Many people in the UK dip into their savings regularly in order to treat themselves instead of managing purchases with loans.
Research carried out by Moneysupermarket found that two thirds of people raid their savings for a treat - compared to just 56 per cent of people who use them for emergencies.
"There is no harm in this as long as there is an element of control - constantly dipping in will leave saving a pretty defunct purpose, and those hoping for peace of mind or a wealthy future may find the prospects of this much reduced," said Kevin Mountford from the price comparison site.
According to the report, 54 per cent of savers put money away to set their minds at rest and 53 per cent were making provisions for retirement.
Some 64 per cent of savers aged between 45 and 54 are doing so to provide for their twilight years, while around half of 18- to 24-year-olds were saving up for a major purchase like a car.
A recent study from NS&I found that 20 per cent of Britons consider themselves to be 'saveaholics', with 35 per cent saying they feel anxious if they fail to save as much as planned.
