Is the e-cig a less expensive alternative to analogs? It can be, but not always. In my case the results are a bit mixed.
First of all, both my wife and I were smokers. I smoked about 1.5 packs per day, she about 1+ per day. Last summer we left the world of commercial cigarettes and began using cigarette tubes and tobacco with a T2 machine. Yes, the savings were instantaneous on that front. Even though we smoked the less expensive 305 brand cigarettes, we still spent about $9 per day (that number would now be $13 per day). When we shifted to "fill your own", it isn't roll your own, the price dropped to about $1 per pack, including the machine. Had we kept on smoking, by extrapolating the numbers, we'd now be down to about 80 cents per pack ($3 per day), where it would essentially stay, IF the government doesn't kick up the taxes on the alternative cut tobacco, which of course they will. Assuming the tax will soon be equal to the cigarette cut tax, then the price would go up to about $2.40/pack.
By the end of the summer, we had tried our first e-cig and we were amazed. Yes, we began buying and experimenting. We have now found the distributor we like (V4L), the various flavors we like and do not like. We have numerous batteries, holders, chargers and travel chargers. We have several vials of liquid and many carts, enough to last at least 2-3 more months. We have spent a total of $694 since the end of August on all of our e-cig products and supplies. I added up all we vaped and what we have available and I consider 2 carts to be equal to a bit over 1 pack of analogs. I clean and refill the carts. I can usually get an average of 7 refills per cart. My total cost per equivalent pack is now at $2.10/pack. This includes the new, refilled and to-be-refilled carts and juice.
Now, if I assume that I purchase 10 more batteries over the next year and keep to my present rate of consumption vs refill and replacement, then I will have reduced the equivalent price/pack to about $1.60/pack. This is substantially less than what I would have spent on commercial analogs, but is double what I would spend on "fill your own". The cost/pack changes if and when the taxes go up on all forms of tobacco. Assuming the tobacco tax hits the roof, then the price differential is nil.
Oh, and when we shifted to e-cigs, it took us about 10 days to do the full switch from analogs to vapeing and never bothered us. My wife has been slowly reducing her nicotine levels, as her goal is to be completely off all forms of nicotine by February 2012. For me it is a bit different, as I have neurogenic bradycardia (extremely low HR and BP) and nicotine is a stimulant that actually keeps my heart rate and blood pressure at a semi-reasonable rate. Even though I have been a smoker for over 40 years, I am a lucky one and have no heart disease or lung disease.
Using the e-cig will allow my wife to completely stop the intake of nicotine without having to live with the smell of me smoking. For me, it provides a safer, non-smelly alternative for something that actually helps me medically. So the e-cig is a win-win-win.
So, pricewise, over the course of about 6 months, the cost per pack, when compared with commercial cigarettes is less than 1/2. Presently, when compared to DIY cigarettes it is about double, but that will probably change in the near future to be equal. The health benefits far off-set any additional cost. And assuming my wife fully stops using all forms of nicotine, including the e-cig, then that dramatically lowers the costs.
dave
First of all, both my wife and I were smokers. I smoked about 1.5 packs per day, she about 1+ per day. Last summer we left the world of commercial cigarettes and began using cigarette tubes and tobacco with a T2 machine. Yes, the savings were instantaneous on that front. Even though we smoked the less expensive 305 brand cigarettes, we still spent about $9 per day (that number would now be $13 per day). When we shifted to "fill your own", it isn't roll your own, the price dropped to about $1 per pack, including the machine. Had we kept on smoking, by extrapolating the numbers, we'd now be down to about 80 cents per pack ($3 per day), where it would essentially stay, IF the government doesn't kick up the taxes on the alternative cut tobacco, which of course they will. Assuming the tax will soon be equal to the cigarette cut tax, then the price would go up to about $2.40/pack.
By the end of the summer, we had tried our first e-cig and we were amazed. Yes, we began buying and experimenting. We have now found the distributor we like (V4L), the various flavors we like and do not like. We have numerous batteries, holders, chargers and travel chargers. We have several vials of liquid and many carts, enough to last at least 2-3 more months. We have spent a total of $694 since the end of August on all of our e-cig products and supplies. I added up all we vaped and what we have available and I consider 2 carts to be equal to a bit over 1 pack of analogs. I clean and refill the carts. I can usually get an average of 7 refills per cart. My total cost per equivalent pack is now at $2.10/pack. This includes the new, refilled and to-be-refilled carts and juice.
Now, if I assume that I purchase 10 more batteries over the next year and keep to my present rate of consumption vs refill and replacement, then I will have reduced the equivalent price/pack to about $1.60/pack. This is substantially less than what I would have spent on commercial analogs, but is double what I would spend on "fill your own". The cost/pack changes if and when the taxes go up on all forms of tobacco. Assuming the tobacco tax hits the roof, then the price differential is nil.
Oh, and when we shifted to e-cigs, it took us about 10 days to do the full switch from analogs to vapeing and never bothered us. My wife has been slowly reducing her nicotine levels, as her goal is to be completely off all forms of nicotine by February 2012. For me it is a bit different, as I have neurogenic bradycardia (extremely low HR and BP) and nicotine is a stimulant that actually keeps my heart rate and blood pressure at a semi-reasonable rate. Even though I have been a smoker for over 40 years, I am a lucky one and have no heart disease or lung disease.
Using the e-cig will allow my wife to completely stop the intake of nicotine without having to live with the smell of me smoking. For me, it provides a safer, non-smelly alternative for something that actually helps me medically. So the e-cig is a win-win-win.
So, pricewise, over the course of about 6 months, the cost per pack, when compared with commercial cigarettes is less than 1/2. Presently, when compared to DIY cigarettes it is about double, but that will probably change in the near future to be equal. The health benefits far off-set any additional cost. And assuming my wife fully stops using all forms of nicotine, including the e-cig, then that dramatically lowers the costs.
dave
I just started doing DIY liquid, and it's a learning curve, but I spent like 40 dollars on a starter kit, and i've got a ton of stuff to work with here.
