SW residents pledge to make 2013 a year for sharing & caring

Nearly half of South West residents (46%) will definitely make a New Year resolution when the clock strikes midnight this New Year’s Eve, TopCashback.co.uk reveals, and over half (51%) expect to see it through to the end of the year[1].

With the nation continuing to feel the pinch, it’s unsurprising that many of us simply need to feel better about our lives and have a goal to strive towards. 35% of those in the South West make New Year promises to feel better and 19% do so to accomplish something they failed to achieve the previous year.

However a large number of South West residents have decided they want to ensure their nearest and dearest remain at the forefront of their minds in 2013 and have pledged to create more time for them, with a third (38%) saying they will put their family and friends first.  

Nearly half of us (49%) say that making a resolution helps provide a goal for the year ahead, according to research from TopCashback.co.uk, the UK’s most generous cashback site, while 7% feel that New Year resolutions psychologically make a goal they had already been considering official, so they are more likely to stick to it.

Improving health (60%) will be the most popular 2013 New Year resolution, closely followed by saving money (32%), improving self/character (26%) and improving well-being (26%).

Natasha-Rachel Smith, Consumer Affairs Expert at TopCashback (www.topcashback.co.uk), said: “Resolutions are about doing something new or doing it differently. Often a change is as good as a rest and also, given the economic demands many South West residents are constantly having to focus their thoughts on, a resolution is one way to make us kick-start an attitude adjustment on what else is important and relevant. Our research shows that more than half of us see 1st January 2013 as an opportunity to set a goal. It’s great that we’re being so optimistic with the fresh year as sometimes setting a personal target or even just changing one small area of behaviour can have an enormous beneficial impact on our lives.”

Top ten New Year resolutions for 2013 [1]:

* Respondents selected more than one option; Source: TopCashback.co.uk

Only 10% of those in the South West believe they are unlikely to stick to their 2013 New Year resolutions, although a further 38% claim there is a 50/50 chance. Of these two groups, nearly a third (31%) said they expect to break their resolution within one month of setting it, while 21% think they will last two to three months. A further 29% said they expect to break their personal promise within six months of making it.

Lack of will power (58%), unachievable or unrealistic resolutions (56%), getting bored (31%) or simply forgetting about them (35%) are among the top reasons why Brits fail to stick to their New Year resolutions. However it would appear the situation bodes well for 2013 given that over half (55%) of South West residents say they have stuck to resolutions in the past.

Natasha-Rachel Smith continued: “The Christmas season’s now passed and many of those in the South West have, very sadly, immediately slipped into worry about their financial situation moving into the New Year and are planning on setting a financial resolution to help ease the stress. The UK economy can’t be fixed overnight, but saving money is something everyone can start doing tomorrow. Earning cashback as you shop only involves a few extra clicks of the mouse and is a very simple way to start achieving this resolution.”

She added: “What’s interesting is that saving money or spending less is the second most popular resolution for 2013 and, as we welcome the New Year, it’s more important than ever to ensure you make the most of your hard earned pennies and don’t fork out more than you need to on each and every occasion you part with cash. A lot of money is spent over the Christmas period, and New Year is a time when most typically start saving again. TopCashback actually rewards you on the purchases you make by putting real, hard cash right back into your bank account – something which will certainly ease anyone suffering from a New Year financial hangover.”

TopCashback’s top tips for saving money this New Year:
 

1. Review your utility bills: Compare your energy use and tariff to all the providers in the market and switch to the supplier who will give you the cheapest energy rates for your circumstances. Companies often offer large cash sums for new customers simply because you’re switching your allegiance. Cashback for this has been as much as £100.

2. Shop around for your holidays and mini-breaks: Countless travel companies offer cashback for trips booked through TopCashback, such as Expedia, Hotels.com and British Airways Holidays.

3. Monitor your mobile and internet providers: Many service providers offer sizeable cashback amounts – often between £50 and £200 for switching to their phone, TV and broadband products.  

4. Review your insurance policies: Cashback can be earned on many providers’ policies including home, pet, car, motorbike, travel and life insurance. In fact sometimes the cashback amounts can be so substantial that they effectively mean the policy is free.

5. Never settle on the first price you see: Compare shop prices and take advantage of online retailers to find the best price and earn money back on your transactions.