A new survey from Ocean Finance has highlighted that most people believe in their own economic stability, which the firm believes suggests a more positive outlook for 2014 and beyond.

The poll, carried out by TLF Research on behalf of the loan and mortgage provider, found that seven in ten respondents in the UK feel that their current financial situation is either “very stable” or “quite stable”.

Ocean Finance asked over 1,000 people in the UK how stable they feel their personal finances are, defining the statement as the ability to “[live] comfortably off your finances both now and in the future”. Of those, 71% showed confidence in maintaining their standard of living.

Despite low interest rates having an adverse effect on savings returns, it was those aged 65 and over that proved most confident in their financial stability; 84% of respondents in this age bracket considered themselves comfortable.

People from south-east and central England proved to be the most confident in their financial situations (78% and 74% positive respectively), though on the whole people across the UK were consistently more comfortable with their financial situation than not.

The research also showed that men are happier with their finances than women, though not by much – only one in four male respondents (26%) said they were “quite” or “very unstable”, while just over three in every ten women (31%) admitted they were not so happy with their money – either what they have now, or will in the future.

Although 18 to 24-year-olds are the least economically self-assured (38% “quite” or “very unstable”), they only just edged the 45 to 54-year-old age category (37%).

Spokesman for Ocean Finance Ian Williams said: “After the five-year squeeze on the nation’s personal finances, it is encouraging to see how many people feel confident about their financial situation now. It is unsurprising that young people feel the most unstable as they grapple with laying the financial foundations for the future.

“But it is also interesting to see how people between 45 and 54 are feeling the pressure financially, perhaps because they are squeezed three ways: paying for their own home, trying to save for retirement whilst funding their kids and, potentially, looking after elderly relatives too.

“That said, the fact that people still err on the side of caution about their money is not only testament to the economic struggles many have faced, but also the shrewd and altogether healthier attitude that people have adopted since the recession.”