Asked what they would do with an additional £200 per month, 46 per cent said they would invest at least some of it, 43 per cent said they would use some of it to repay debt, while 8 per cent said they would use at least some to invest in a pension scheme.
Only 6 per cent said they would spend it immediately while 28 per cent would put some of it aside to pay for a holiday or other large expenditure.
*The 2,500 participants to the Watson Wyatt survey were allowed up to two responses which is why they do not add up to 100 per cent. The percentage is calculated with the base as total number of responses for all options.
"It is pleasing to see we are not a nation of spendthrifts," said Gary Smith, a senior consultant at Watson Wyatt. "At least in theory, if not always so much in practice, many peoples' priority is on generally improving their financial stability, whether that's through repaying debt or building up their long-term savings."
Younger people were often found the keenest on repaying debts - with 48 per cent of the 18 to 29 age group saying they would use some of the additional £200 for this purpose, compared with 44 per cent of those in the thirties, 46 per cent of those in their forties and 32 per cent of those over age 50.
Older people are perhaps unsurprisingly keenest on putting additional money into pensions - 13 per cent of the over fifties, 7 per cent of those in their forties, 8 per cent of those in their thirties and 6 per cent of those under age 30 said they would investment at least some of the additional income in a pension scheme. However, younger people show a strong desire to invest outside of pensions - 50 per cent of the 18 to 30 age group, compared with 46 per cent of those in their thirties, 38 per cent of those in their forties and 49 per cent of those over 50 showed an interest in doing so.
Women show a stronger tendency to consider repaying debt and save for a holiday or other large expenditure than men, while men are more likely to either spend the additional income immediately or invest it. Young men are the most likely to spend the additional income immediately while older women are the least likely to do so. Older men are the most likely to use some of the additional income to invest in a pension scheme.
"People clearly have a wide range of financial priorities, with the balance of debt repayment, spending, short-term saving and long-term investing changing depending on their circumstances," said Gary Smith. "This is why financial communication and education - from financial services companies, employers and others - is so important. A one-size-fits-all approach is never going to work. To make the right financial decisions people need help and encouragement to recognise what their financial priorities are and to understand what options are available to them."
