More than 16 million British adults will make a New Year’s resolution, but more than half will lose their resolve before June is up, according to research published yesterday by financial Web site Unbiased.co.uk.
Losing weight or improving diet tops the list, with a quarter hoping to shed weight. Tackling finances comes a close second, with 21 percent planning to get their financial affairs in shape. Taking more exercise and giving up smoking rank joint third — one in ten adults plan these steps. Just 6 percent want to achieve greater happiness. However, around half of those who made a resolution at the start of 2006 broke the pledge before six months was up, and almost 2.2 million lost their resolve in less than a day. Next year around 43 per cent of those questioned hope to curb their spending and budget more, 38 percent intend to get out of the red and pay back outstanding debts and 34 percent want to save for a specific purchase — a holiday or car, for example. Just 11 percent are thinking about getting a foothold on the property ladder, as affordability worsens, and 9 percent are considering sorting out their pension.