Money more important than looks to women

Some 45 per cent of women think money is more important than looks in a man, new research reveals.

But most men do not measure-up financially, with a £50,000 salary the average amount of money needed to be seen as a financial success, figures from National Savings and Investments reveals.

But even that might not be enough, with one woman in ten believing men need to be earning over £100,000 to be successful.

But success is not simply a matter of drawing a big income - with women also saying that their men should have an average of £24,281 saved up in the bank, more than £4,000 above the actual average figure.

British men are either more or less superficial - depending on your perspective.

Half as many men as women think money is more important than looks, while men consider £15,143 in the bank enough in savings. Additionally, a woman earning £42,147 a year are considered financial successes by men.

But while they want different amounts in the bank from their partners, most people (62 per cent) think financial security is important to the success of their relationship.

And only 14 per cent of Britons think money has nothing to do with a successful relationship.

"Feeling financially insecure will put some strains on a relationship," said Kate Maycock from relationship support charity Relate.

"These latest figures bear out that two people are unlikely to exactly agree on what is a healthy nest-egg and what is a financial crisis. Accept that you will not change your partner's attitude to money, but that the two of you can come to an agreement on how you will manage your differences and plan your saving."