New research from Moneybox reveals that people across the UK are feeling more confident than when it comes to saving, investing, and managing their money, even with ongoing economic uncertainty, recent stock market volatility and falling interest rates.

A nationwide study of 4,015 UK adults found that financial confidence has grown significantly in the last 12 months, with more people taking proactive steps to build financial resilience and plan for their future.

More than 4 in 10 (41%) now feel ‘very confident’ managing their personal finances, up from 32% last year. Notably, 84% of Brits feel confident in their ability to save (up 5% year on year), with 42% feeling very confident about saving – a 9% increase since 2024.

While the majority still don’t feel confident investing (56%), this number has fallen by 6% in the past year, showing encouraging momentum as more people explore how investing can help build long-term wealth.

When it comes to planning for retirement, just 21% feel very confident, but this figure has almost doubled from 11% in 2024,  suggesting that more people are taking steps to secure their financial future.

The data indicates that persistent cost-of-living challenges in recent years have motivated people to be more engaged with their money, adopting new habits and improving their financial knowledge.

A growing number of people are approaching their finances with structure and intention. In fact, 32% describe their financial planning as “structured and comprehensive” up from 24% in 2024.

Learning about personal finance is also on the rise, with 67% now dedicating time to improve their financial knowledge, compared to 62% last year.

Many of those who feel confident saving attribute this to adopting positive financial behaviours:

  • 46% regularly track their spending
  • 42% feel more confident because they have an emergency fund
  • 42% gain confidence from watching their savings grow over time
  • 40% avoid unnecessary or impulsive purchases

Meanwhile, the number of adults with no savings or investments has almost halved, falling from 21% to 12%, while those with savings increased from 75% to 83%, and active investors rose from 30% to 40%.

Credit card debt is also on the decline, with 27% carrying balances in 2025 – down from 31% in 2024 – and the average amount of debt has dropped from £2,096 to £1,995.

Financial Confidence by City

Belfast leads the way as the most financially confident city in the UK, with 74% of residents expressing confidence; a huge increase from 54% last year. London and Manchester follow closely behind at 68%, both seeing steady growth since 2024.

Brighton and Chelmsford complete the top five, each with 67% of residents feeling confident about their finances.

Encouragingly, almost all major cities across the UK have seen a rise in financial confidence over the past 12 months.

Brian Byrnes, Head of Personal Finance at Moneybox, commented:

“In what has been an eventful year for personal finance, it’s incredibly positive to see more people engaging with their money, prioritising saving, and being mindful of their spending to build wealth and financial resilience.

“That said, there is still more to be done. The financial services industry, government and regulators need to work together to ensure that people have access to the tools, guidance, and support they need to continue building confidence and making informed financial decisions.

“Our research clearly shows that people are making real efforts to educate themselves and take control of their financial future. Financial confidence is like a seed – once planted, with the right encouragement and resources, it grows.”

Top 10 Behaviours That Boost Saving Confidence

  • Tracking your spending (46%)
  • Knowing you have an emergency fund to fall back on (42%)
  • Seeing your savings grow over time (42%)
  • Avoiding unnecessary or impulsive purchases (40%)
  • Making sure your savings are earning a good interest rate (37%)
  • Spending time reviewing your personal finances (35%)
  • Educating yourself about saving and personal finance (33%)
  • Transferring money automatically into savings each month (32%)
  • Having a clear budget you stick to (27%)
  • Working towards clear financial goals (24%)

Top 10 Behaviours That Boost Investing Confidence

  • Understanding the basics of how investing works (40%)
  • Seeing positive returns or growth from investments over time (35%)
  • Knowing your risk tolerance and investing accordingly (34%)
  • Feeling in control of your long-term financial future (33%)
  • Keeping up with financial news or market trends (31%)
  • Learning about investing from trusted sources (27%)
  • Starting investing early and building good habits (26%)
  • Having a well-diversified investment portfolio (23%)
  • Speaking to a financial advisor or expert (23%)
  • Investing regularly without worrying about short-term market ups and downs (22%)