The latest findings from Alliance & Leicester’s Wealth Tracker Index show that when it comes to what people do with their money, both sexes plan to spend, save and invest similar proportions of their income.

Men enjoy 54% more disposable income than women, according to the latest findings, with men expecting to have a monthly disposable income – that is money left over after spending, saving, investing and borrowing - of £351 per month, compared to women’s £228. The average disposable income per person in the UK stands at £294 – slightly less than three months ago, when people had £350 a month of disposable income.

Sarah Ennion, Product Manager for Investments at Alliance & Leicester said: “It is interesting to see that despite the gap between men and women’s disposable income levels, they are saving, spending and investing similar proportions of their income. However, it is a concern to find that people are planning to save and invest less than they were three months ago. Whatever people’s level of income, it is important to put aside some money each month for life’s little emergencies. And it’s also important to think about the long term – we all have ideas of what we’d like to do in the future whether it be getting married and starting a family, moving to a bigger house or retiring early. Saving and investing can help to turn plans like these into reality.”

As part of its quarterly study, Alliance & Leicester’s twelfth Wealth Tracker Index asked a GB representative sample of 2,000 people what their level of disposable income was each month, and from that figure, how much they plan to save, spend, invest or supplement by borrowing.

Spending:
On average, people expect to spend £188 each month over the next quarter. This is a slight decrease on spending levels in quarter one this year, which stood at £204. Men are spending far more, at £221 per month, while women are spending just £150. However, proportionally women are spending slightly more of their income - 66% compared to men’s 63%.

Saving:
In total, Britons expect to save an average of £88 per month over the next three months. Men plan to save £105 – or 30% of their income, while women plan to save £68 – the same proportion, 30%, of their income. This is less than three months ago, when saving levels stood at £123 per person per month.

Investing:
Investment levels have dropped slightly since quarter one this year, from £23 per person to £18 per person. Men are investing more than women, at £25 per month, compared to £10 per month. This equates to 7% of men’s income versus 4% of women’s.

Borrowing:
Borrowing levels have risen this quarter, with people planning to borrow £46 compared to £39 per month, in quarter one this year. Men plan to borrow more than women – £50 compared to £41.

Regional Findings

• People in the East Midlands are the greatest spenders, as they plan to spend an average of £244 per month. East Anglians are the smallest spenders, with plans to spend just £140 each month.
• Londoners are the greatest savers, planning to save an average of £161 per month over the next three months. East Anglians will save the least, at an average of £54 per month.
• The biggest investors are the Scots, who plan to invest an average of £62 a month. This compares to people in the West Midlands, who intend to invest the least, at just £8 each month.
• Despite saving the most, Londoners also expect to borrow the most, £160 per month. Whilst the Welsh intend to be prudent and borrow nothing at all!
• The Scots have the greatest disposable income, at an average of £391 per month. East Anglians will have the least at £216 per month.