REDMOND, Wash., Dec. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Year after year, it seems the three most popular New Year's resolutions are also those most likely to be broken before February. The three resolutions that continue to make a large number of Americans' lists are qui

And what about the many Americans who want to make all three of these resolutions? Some simple math illustrated below can help put it in perspective.* Smoking -- According the U.S. Consumer Affairs Department, the average cost of a pack of cigarettes hovers around $3.50. -- That adds up to $1,260 a year for pack-a-day smokers. -- Smoking-cessation methods, such as patches and pills, cost about $50. Finances -- Take the $1,210 you'd save by quitting smoking. -- Each year, invest the $1,210 in a mutual fund with a 15 percent interest rate. -- If you are in your early 30s, you could have more than $1 million when you reach the age of retirement. Weight Loss -- Some fitness centers charge $600 to $800 for a lifetime membership; professional weight-loss centers can cost around $30 a week. -- If you adopt the plan listed above and invest the money wisely, you could afford to join a professional weight-loss program and a gym, and still retire comfortably. "How did we figure this out? We didn't. We used Microsoft(R) Money 2000 Deluxe." *Source: Microsoft Money 2000 NOTE: Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. SOURCE Microsoft Corp.

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