The average yearly income for a person in their 70s was only £3,000 less than that of a 30 year old, a study found.

The analysis of 2,000 septuagenarians showed the average respondent was bringing in £21,617 – compared to £24,763.

A third of those polled by Nationwide were still employed, while the same number get by living on a private pension.

The average 70-something still had £31,504 of debt.

On top of that the average respondent has £5,227 in savings but just under £27,000 of mortgage debt still and credit card debt of just over £1,500, results showed.
Once bills and other spending is accounted for, the average respondent had £300 of disposable income each month – preferring to spend it on eating out, followed by holidays abroad

And the average 70 year old manages one trip overseas per year, results showed.

They’re also most likely to drive a hatchback and will do five active things per week – most likely the gym or a long walk.

The study of 2,000 people in their 70s found the average respondent had been in a relationship for more than thirty years.

Sir Ranulph Fiennes, 71, Britain’s most famous explorer, said: “While getting old can be a pain in the neck, it’s a pleasure to see that it’s not just adventurers of my age who are still active and are actually far better at keeping up with ‘the times’ than younger generations might think.”

Health is the driving worry for people upon reaching their seventies, though a third still worry about saving money day to day and more than a quarter worry about paying their bills each month.

The average 70-something – in summary

· ANNUAL INCOME: £21,600
· OVERALL DEBT: £31,504
· MORTGAGE: £26,851
· CREDIT CARD: £1,518
· OTHER DEBT: £3,135
· SAVINGS: £5,227
· MONTHLY DISPOSABLE INCOME: £300
· CAR MODEL: Ford
· FAVOURITE FILMS: Shawshank Redemption, Schindler’s List, The Great Escape
· FAVOURITE TV SHOWS: Only Fools and Horses, The Two Ronnies, Fawlty Towers
· TV TIME PER WEEK: 16 hours 20 minutes
· FAVOURED TV TYPE: Drama, Documentary
· BOOKS READ: Nine per year
· FAVOURITE MUSIC: Queen, ABBA, The Beatles
· FAVOURED MUSIC TYPE: Classical, pop
· EXERCISE PER WEEK: Five sessions – gym or walks
· BIGGEST WORRIES: Health, money, partner’s health
· BIGGEST REGRETS: Not travelling enough, not saving more, romantic partner that got away
· RELATIONSHIP: Married – together for 30 years 5 months on average
· PET: Cat
· AGE BUYING FIRST HOUSE – 28
· TIME IT TOOK TO BUY FIRST HOME: 1 Year 8 months