Five curious things about young people and money

1. A teenager who is relaxed about money isn't likely to stay that way. Young people get more uncomfortable about money as they get older. Most 15-year-olds say they are comfortable with their current finances. Most 18- to 24-year-olds say they aren't.

2. Feeling comfortable about money doesn't derive from good financial practices. Only 55 per cent of 15-year-olds say they track their income and spending. Whereas 79 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds do.

3. Thinking about peer education projects? Hmmm. In theory, young people like getting information from others of the same generation, slightly older and more experienced than themselves. Yet the vast majority of teenagers say they find the most helpful money advice from parents. Only 12 per cent say friends are most helpful. That's fewer than the 15 per cent who say they don't ask for money advice from anyone.

4. Young people who grow up in households where paying bills is a regular problem are less likely to be financially capable themselves. That's not purely about income levels. Being deprived of things doesn't mean you are less financially capable. But if your family doesn't save for emergencies, the chances are you won't either.

5. Fourteen per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds have used their bank card to clean their nails. That compares with just 3 per cent of the over-65s

Most of these findings come from The Financial Capability of 15- to 17-year-olds, a sound and useful report from the Money Advice Service. The last insight is from a survey by thinkmoney. Banks, eh?

PJ White is editor of Youth Money