Half of people (46 per cent) say they are most likely to turn to internet search engines when they need advice. They are far less likely to ask their family, though 1 in 5 still believes their mum might know a thing or so and is worth consulting.

The research also finds that, if they could, people would turn to stars including Stephen Fry, Kylie Minogue, Martin Lewis, Richard Branson, Oprah Winfrey and Alan Sugar for advice. The wish-list also includes both David and Victoria Beckham as well as new Dr Who actor Peter Capaldi.

Some celebrities turned up on both the list people would choose to turn to as well as who they wouldn’t think of getting advice from, including Katie Price, Jeremy Clarkson, Russell Brand and reality TV star Joey Essex.
The new research reveals over half (55 per cent) of people needed advice over the past year.

Money is the top issue with half (51 per cent) of people needed help with their finances in the last 12 months, mirroring the fact that Citizens Advice helped people with over 1.6 million debt problems in the last year.

Work is the second most common issue people need help with over a third (35 per cent) needing help in the last 12 months. Basic rights at work is the most popular page on the charity’s Adviceguide website with over half a million people referring to it in the last 12 months.

Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice, said: “Good advice can transform people’s lives. In this digital age we’re seeing a profound change in people’s first port of call when they need advice, as they choose to put their faith in the internet rather than the conventional wisdom of the people closest to them.

“The economy may be improving but we know that for many people money is still tight as the benefits of the financial recovery are slow to trickle down. Employment figures are heading in the right direction, though for some people this means taking unstable jobs, for example on zero hour contracts, which can leave them in a precarious situation.”