Do ex smokers REALLY save money?

MinniMe_2

julybride - congrats on giving up and on the baby.

I too would like to give up - or at least try rolling but like you lynzpower i can't roll them!

Good luck everyone giving up and trying to stay off them

GreyPilgrim

I guess you will save money IF YOU WANT TO....but if you go out and spend more, then you won't!!

Seriously, you will save money. When I smoked, I spent so much more than just the cost of a packet because I'd usually draw £10 out of the bank, buy a packet leaving £4.60 or so jangling around my pocket and then during the course of the day I would spend that too - everytime I passed a shop, popped in the work canteen for a coffee (we're lucky enough to have free vending machines, but everything else in there is on display and not free!). The money would just vanish. So a packet of 20 would in effect cost me a tenner, because I was so easily tempted to buy "a packet of mints" or "the odd newspaper"

Best of luck giving up - it seriously is the best thing you will ever do both for your health and your bank account.

GP

GreyPilgrim

yeslek wrote:

it was that bad she would often ask me for the odd fiver here an there. now she's giving me the odd fiver if she know's i'm going out where as before she couldnt afford too.

There's an example of someone who won't see a financial benefit of quitting smoking if she's chucking the money away!:o

GreyPilgrim

See that Lynz! Didn't even mention Allen Carrs book once, did I?

yeslek

GreyPilgrim wrote:

There's an example of someone who won't see a financial benefit of quitting smoking if she's chucking the money away!:o

i didnt mean it litterally. lol
she is going to behave when she gets paid but at the moment she is spending on herself and me a bit.

i just meant to show that the benifits are instantly recognisable

milliejon

I gave up 7 weeks ago today. I haven't noticed an increase in my bank account, however, we are eating better food, are able to buy nice things for the home and take the kids out for the day.

When I first gave up, I started a thread http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=208374.

Whilst I was smoking, my ciggies came out of the weekly budget, and if we were running out of money, I'd sell something on eBay or borrow money. Now we're managing on the money we have.

I'd like to say a huge well done to those who've given up, and send hugs to anyone wanting to quit.

cantcope

I'm sitting here smoking my perfectly rolled fag lol. am going to think about giving up every time i light one. I've set next monday as my date as it gives me a week to get used to the idea and its the day after i move (very stressful and not sure i could do it this week)

Havent told anyone at work im going to try as if i get a little tetchy they will straight away tell me to "have a smoke!"

Here's to a bumpy ride.....

moriarty888

I quit smoking in January, so over 6 months now. You may not feel much richer, but what you will notice is that the tenner you had in your purse at the beginning of the week, is still there at the end. You don't go to the bank machine nearly as much, also, you aren't tempted by magazines and sweets in the shop. Allen Carr is really good, and I found the nicotine inhalers really helpful when I've had a few drinks, but I'm off them now too.

Good luck, even if you only quit for a month, you could save £80. And we give the government enough of our pay in tax every month as it is, don't give them more than you have to!

:rolleyes:

kittykat100

I gave up just over a year ago, and have saved myself around £1500! Apart from the fact of the money, I did it for my health, (i rarely have a cough or cold now).
Also I don't smell like an ashtray, I can go into the cinema without crawling the walls after an hour.
There are many reasons I did it, but I still believe it is personal choice.
BTW I used patches for a month to give up and they worked a treat. Not saying it was easy because bet your pants it wasn't but it made it more bareable.

Good Luck

Kittyx

Rikki

It cost less than a £1 a packet when I gave up. I dread to think what that would cost me now. So YES I am saving a fortune.