Savings not a priority for Consumers 

The Savings Survey, which has been running for the last five years through the financial institution, shows that the number of people saving each month has increased just two per cent since the record began.

In 2009, of the 60,000 people surveyed, 51 per cent regularly put cash to one side, a small increase on the 49 per cent who did in 2006.

Each of these savers is putting around £84 in a savings account, an increase on the £70 that was being put aside for a rainy day at the start of the survey.

Research carried out by the financial institution last month discovered that 71 per cent of adults in the UK thought that an income of £26,000 is essential before starting a family.