Also important will be saving on a regular basis for a rainy day, the survey found. According to respondents, the top five financial priorities for UK consumers in 2013 will be:

1. Repaying debts (29%)
2. Regular saving (28%)
3. Reviewing their financial situation (24%)
4. Saving into an Isa (23%)
5. Repaying a mortgage (16%)

JP Morgan says that the findings also indicate that we are becoming "a nation with high hopes for our financial futures", with two-fifths of respondents saying they will tackle a new 'money' goal in 2013.

One in 10 (11%) plan on saving on a regular basis and 7% will invest for the first time. A further 15% say they will review their financial situation more regularly in the new year and 6% say they will start making provision for their long-term financial future by paying into a private pension.

Looking back on 2012, JP Morgan, an IFP sponsor, says that finances were high on the agenda for the nation in 2012 - particularly saving. The research revealed one in five Isa savers (19%) started putting money aside in 2012 - the same proportion as those setting aside cash in a regular saving account.

Some 14% of those with a regular savings account increased the amount they saved in 2012, while 13% of Isa savers said they increased the amount of money they put into an Isa. Some 16% of those with credit card or loan debts increased their repayments.

The JP Morgan Asset Management research paints a picture of the confidence the nation has in making financial decisions. It found a quarter (25%) aren't confident they have the knowledge and tools to make the right decisions for their financial future - 15% are not very confident and 10% are not at all confident.

The poll also delved into how the economic climate of the past few years has impacted the way people look at their personal finances.
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Over two-fifths (42%) say they are much more cautious with their cash these days and 43% have cut down their household spending. One in five also admits to now spending much more time thinking about their financial priorities. Interestingly, 7% of those surveyed say they are no longer relying on the housing market to provide returns and one in 10 (9%) say the economic climate has encouraged them to pay down their mortgage.

Opinium Research carried out an online survey for JP Morgan of 2009 UK adults aged 18+ from 21 to 23 of November 2012. Results have been weighted to nationally representative criteria.