Six in ten New Year smoking quitters fail by the end of February

Around 2.2 million Brits (4 per cent) made a New Year's resolution to give up smoking this year, according to new research from Santander Savings, but most will have seen their good intentions go up in smoke. The figures show that 59 per cent of smokers who make a New Year's resolution to quit fail in their attempt to kick the habit by the end of February.

And with National No Smoking Day on 9th March, the research highlights that giving up smoking can have genuine financial, as well as health, benefits: almost half (45 per cent) of those who quit at New Year expect to save an average of £1,004 over the course of 2011, amounting to almost £1 billion of savings.

Regionally, Scotland has the highest proportion of people trying to quit, with 8 per cent of adults smokers intending to kick the habit at New Year. Some 6 per cent of those in the South West were smokers who intended to quit, compared to only 1 per cent in the North East.

Reza Attar-Zadeh, Director of Savings and Investments at Santander, commented: "Public awareness of the health benefits of giving up smoking is much higher now than it was in the past, but it seems this still isn't enough to make people kick the habit - our research suggests that six out of ten people with a New Year's resolution to quit smoking will have failed already.

"Hopefully, by understanding the financial benefits more people will be spurred on to quit. Our research suggests that successful quitters expect to save over £1,000 a year, which could be a nest egg for their future."

Santander offers a range of savings account to suit all needs. Smokers and non-smokers alike who are keen to make regular monthly savings could opt for Santander's Fixed Rate Monthly Saver which allows people to pay between £20 and £250 each month while enjoying a great fixed rate of 4.00%.