• Nearly one third (31%) of UK adults chose to invest last year, up 5% year-on-year
  • Confidence in investing has soared 25% year-on-year
  • Younger investors lead the charge, with 87% of 25-34 year olds saying they feel more confident this year versus last compared to 65% of UK adults overall
  • 18% of Brits plan to invest more in 2025

At a time when the need to drive a culture shift towards investing in the UK has never been higher on the political agenda, new research released today reveals signs of positive momentum as investing confidence grows.

The research from saving and investing platform Moneybox shows that 31% of UK adults actively invested in 2024, a 5% increase since 2023. Among those who chose to put their money in something other than a regular savings account or a Cash ISA last year, two fifths (44%) were investing for the first time, up from 35% the previous year.

In the last year, over half (54%) of 25-34 year olds choose to invest, a 13% increase YoY. Their enthusiasm for investing was closely matched by 18-25 year olds, with 52% reporting that they invested last year, an increase of 23% YoY.

Looking to the year ahead, in the study of 2,000 UK adults, 11% of respondents want to start investing and nearly one fifth (18%) said they plan to invest more this year.

Among those aged 25-34, more than a quarter (26%) want to start investing this year and 38% aim to put more of their money into investments. Within this age group, the appetite for investing has been steadily increasing over the last number of years, from 18% in 2023 among 25-34 year olds, to 22% in 2024 and now 38% for 2025.

Moneybox’s annual ‘Investing Money Mindsets’ study also looked at how confidence towards investing has changed over time and the correlation between rising confidence among young adults and investing intention is clear. Among all those surveyed, 65% said their confidence in investing had grown compared to the previous year, a significant 25% boost on the confidence levels reported YoY.
An impressive 87% of those aged 25-34 report feeling more confident about investing this year than last (+15% YoY), followed by 75% of 18-24 year olds (+10% YoY)
The primary motivations among those who invested last year were to grow their money and build wealth for the future, to work towards a comfortable retirement and to be in a position to provide for their families in the future.

How investing motivations have evolved over time: 

Brian Byrnes, Head of Personal Finance at Moneybox, shares his insight:

“It’s fantastic to see more people embracing investing and growing in confidence as they take steps to build long-term wealth. However, there’s still much work to be done and the government and the industry continue working to ensure investing becomes a fundamental part of financial planning for everyone, alongside saving.”

Despite these positive signs of momentum, almost two-thirds of Brits (64%) did not invest last year and it remains clear that there are some significant barriers to investing that remain.

A third of respondents cited affordability as the reason they couldn’t afford to invest last year. A quarter (26%) admitted that they were worried about losing their money (consistent YoY), and 19% said they are not confident that they know how to invest. A similar number (18%) chose not to invest because they were happy with the interest rate available on their cash savings (vs. 22% in 2023).

When it comes to the financial products Brits currently hold, cash remains the clear preference with 49% of respondents holding an Easy Access Savings account (down from 55% in 2023) and 43% holding a Cash ISA (consistent YoY).
In line with the growing take up of investing in the last year, a quarter of respondents (25%) said they held a Stocks and Shares ISA in 2024, up 5% YoY.

Brian Byrnes, Head of Personal Finance at Moneybox, continues: “While rising savings rates have made cash more appealing, cash alone is not a long-term wealth-building strategy. Saving is essential, but an overreliance on cash means many consumers may be missing out on significant opportunities to grow their money. Recent debates over potential changes to Cash ISA tax benefits risk missing the bigger picture. The real challenge isn’t just where people put their money—it’s making sure they have the knowledge, tools, and confidence to unlock their financial potential. A strong savings foundation provides peace of mind, but true financial security comes from a balance of both saving and investing.”

“Instead of discouraging saving, we should make investing easier, more accessible, and less intimidating. By supporting both saving and investing in tandem, we can help more people take control of their financial futures, build lasting wealth, and create a financially resilient society.”

About Moneybox:

Moneybox is the award-winning saving and investing platform on a mission to help people build wealth with confidence so they can enjoy life, today and tomorrow. Launched in 2016 by co-founders Ben Stanway and Charlie Mortimer, the company has experienced rapid growth, and today has over £10bn in assets and a community of more than 1.5 million customers. Moneybox provides a range of products and services across saving, investing, home-buying, and retirement as well as helpful tools and educational content to help people manage and achieve their short, mid, and longer-term financial goals. Moneybox enables customers to set money aside in the way that suits them best using round-ups, regular deposits, or instant payments. The business reported its first full year of profitability in 2023.