THREE quarters of adults are planning a "big night in" this New Year's Eve as the cost of Christmas takes its toll, a survey suggests.

Some 74% of people surveyed plan to see in 2014 at home or at a friend's house, up from 72% last year, according to research from Post Office Home Insurance.

Many people appear to be trying to ease their Christmas financial hangover, with one in 10 people (10%) planning not to spend any money at all on New Year's Eve.

Revellers are keeping a tight hold of the purse strings and plan to spend £50 typically on seeing in the New Year - which is £9 less on average than they had for their New Year's Eve budgets last year.

Londoners are planning to spend the most celebrating the start of 2014 typically at £78, which is more than double the amount those living in Wales have set aside, at £37 on average.

Paul Havenhand, head of insurance at Post Office, said: "It seems most people are looking forward to a celebratory night in, rather than a 'big night out' this New Year, and many are also looking to spend less this year too."

More than 2,000 people took part in the research.

Here is the average predicted cost of celebrating New Year's Eve across the UK according to Post Office Home Insurance:

  • Wales, £37
  • North East, £38
  • North West, £40
  • South East, £44
  • East Midlands, £44
  • Yorkshire and the Humber, £45
  • South West, £46
  • West Midlands, £47
  • East of England, £48
  • Northern Ireland, £48
  • Scotland, £49
  • London, £78
  • UK average, £50