The Cost Of Smoking

If the threat of cancer and other serious health related risks arent enough to dissuade you from smoking, perhaps the threat of poverty will

. The amount of money spent each year by the average smoker is staggering, and with the price of cigarettes constantly on the rise, that number is certain to increase.

Sadly, if you are like most smokers, the need for a cigarette often outweighs the financial burden it places on you. Spending five dollars a day for a pack of cigarettes seems like a legitimate expense to fulfill a need you feel you cant do without. But have you ever considered the big picture? Have you ever calculated what smoking costs you per year or over the course of your lifetime? If not, perhaps you should read on.

Today, the average cost for a pack of cigarettes is five dollars and the typical smoker will probably smoke at least a pack each day. Depending upon your own habit, you can adjust the numbers, but for the purpose of these calculations the numbers above will be sufficient. The following shows the weekly, monthly and annual cost of smoking cigarettes, as well as a projected lifetime figure. The results may astonish you:

Cost Breakdown of Cigarette Smoking

Average cost of a pack of cigarettes: $5

Number of packs smoked per day: 1

Weekly Cost: $35

Monthly Cost: $150

Annual Cost:$1825

So how does that break down over the course of a lifetime?

20 years of smoking$36,500

30 years of smoking$54,750

40 years of smoking$73,000

Staggering as these numbers are, you must also consider this: As the cost of cigarettes continues to rise, and your habit increases, these numbers will inflate accordingly.

The financial burden of smoking doesnt end with the cost of cigarettes, though. On average, smokers pay more for insurance and other health related costs. They may lose money on the resale price of their home or car due to the infiltration of cigarette smoke. They can spend more on teeth whitening and dry cleaning. And the list goes on.

The risks associated with smoking extend far beyond the often reported health-related consequences. The money spent trying to support your addiction is astounding, and while you may not recognize the burden over the course of a day, week or even a month, the cost of smoking over the course of a lifetime could certainly be put to better use. What could you and your family do with an extra $73,000 forty years from now? Think about it the next time you feel like lighting up.

by: Robert Henderson

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