Research by NatWest has revealed that teenagers have an ‘optimistic outlook’ on their financial future, despite the recent economic problems, the Guardian reports.

The survey, which questioned 12-to-19-year-olds, found that teenagers expected to graduate with just £10,000 of debt after going through university.

Many of the teenagers questioned said that they had started to ‘think carefully’ about how they handled their money, with two thirds stating that the recession ‘has improved their money-management skills.’

Having said that, the teenagers expected to earn more than £50,000 a year by the time they are 35, and believe they will have enough money to buy a house by their mid-20s.

An IVA expert for the IVA Forum said: “It is encouraging to see that today’s teenage generation is optimistic about their financial futures, despite the troubled economic climate.

“However, although there is nothing wrong with taking an ambitious approach towards finance, it is important to remain realistic and consider the ‘what if’ situations. For example, what if they need to take on more debt while at university and end up graduating with double the debt they hoped to leave with?

“By considering these kinds of situations, individuals can better prepare themselves for them if they do come around.”