Money Matters Top Resolutions List

Four out of 10 people are planning to make New Year's resolutions this year, with many pledging to sort out their finances, a survey shows.

Around 43% of people hope to use the start of the year to turn over a new leaf, according to financial comparison website Gocompare.com.

Among these, six out of 10 people will make a resolution relating to their finances, with 48% planning to get out of debt or reduce the cost of their borrowings, while 42% plan to cut back on their spending.

Four out of 10 people aim to mark the New Year by investing in the stock market, 15% plan to pay more into a savings account and 10% hope to boost their pension contributions.

Other more traditional New Year's resolutions are also popular, with 49% of people aiming to lose weight, 48% planning to get fit and 28% pledging to give up smoking.

But many people are expected to fail in their goal, with 38% of people typically breaking their resolutions by the end of January, while a further third only keep them up for six months.

Part of the problem is that 44% of people say their resolutions were too ambitious, while 26% said they made too many.

Hayley Parsons, chief executive of Gocompare.com, 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."