Friday, January 21, 2011

Day 19: Show Me The Money!


And now to a topic frequently discussed by people who quit smoking - the expense! Moolah, greenbacks, cash, scratch, simoleons - call it what you like, but money can be a huge motivator in quitting. In today's sad economy, every penny counts. Whether you're saving for a house, a vacation, or just a night out, quitting smoking can help you get there faster than you think.

On average, a pack of cigarettes where I live is about six bucks. I would normally go through a pack every day, maybe a day and a half. But once you factor in the weekends, when I would inevitable smoke more, we're talking about eight, sometimes nine packs per week.

Basic math:
$6 per pack x 8 packs per week = $48 per week.
$48 per week x 52 weeks in a year = $2,496 per year.

Wait - what?? That's one hell of a lot of money!!! Especially for me - I work in the non-profit sector, and the pay isn't fantastic - it's just livable. We're talking about 5% of my yearly income - that's a staggering amount of money to spend with nothing to show for it. It's not a house, a car, clothing, or food. I could go Jamaica for that amount, or pay off some debt, or save for a house!

Having that extra $200 per month is like getting a bonus for being healthier. Drinks are on me!

2 comments:

  1. Moolah, greenbacks, cash, scratch, SIMOLEIONSSSSSSSS! i love that commercial.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Now your thinking like a conservative - Go SIS!

    ReplyDelete