Smoking: it is addictive, it is hard to give up and it is expensive. We all know it is bad for our health and bad for our pockets, yet so many of us continue. There are so many methods available to help you quit the habit and they are conveniently available too, for example an entire vaping starter kit or alternative nicotine replacement therapies are available to order to your door. So why keep wasting money when you don’t need to?

Working out the real cost of smoking

With one pack of 20 cigarettes averaging approximately £8, a one-pack-a-day smoker can easily find themselves spending in the region of £250 or more on their habit. In one year, that works out to more than £3,000. If you and your partner both smoke, you’re looking at somewhere in the region of between six and seven thousand pounds every year that has gone up in smoke.

Your insurance premiums will decrease

The cost of smoking does not stop there. We all know that smoking affects your health. What it also affects is your insurances. Private medical insurance companies usually charge a premium for smokers which can be considerably more than for non-smokers. Income protection policies will also charge a higher rate for smokers, as will mortgage protection policies. In fact, pretty much anything related to insuring against your weakening your health and an increase in your risk of dying will mean you paying out more. Stopping smoking can see your premiums decrease after the first year and thereon after. Some insurers will require proof that you have abstained from smoking for the period you claim to have quit from, but a potential 25% to 50% saving on your premiums is not something to be ignored.

You will take less time off work through illness

Quitting smoking means your body will be healthier and better equipped to stave off everything from the common cold to decreasing its risk of developing cancers, lung and heart problems related to the habit. Better health means fewer illnesses. Fewer illnesses means less time off work. Less time off work means more money.

You’ll spend less on other stuff

You can stop buying the packets of mints or chewing gums to take away the nicotine breath. The more expensive whitening toothpastes and stain removers won’t be needed any more. The air fresheners to spray around your home to mask the smoke – they can go too. Your home will not need redecorating as frequently and your clothes will remain fresher for longer. All these small costs add up. And that money will be in your pocket.

So you see, stopping smoking doesn’t mean saving the costs of the cigarettes themselves. The savings go far beyond that and can make a significant difference to your quality of life, both through your health and your finances.

Make the change this Stoptober. Starting now.

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