Comments on: The Hidden Costs of Smoking

By: Jake@compounding-dividends

Jake@compounding-dividends — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:31:11 +0000

Smokes are only $.50 in Iraq. It saves me money but it makes it harder to quit

By: Rick Vaughn

Rick Vaughn — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 23:50:38 +0000

Great post, no one seems to understand that for all actions there is a equal and opposite reaction. Smoking is like having a credit card and maxing it out as fast as you can.

By: Jenna

Jenna — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 04:02:11 +0000

Heh. You can add dental expenses and tooth whitener to this list of expenses :)

By: jim of Blueprint for Financial Prosperity

jim of Blueprint for Financial Prosperity — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:00:43 +0000

There is one cost you didn’t mention … early death. Can’t buy yourself out of that one. :)

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:14:04 +0000

There is a huge hidden cost to smoking, I know I’m a smoker and I wish I could spend 3$ a pack like you describe. I’m paying between 8 and 9 for a small pack and over 10 for a large one. So my less than half a pack a day addiction amounts to about 100-120 a month.

Unfortunately Lazy, convincing a smoker of the financial aspect is easy they get that part. You can even introduce the opportunity cost of all the compound interest they’ll loose over years. You need to prep and convince yourself you need to quit… and how you do that changes from person to person.

By: Savings Toolbox

Savings Toolbox — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:51:49 +0000

For commited smokers, a serious commitment will be involved in order to quit – and stay quit! For folks looking to overhaul their financial situation, it seems like a great time to kill two birds with one stone and make a commitment to improving both your health and your finances. Not having to buy a $7 pack of cigarettes everyday would certainly make it easier to tuck away nearly $50 a week in an interest-bearing account.

You can literally breathe a little easier about health and money concerns.

Observant post!

By: Blake@youngdough

Blake@youngdough — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:31:42 +0000

I freakin loved it when Iowa passed a new law within the last year or two raising our taxes on a pack from $.17 to $1.17.

I realize it’s a double-edged sword (those who already are addicted will cut back elsewhere- such as providing for their kids), but I really hope it will discourage youth from starting.

Make gas more expensive- people use less of it. Same thing with cigs.

By: Online Dividends

Online Dividends — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:22:53 +0000

I think that a good way to profit from this addiction is to purchase MO and PM.

That’s what I will be doing next month at least.

By: Helen Mills

Helen Mills — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:44:59 +0000

Lazyman, my next door neighbor’s deadbeat (unemployed) son just move back in with her and all he does is sit in the backyard and smoke his nasty cigarettes. Every time that smoke floats onto my patio I think how he is smoking her social security monthly payment away…

By: Jim

Jim — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 21:36:02 +0000

Buying the nicotine gum I used to stop smoking was the best investment I’ve ever made.

By: SmokingGuy

SmokingGuy — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 21:33:00 +0000

I’m a smoker and it is a horrible habit. I have tried to quit a few times, once made it about 2 months but then started smoking again. I’m going to try again though. I wish I never started, I just turned 30 and have been smoking since I was 18 so 12 years. I can’t believe its been 12 years. I am very good with my personal finances but smoking may be my biggest waste of money. Where I live they cost over $7 a pack and I smoke a pack a day. It has left a permanent smell on many of my clothes and throughout my apartment. It is also difficult now since you can’t smoke in any bars or restaurants in most major cities. It sucks to be sitting there comfortably having dinner and a good conversation and having to leave and step outside for a cigarette or sit there and be uncomfortable because of the craving. It is the worst habit I have and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.

By: reddoorhomeloans.com

reddoorhomeloans.com — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:02:32 +0000

There is also the cost of being away from work or from life in general. Smokers have to step away from work or whatever they are doing to smoke. It takes up a lot of time, and of course, time is money.

By: Tyler

Tyler — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:15:37 +0000

In MA it’s more like $6.50 a pack. Almost $200/month. :-/

By: L

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:06:32 +0000

Not just health insurance but life insurance- I used to work for an insurance company and the underwriters would increase monthly premiums by 50-75% for smoking (depending on age, I believe).

By: Rahul

Rahul — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:44:52 +0000

Certainly, smoking may seem like a habit of the rich and famous. but her smokers don’t realize the after effects of smoking after 10 years down the line when they start having and showing signs of smoking. this will then have an after effect to them financially as well. Not to forget the health issue.