FranklinCovey Products’ 5th Annual New Year's Resolutions Survey Reveals Top Three Resolutions for 2010: Improve Financially, Lose Weight & Develop Healthy Habits

SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--FranklinCovey Products, the official consumer products licensee of the FranklinCovey Co. brand, today released the results of its fifth annual New Year’s Resolutions Survey, which polled more than 1,000 adult consumers throughout the United States during late September 2009.

“Having too many other things to do”

The New Year’s Resolutions Survey found that respondents’ top three New Year’s resolutions for 2010 were similar to those in 2009: (1) improve financial situation, (2) lose weight, and (3) develop a healthy habit like exercise or healthy eating. The top 10 New Year’s resolutions for 2010 were ranked as follows, as compared with last year:

TOP 10 NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS FOR 2010			TOP 10 NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS FOR 2009
1. Improve financial situation			1. Get out of debt or save money
2. Lose weight			2. Lose weight
3. Develop a healthy habit (e.g. healthy eating, exercise)			3. Develop a healthy habit (e.g. healthy eating, exercise)
4. Change employment			4. Get organized
5. Develop a regular savings plan			5. Spend more time with family and friends
6. Break an unhealthy habit (e.g. smoking, alcohol, overeating)			6. Develop a new skill or talent
7. Spend more time with family and friends			7. Work less, play more
8. Other			8. Other
9. Get organized			9. Break an unhealthy habit (e.g. smoking, alcohol, overeating)
10. Develop a new skill or talent			10. Change employment

New to the FranklinCovey Products survey, respondents were asked to rank the following three statements for the coming year:

My life will improve overall (57 percent)
My life will be about the same (36 percent)
My life will be worse than this past year (7 percent)

Overall, at 57 percent, there is a strong belief that life will improve in the coming year. The survey’s Age Crosstab added some distinction by age group: 18 to 29 year-olds are more optimistic than the population; 60 or older seem more pragmatic; and those 40 to 49 years old are on the fence.

This year’s survey also showed that the use of resolutions, either unwritten or written, is highest among those of a younger age; 61 percent of respondents 18 to 29 years old take time to review their resolutions for the next year, as compared to only 36 percent of those 60 and older.

As a possible indication of the recession’s impact on Americans’ concept of saving, just over 44 percent of the New Year’s Resolutions Survey respondents ranked “Saving for the future” as their topmost resolution specific to finances. There was no meaningful distinction by gender or age, except those 60 and older. “Eliminating debt” came in second as ranked by 40 percent of respondents, and “Seeking additional sources of income” was third at 38 percent.

Despite these well-intended New Year’s resolutions, the FranklinCovey Products survey found that a “lack of commitment” was cited by 30 percent of respondents as the primary reason their resolution won’t be reached. “Having too many other things to do” was cited by 22 percent of respondents followed by “forgetfulness” at 18 percent.

FranklinCovey Products, a manufacturer of day planners, laptop bags, and other organizing tools and accessories, has partnered with several renowned experts who add their financial and time management advice to the company’s best-selling day planners and accessories, as well as its new lines of organizing products for office, home and school.

According to personal finance expert Jean Chatzky, “While the survey’s respondents want to improve financially, the biggest detriment to people saving is their lack of commitment.”

Chatzky continued, “Like losing weight or developing any healthy habit, the key to financial success is a regular schedule and plan. I've always found that writing it down and organizing your receipts and other records helps immeasurably.”

Survey Methodology

FranklinCovey Products surveyed 1,007 male and female consumers, 18 years and older across the United States through a third-party organization during late September 2009. The survey’s resulting sampling error rate is +/- 3.1 percent at the 95 percent confidence level.

ABOUT FRANKLINCOVEY PRODUCTS, LLC

FranklinCovey Products, LLC is a global retailer and the exclusive worldwide consumer products licensee of the FranklinCovey™ brand owned by FranklinCovey Co. FranklinCovey Products helps individuals and organizations achieve greater productivity, effectiveness, and success. The Company’s products are sold throughout Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East, and in more 15,000 retail outlets across North America, including 53 FranklinCovey stores. Some of the Company’s best-known consumer products include the popular FranklinCovey planner, PlanPlus™ planning software, PlanPlus™ Online, as well as a line of binders, laptop bags, totes, and other productivity and organizational tools and accessories. For more information, please visit www.franklinplanner.com.