While the financial aspects of smoking shouldn't be the only reason that you should consider quiting, you probably aren't aware how much this habit is actually costing you. That's because when people talk about the cost of smoking, rarely do they go beyond the price of the cigarettes. A pack a day at a cost of $4.00 comes to just under $1,500 a year and it's left at that. While this is a large number that should get your attention, in reality it's just the tip of the iceberg.
There are a large number of hidden costs associated with smoking. These are costs that are rarely examined when people talk about how much their smoking habit costs. Some come in the form of higher payments due to the risks associated with smoking while others come from a decrease in an assets worth due to smoking.
The following are some of the additional costs associated with smoking beyond that packs you purchase to show how much you really can save if you kick the habit:
Life Insurance: Since statistics show that smokers die at a younger age than non smokers, the cost for life insurance is much more than for those who don't smoke - sometime more than double the premium. This can mean thousands of dollars a year more in life insurance premium payments.
Health Insurance: Just as with life insurance, statistics show that smokers have more medical problems than non smokers and therefore pay a lot more for their medical insurance than nonsmokers - again, sometimes thousands of dollars more a year in premiums.
Health Care: While smokers pay more for their health insurance, they don't get any extra benefit over non smokers for doing so. Since smokers usually have more medical problems and more frequent visits to the doctor, they pay more each year for health care than non smokers.
Medications: An increase in medical problems usually results in smokers having to take more prescription medicine than non smokers. These extra medications mean a smoker is out more money than a non smoker.
Home Owner's Insurance: While smoking and owning a home may not seem to be related at first, statistics show that people who smoke have fires in their houses more often than people that don't smoke. This means smokers must pay higher home owner's insurance premiums than non smokers.
Value of the House: Smoking in a house will decrease it's value, sometimes by tens of thousands of dollars. Smoking leaves a stench in the carpets and walls that most people purchasing a house don't want. Since the house isn't as attractive to buyers, they are willing to pay less than they would for a house where there isn't smoke damage. In addition, smoke can yellow and dim the walls making the house display much less attractively than if nobody had been smoking.
Value of Possessions: When you calculate your net worth, part of the calculation is the value of all the things you own. Smoking reduces the resale value of items which in turn reduces your net worth in this area compared to a non smoker.
Car Insurance: Statistic show that smokers get into more car accidents than non smokers. The result is that they pay auto insurance rates that are often hundreds of dollars a year higher than non smokers.
Car Resale Value: Just like a house loses value when a smoker lives in it, smoking in your car will greatly reduce its resale value. The result is that you will receive hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars less for it when it's time to sell or trade-in.
Earn Less Money: There have been a number of studies which have found that smokers earn between 4% to 11% less money than their non smoking counterparts. In fact, you may be denied employment because you smoke. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) National Workrights Institute estimates that there are more than 6,000 companies in the US that refuse to hire smokers.
Less Social Security / Pension Benefits: Because smokers earn less than non smokers, they pay less into social security and their pensions. The result is that when they retire, they receive less in social security and pension benefits than their non smoking counterparts.
Cost of Cleaning: Smokers usually need to pay more money keeping their clothes, houses and cars clean than non smokers. Smoking also wears out items faster meaning that smokers must purchase these items more often than non smokers.
Dental Care: Smokers have more dental problems than non smokers. More trips to the dentist results in more money spend than non smokers. In addition, smokers often have to pay more for special toothpastes to keep teeth from yellowing and breath fresheners to hide the smell of the cigarettes.
Lost Interest: Not only do smokers lose the money in the above mentioned areas, they also lose out on all the interest they could have earned if the money went into their bank account instead of toward their smoking habit. The lost interest can add up to thousands of dollars lost over the years.
When you look beyond the cost of the pack of cigarettes, you begin to see the real monetary cost of smoking. Added together, smoking cigarettes results in the loss of thousands of dollars a year at a minimum, and often much more.
Quit Smoking - How Much Can I Save?
