Research from the One account shows that smoking will be the
nation's number one vice to give up in 2004, with one in five adults
planning to stub out their last cigarette on New Year's Eve.
Chocolate comes a close second with 17% of adults planning to
beat their sweet toothed addiction.
The "One thing I'm Giving Up" survey also revealed:
· 12 million smokers in the UK spend in total £15.7 billion a year
on cigarettes. On average each smoker spends £109 on cigarettes
a month. By giving up and putting the equivalent cash into a One
account, a homeowner would save £20,972 in mortgage interest
and pay off their mortgage eight years and seven months early.
* The nation spends £3.9 billion on chocolate every year, with
the average chocoholic spending £22.84 a month on their favourite
bars. By beating their addiction and paying the cash saved into
their One account, a homeowner could save £8,443 in mortgage
interest and pay off their mortgage almost three years early.
* And those hoping to shed a few pounds in the New Year
revealed they are planning to adopt a healthier diet. In total 13%
of those surveyed admitting they'll be turning their nose up at takeaways
and fast food. The average junk food addict spends £50.87 a month on
fast food. Choosing the healthier option and paying the extra cash into
their
current account mortgage could save each homeowner more than £13,553
in mortgage interest and pay off their mortgage five years early.
* Shopaholics admit to spending £228 on unnecessary luxuries every
month.
By only splashing out on the necessities and paying the saved cash into
their
One account could save each homeowner almost £29,714 in mortgage interest
and pay off their mortgage almost 13 years early.
The One account's communications manager James Duffell said:
"Quitting a vice, even if it's a few pounds a week, could save thousands
of
pounds and mean homeowners paying off their mortgage years early if they
put the money they'd saved against it.
"It does take perseverance to give up a bad habit but totting up the cash
savings, coupled with the thought of paying your mortgage off early,
should
provide ample incentive to go for it.
"The cash accumulated by quitting a vice soon adds up over the year into
a nice lump sum that can be put aside for a special treat like a holiday
or paid
straight into your mortgage
The research - which gathered the views of 2,000 adults across Britain -
also
revealed:
* In total, 8% of adults plan to beat the bulge by giving up their daily
packet of
crisps for the New Year.
* People in Wales are most likely to quit smoking - 26% named cigarettes
as
their top vice to give up for the New Year.
* East Anglia is home to the most chocoholics with a almost a quarter of
those
surveyed admitting giving up chocolate is their top New Year's
resolution.
* Nation-wide, women are more than twice as likely as men to give up
chocolate - 23% of women and only 11% of men named chocolate as their
favourite vice to give up for the New Year.
* The tables turned when it came to gambling with 4% of men hoping to
quit the
vice for the New Year compared with only 1% of women.
* People pledging to become teetotal in the New Year total 4% and 5% said
they would curb their spending habits when it came to shopping.
