Settling down may be the best way to save money, as married life generally encourages sacrifice and saving rather than frivolous spending.

A new research in Britain has found that people who are in a relationship generally save around 68 pounds a month – 800 pounds a year – extra.

The idea of having a joint target such as saving to buy a home, have a family or build up a nest egg imposes a discipline on spending habits.

Some 57 per cent of people in a couple say that their husband or wife plays a part in encouraging – even nagging – them to put money aside, according to research by National Savings and Investments.

“It is good to see that people in relationships are motivating one another to save significant sums of money,” the Daily Mail quoted NS and I director, John Prout, as saying.

For some people, their partner’s influence has a particularly dramatic effect, with one in five saving at least 200 pounds more per month – an extra 2,400 pounds over a year.

It seems that men, who might have frittered away cash on cars and nights out, are particularly susceptible to the pressure to save once they find a partner.

Men were saving an average of 85 pounds more each month due to their partner’s influence, compared to a 50 pounds increase for women. Young men – those aged 25-34 – are most influenced by their partners, saving around 100 pounds more each month.

The research found that for some women, the feckless spending of their men makes them save even harder.

As many as 15 per cent of women in relationships admit to being motivated to save more due to their partner’s bad financial habits.