One in five Britons (22%) wish they had learned to save for retirement earlier, according to a new report.

A quarter (27%) of those between 45 and 64 told credit card provider Aqua they wished they had started saving for retirement earlier.

The concern was also shared by 24% of those aged 35 to 44, suggesting that Britons are starting to consider their retirement saving plans around this time.

One in six Britons told the provider that they wished they had learned earlier why implementing a pension plan was important, with the same number (14%) admitting that not planning for retirement had been one of their biggest financial mistakes.

The most commonly made financial mistakes those surveyed admitted to were making impulsive purchases (20%), spending beyond their means (17%) and not adding to a savings account frequently (16%).

One in five (21%) of those surveyed claimed they had never made a financial mistake.

Just under a third of respondents (28%) said that learning to save effectively was the biggest and most beneficial financial lesson they had learned.

Creating and sticking to a budget followed close behind, with 17% and 26% naming these lessons the biggest they have learned, respectively. Financial literacy, such as knowing how to invest, was seen as essential for making informed decisions about money, yet 20% wished they had acquired this knowledge sooner.

The research found that many savers still have positive emotions towards their financial situations with 15% of survey respondents expressing they feel ‘content’.

However, despite these positive sentiments, some Britons still feel unsure about their finances. The survey revealed that just over one in 10 (11%) feel ‘uncertain’ about their current financial situation, and a further 9% feel 'anxious’.

• Aqua surveyed 5,000 UK adults about their current financial position in September.