The survey of over 2,000 UK adults reveals that 43 per cent plan to make resolutions this year. The most popular resolutions are set to be financial with 60 per cent of people resolving to sort out their finances and pay off debts. However, the research also revealed that it is going to take more than willpower to end 2009 in good financial health as, on average, New Year's resolutions are kept for just 14 weeks.
The Gocompare.com survey of New Year's resolutions also found that:
Of those making financial based resolutions, nearly half (48 per cent) plan to get out of debt or reduce loan and credit card costs; 42 per cent want to save money on outgoings; 41 per cent plan to invest in the stock market; 15 per cent intend to save more in a deposit account and 10 per cent plan to invest in their pension.
Traditional resolutions such as losing weight (49 per cent), getting fit (48 per cent) and giving up smoking (28 per cent) will still feature in our thoughts come January 1st, however only 15 per cent of us will make a vow to spend more time with our friends and families in 2009.
Thirty eight per cent of people making resolutions only manage to keep them to the end of January, while over a third keep resolutions for between one and six months.
Most resolutions fail because they were unrealistic in the first place (44 per cent) or people made too many resolutions (26 per cent), but a fifth of people admit they need more help to change their behaviour and habits.
Hayley Parsons, Gocompare.com's chief executive said, "Nearly half of those surveyed plan to make New Year's resolutions in 2009. And, in the current financial climate it's not surprising that money matters top the list. While most people surveyed make resolutions out of habit or tradition, nearly a third do so in the hope of genuinely changing their behaviour. However, the survey shows that 58% of resolutions falter in less than three months, so people are going to need some real help to keep on track.
"Of those making financial resolutions, 42 per cent want to save on outgoings. A really effective way of achieving this goal is to make sure that you are getting a good deal on your insurances and other financial products. Comparison sites like Gocompare.com can help by taking away the hassle of shopping around."
