A new study may have found the age at which we are most content with life.

Many would probably assume that it has got to be during your carefree childhood or perhaps your beer-swilling 20’s, right?

Well they're wrong. Because according to a survey by financial services company, the over-50’s are happier, wealthier and more carefree than they ever have been.

An age group which accounts for a third of Britain’s population, the “nifty-50s” are fuelling a boom in the leisure market as they take up new hobbies, travel and boast about their gratifying sex life.

The study which looked at the circumstances and attitudes of 50,000 people aged 50 and over found that on average, fifty-somethings feel as though they are physically four years younger and ten years mentally younger than their actual age.

The secret of happiness is an island called Rodrigues Show all 5 1 /5 The secret of happiness is an island called Rodrigues The secret of happiness is an island called Rodrigues The view from Rodrigues Island, Mauritius Patrick Frilet / Rex Features The secret of happiness is an island called Rodrigues Octopus are hung out to dry Alamy The secret of happiness is an island called Rodrigues Fishing for octopus Rex Features The secret of happiness is an island called Rodrigues Noddies are among the birdlife that can be spotted here Alamy The secret of happiness is an island called Rodrigues Tortoises used to be abundant on the islands until the British ate most of them PRESS PICTURE

Those that have passed the milestone birthday also said that the idea of being old would not apply to them until they reach the ripe age of 77 and that they expected, on average, to live to 84.

Of the thousands of people surveyed, an impressive 61 per cent said that they were enjoying life more accrediting this happiness in part to having more time for personal activities.

Interestingly, since turning 50 more than half had been travelling, one in five planned to study a language and one in ten intended to learn how to play an instrument.

Speaking about why they enjoyed life more, one 51-year-old woman said, “I seem to enjoy the little things in life a lot more — appreciate art, nature and simply being at home, on the sofa with a herbal tea, vegging out and not feeling guilty about it.”