Smoking is one of the most expensive habits there is. There are costs to the individual (health as well as financial) and to the economy.

Costs to the individual occur from the actual cost of buying the packet of cigarettes. Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids state that the average cost of a pack of cigarettes in the US is $4.32. This is a lot but in comparison to the UK and France where the average is approximately $9.30 (with more than 79% tax) and $7 respectively according to the BBC website.

It has been calculated that if a 40 year old who smokes a packet of cigarettes per day were to quit and put the money saved in into a 401(k) earning 9% per year would at the age of 70 have an extra $250,000. Is that an incentive to stop smoking?

Of course it is not just the cost of the packet which you need to consider. A smoker will pay more in insurance as a result of their habit. When it comes to selling their house or car, if there are smoke stains then the selling price will be discounted against others without these marks. Depending of the preferences of the smoker, they may have to visit the dry cleaners more than a non-smoker to remove the smells generated by the cigarette smoke. A heavy smoker is likely to suffer from their teeth staining so dental bills can be high if they seek removal of the stains.

Smokers, depending on your point of view, dont get their fair share from Social Security payments. Smokers, on average, live shorter lives than their non-smoking counterparts. This means that they are in receipt of their Social Security for fewer years after retirement whilst at the same time contributing more taxes when purchasing a packet of cigarettes. Non-smokers on the other hand would argue that smokers use more of the health services resources.

The last paragraph touched upon the health impact of smoker. There are financial incentives to quitting smoking but the most compelling arguments for given up must be for your health. Money can buy a lot of things but it cant buy your health. There are a number of short and long-term health problems a smoker can overcome by giving up smoking as well as the dangers imposed from secondhand smoke.

Nigel owns Quit-Smoking-Here, a website which contains lots of useful information if you wish to quit smoking.

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