The average age at which people finally feel financially mature is 20 years into adulthood - 38, a study suggests.

While other milestones of adulthood such as passing a driving test or having a first pint in a pub may be a distant memory for someone in their late 30s, the research for website VoucherCodes.co.uk found this tends to be the age at which they start to feel more financially savvy.

With many responsibilities such as buying a home or settling down and having children now coming later in life for Britons, 38 is the typical age at which people feel they have reached a "financial turning point" and their attitude towards money changes.

Having children topped the list of events that forced people to take stock of their financial situation, with half of people who said their spending habits changed linking it to starting a family.

Buying a house for the first time was the second most popular reason for making people change their ways financially, followed by making a major home improvement, losing a job and buying a car.

The study also suggests some people could be keeping a tighter grip on their finances, with just 23% of those surveyed saying they know exactly how much debt they are in, excluding their mortgage.

Nearly one in 10 (9%) said they have no idea how much their regular bills come to each month, while 59% are unaware of exactly how much money is in their bank account.

The research was carried out among more than 2,000 people across Britain.