finances, with 34% of 18 to 34-year-olds predicting that they will be better off this time next year. In contrast, a quarter (26%) of those over 55 expect to be worse off.

Londoners and Midlanders were the most optimistic about their finances despite the woes of the property market this year in parts of London where prices have fallen.

The top three most optimistic regions were:

• London – 29% of residents expect to be better off this time next year
• East Midlands – 25%
• West Midlands – 24%

The regions where residents expect to be worse off with respect to their financial position next year:

• Northern Ireland – 31%
• Scotland – 28%
• Yorkshire and Humberside – 24%

The survey also unearthed consumers spending regrets.

Money spent on takeaway food (16%) and alcohol (14%) was the UK’s most regretted purchases of 2018, followed by frivolous spending on the home (14%), fashion (11%) and dining out (10%).

A third (34%) of UK adults who ordered food for delivery spent between £150 and £300 on takeaways. Socialising also took its toll on the UK’s bank balances, with 15% of adults spending more than £1,000 on alcohol, and 25% spending over £500 on nights out.

Marcus managing director Des McDaid said: “An important conclusion from the research for me is the optimism that’s being shown about the coming year, especially by the younger generations. Many people are planning to make positive changes to improve their financial situation and boost their savings.”