Research from UK credit card brand Aqua has revealed that more Britons regret running up credit card debt than losing money in the crypto or NFT boom.
According to Aqua’s Financial Learnings and Mistakes 2025 report, which surveyed 5,000 UK adults, 40% of respondents said accumulating credit card debt was one of their biggest financial mistakes, compared to 34% who said losing money on crypto or NFTs topped the list.
The biggest regret overall was not planning for retirement and not investing more in pensions, cited by 45% of respondents, followed by overspending (38%) and not investing enough (37%).
Despite those regrets, confidence in personal finances is rising. Nearly half (46%) of UK adults said they feel more confident about their financial situation this year than they did in 2024, even though stress and anxiety around money have also increased.
AI and social media are reshaping financial advice
Aqua’s research also shows a clear generational divide in how people seek financial guidance.
Among 25–34-year-olds, 67% now use AI tools such as ChatGPT for money advice, while 22% of 21–24-year-olds turn to social media platforms like TikTok — a higher share than those who consult banks (15%) or professional advisers (7%).
By contrast, just 10% of those aged 55 and over use AI tools for financial information, underscoring how digital tools are reshaping financial education for younger generations.
Planning, debt and confidence
Aqua’s Commercial Director Sharvan Selvam said improving credit health can play a key role in reducing financial stress:
“It’s incredibly encouraging to see so many people feeling more empowered and confident as a result of taking steps to boost their credit score. Building a stronger credit score is possible with small steps such as making repayments on time.”
The report highlights that while only 22% of adults claim never to have made a financial mistake, most wish they’d learned more about investing and retirement planning earlier, both cited by 17% of respondents as key areas for improvement.
| Rank | Financial mistake | % |
| 1 | Not planning for retirement | 45% |
| 2 | Accumulating debt through credit cards | 40% |
| 3 | Spending outside my means | 38% |
| 4 | Not investing/not investing enough | 37% |
| 5 | Making impulsive purchases | 36% |
| 6 | Losing money on crypto/NFT hype | 34% |
| 7 | Paying only the minimum monthly balance on credit cards | 32% |
| 8 | Underestimating expenses | 31% |
| 9 | Not creating a budget | 31% |
| 10 | Not taking advantage of schemes like ISAs | 30% |
Richard is the founder of the Good Money Guide (formerly Good Broker Guide), one of the original investment comparison sites established in 2015. With a career spanning two decades as a broker, he brings extensive expertise and knowledge to the financial landscape.
Having worked as a broker at Investors Intelligence and a multi-asset derivatives broker at MF Global (Man Financial), Richard has acquired substantial experience in the industry. His career began as a private client stockbroker at Walker Crips and Phillip Securities (now King and Shaxson), following internships on the NYMEX oil trading floor in New York and London IPE in 2001 and 2000.
Richard’s contributions and expertise have been recognized by respected publications such as The Sunday Times, BusinessInsider, Yahoo Finance, BusinessNews.org.uk, Master Investor, Wealth Briefing, iNews, and The FT, among many others.
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