Cheapflights.co.uk poll and consumer pricing analysis reveals what Brits are most likely to give up for their New Year's resolutions – and where those savings could take them in 2015

Over half of Britons (52%) will have made New Year's resolutions for 2015, many of which will involve giving up a guilty pleasure that could help them get healthy and get away on holiday with the savings. But just how far could abstaining from alcohol, saying 'no' to cigs or staying off the coffee take you in 2015?

As we enter the second week of the New Year, almost nine in 10 of us Brits who make New Year's resolutions are still on track, with 88% of those who make a resolution lasting a week or more, according to the latest poll by www.Cheapflights.co.uk. The survey of 1,012 found that 61% of Brits who make resolutions keep them until the end of January or longer – with well over a third (37%) keeping them for several months.

For those hardy souls who do stick to their guns, the potential annual savings from the most popular indulgences given up by Brits open up the possibilities of trips to a multitude of destinations this year. And consumer pricing analysis of Brits' most popular “sin savings” reveals that abstaining from the top three resolution items (takeaways, smoking and booze) for just the first month of the year could give the average Brit a “sin saving” of £4171; enough for a four-star all-inclusive holiday in the Canaries in May; or a week's full-board ski chalet in France. And the longer you keep your resolve, the farther you can go.

Cheapflights.co.uk Travel Expert Oonagh Shiel said: “New Year's resolutions aren't just about giving things up, but also about what you could gain. Just ditching the takeaways, saying 'no' to cigs and stopping sinking the pints for a month could save the average person £417. As well as keeping you healthier, we wanted to see just how far those savings could take you with a look at some resolution destinations.”

“Anyone who thinks that an exotic overseas holiday is beyond their reach this year will find these figures surprising,” Ms Shiel added. “Daily savings on a pint, takeout or packet of cigarettes can really add up and put even business class flights and five-star luxury holidays within reach of the average person. What a great incentive to stick to your new year resolutions; ditch that takeout, pint, frothy coffee or pack of 20 for long enough and you could be enjoying frites en France, a brewery tour in Bavaria, a coffee in Rome or even a cigar-rolling experience in Cuba!”

Takeaway dinners:

Eating takeaway dinners came top of the list, with 20% of the resolution-making respondents determined to battle the bulge by cutting out fattening and costly takeaway meals. Average figures put the monthly cost of takeaways for UK diners at £109 – a tidy sum for European travel. Once drinks are added to the cost, in just one month the savings will be equivalent to a trip to Barcelona for two nights. Inclusive of flights with BA, prices start from £115.

For those who achieve deliverance from deliveries for the entire year, the saving becomes a whopping £1,320, allowing (more svelte) diners to indulge in delicious dishes at the Sandals Resort in Barbados. Seven nights all-inclusive at the Sandals Barbados resort with flights from a range of UK airports, return transfers and a Caribbean Village Deluxe Room. Prices start from £1,319 per person, a saving of 45%. Departs between 4 March and 26 December 2015.

Smoking:

Cigarettes remain a popular item to give up come January, with 16% of resolution makers indicating that they are likely to quit smoking in 2015. A 20-a-day smoker will save a staggering £2,900 a year, or £242 a month, allowing those who quit to head to the fresh air of Cyprus by the end of January. Seven nights at the beachfront Ada Beach Hotel near Kyrenia starts from just £219 per person. Departs February 2015.

With an annual saving of £2,904, ex-smokers couldenjoy a seven-night luxury honeymoon to Phuket in 2015. Persuade your partner to say 'yes' to you and 'no' to cigs, and you could share an amazing seven-night luxury honeymoon in Phuket. Travel in business class with Malaysia Airlines from London Heathrow with complimentary chauffeur transfers in the UK, private transfers in Thailand, bed & breakfast accommodation at the 5* Banyan Tree in Phuket. Prices start from £2,839 per person based on two sharing, saving £344 per person. Departs between 1 and 30 June 2015.

Drinking alcohol:

After a full month of Christmas parties, 14% are planning on detoxing through eliminating alcohol and taking on a 'Dryathlon'. With the price of pints skyrocketing over recent years, there are big savings to be made through avoiding the sauce. The average spend on booze in the UK is £66 per month – a figure many, particularly in the capital, may find surprising! Though it does mean that by the end of a dry January it would be possible to book return flights as far away as Lisbon (£65), Berlin (£60) or Rome (£64). With 36% of respondents looking at a European break during 2015, just one dry month may well be the incentive required!

Dropping the drink for a whole year would boost the bank account by £792, allowing for a clear-headed, temptation-free visit to the UAE to enjoy a 5-star sunny break. The deal includes five nights all-inclusive at the Rixos Bab Al Bahr in Ras Al Khaimah with flights from a range of UK airports, return transfers from Dubai and access to spa facilities. Prices start from £609 per person, saving 35%. Departs between 1 June and 30 September 2015.

Watching too much telly:

Coming in fourth place in the list of items participants are resolute to cut out is excessive channel-surfing, with around 12% of Brits who made a resolution saying they'll be cutting back on telly. The average amount of TV viewed by UK families each month is in excess of 70 hours. Get every channel out there and you are looking at £70 a month and that's not even counting £6 for Netflix and of course a TV licence at £12 a month - £88 and counting! Flying further into Europe becomes a reality after just a month of opting out of subscription TV, with return flights to Warsaw (£67), Stockholm (£83), Palermo (£82) and Athens (£76). Slim down your TV package – and you could be the star of your own holiday programme.

Annual abstinence fromyour small screen subscription could see eyes light up with pound signs, with an extra £1,056 at an avid viewer's disposal. See much more on a five-centre round-the-world trip with Emirates, starting from London and calling at Bangkok – followed by Sydney, Auckland, Christchurch (by land), Dubai, returning to London. Prices start from £1,039 per person. 

Drinking soft drinks:

9% said they would be keen to give up unhealthy soft drinks and, with stories of people addicted to the likes of Coke and lemonade, the savings can be large. A modest dozen cans a week accumulates to around £55 a month. British travel is set to boom this year for the Rugby World Cup and Magna Carta celebrations, with 31% of respondents looking to travel within their home country in 2015. Soft drink savings will make this a whole lot easier with return flights to/from London and Edinburgh (£43), Newcastle (£35) and Glasgow (£37) all within budget.

Those dedicated enough to sacrifice sugary soft drinks until 31 December will find themselves £420 better off. That's enough to journey to the sun-splashed Egyptian resort of Sharm El Sheikh; great for putting some fizz in your year. The holiday covers 10 nights at the 4-star Rehana Resort all-inclusive, including flights from London Gatwick and a free glass-bottom boat cruise. Prices start from £419 per person, saving 40%. Departs between 1 and 28 February 2015.

– Ends –

Notes to Editors:

1 Pricing analysis based on figures from Numbeo.co.uk, Macmillan.org.uk and supplier with travel costs and savings from Cheapflights.co.uk

All prices valid as of 2 January 2015 from Cheapflights.co.uk.

Holiday costs are per person, based on 2 sharing unless otherwise stated.

For further information please contact:
Rooster PR
www.rooster.co.uk
Nick Wheywell / Stuart Fyfe / Sakhita Sharma / Kevan Barber
E: Cheapflights@rooster.co.uk
T: 0203 440 8930 

About Cheapflights.co.uk, a part of the Momondo Group: “Let's Open our World.”
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