Saving money high on New Year's resolution list

By Jennifer Hill

LONDON (Reuters Life!) - Saving money tops the list of 2008 resolutions for young British people, taking priority over vows like dieting and exercising, research shows.

Some 54 percent of 18 to 24-year-old Britons say they want to put more money away for a rainy day next year while 44 percent resolved to exercise more and 31 percent to go on a diet, according to a poll by ICICI Bank.

The bank said the survey revealed that the current credit crunch in the financial markets that has been making headlines around the world has also persuaded people think about their financial future and rein in their spending.

Overall, one third of the 2,100 people surveyed said they would resolve to make savings high on their agenda for 2008.

That was beaten only by the intention to exercise and diet (44 percent and 38 percent respectively).

Some 18 percent said they would make being "green" a New Year's resolution, eight percent plan to give up smoking and two percent want to give up alcohol.

(Editing by Paul Majendie and Paul Casciato)