Respondents overwhelmingly identified a lack of confidence, being too embarrassed to ask or not knowing where to turn as their reasons for not seeking help with their personal finances.

The study was released in conjunction with the launch of the Rough Guide to Personal Finance series, a cooperative venture between Legal & General and renowned travel publisher Rough Guide, which sees the release of free digital guides to all aspects of personal finance.

The first book focuses on Family Finances, and is intended to help consumers with all aspects of family life – from the basics of budgeting, to caring for elderly relatives and the costs of bringing up children.

“The aim of the Guides is to give people no-nonsense, practical and clear information, so they can feel more confident about taking control of their finances for today and in the future,” says Nigel Wilson, chief executive of Legal & General. “Money can often be a cause of stress and feel too confusing to tackle, meaning many people make ends meet rather than think positively about what a difference financial planning could make to their lives.”

Annie Shaw, author of The Rough Guide to Family Finance, says that “having written on the subject of personal finances for over 20 years, and having had a family of my own, I know all too well the financial worries and burdens that family life brings with it. There is no magic trick to organising finances, but facing it head on and understanding what you need to know will make family life that little bit easier.”

To download the first eBook, click here.