Does it ever end ($$$)?

[Joanne75]

Yesterday was 26 days since I started vaping, 22 days without a cigarette. Go me!

I’m really loving everything about vaping, and I think I’ve been taking the normal progression through vape gear that most newbies do. I feel like there’s a little more money I want to spend to really get my setup where I'd like it to be, and then I hopr I’ll be pretty satisfied.

I also have a vaping app on my phone, and I have tracked every single purchase down to the penny…so I know exactly how much I’ve spent on vaping, and how much I would have spent on smoking. Right now, my “break even” date is near the end of September (I used to spend about $200/month on cigs).

To give you an idea of where I’m at…I started with an EVOD/iClear 16; then got an MVP 2/iClear 30; then a ProVari, iClear30s + batteries/charger/J wrap; assorted EVOD tanks; Mini Protank 2; Aspire Nautilus on the way; coils; custom drip tip; quite a bit of assorted juice.

I’m moving cross-country in the next month, so my next significant purchase is on hold since I don’t have time to learn to build coils right now…but I’m looking at getting an authentic KFL+ in the next 90 days or so.

One of the many things I was looking forward to with vaping is a cost savings. I totally get that there’s a significant startup cost as most new vapers progress, and I’m totally fine with that. However, I also see that for many folks, vaping becomes a hobby and the costs can meet or exceed what they used to spend on analogs. Understand that I would definitely rather spend money on vaping vs. analogs…but I’d also like to save some money in the long run, too.

So I’m wondering—for those of you who haven’t evolved into true “hobbyists”…are you saving money? And how long did it take you to get there?

 

[Equilibrium]

"Does it ever end ($$$)?"

I hope it does! It's got to, right?!!

I'm in the same boat though. Everytime I think it's over, I walk into the vape shop and see something I have to have.

 

[wrath186]

I'm sure I'm saving money in the long run, meaning anything I spend on mods, tanks and supplies pays itself back to me. If I were to give up vaping tomorrow and walk away from it for a year or more. When I come back my mods and tanks will still be there. I can just pick them up again and start vaping. Juice is really the only consumable.

Yes, the cash outlays up front can be a lot, but eventually you'll have the set up you want. I have a few mods and just a few tanks. Right now they take care of every situation I can think of.

 

[Lurch]

As the others have said, we do seem to spend a lot when we get started into this endeavor! I went through the same progression you described; ego batteries (which I still use occasionally), EVOD clearos, ProTanks, Aeros, then a ProVari. I also got into DIY and coil building.

I think I am finally reaching the point where the big spending has slowed way down. Now I only lust after a new tank, probably a KayFun or clone.

I just got back from my local B&M. While i was in there talking a lady came in and purchased her first set-up. I was able to talk her into springing for a ProTank2 Mini, skipping the plastic EVOD tanks. Hopefully, it will help her make the transition!!

 

[bluecat]

I would say I am not a hobbyist. I started to vape as an alternative to smoking. I was hoping it would give me that something extra to stop smoking. I vape for the calming effect of a good fake smoke and the nicotine relaxing effect.

I do not need a high end mod.. A good clone mech and an MVP2 works for me, so no reason to go any higher. I have a vape budget of 30 bucks a month (self imposed). I vape mostly unflavored but do some DIY for flavoring. The last month I have purchased some premixed liquids and did so again this month.. All under 30 bucks. Without those purchase, I average less than 10 a month (how much less? I quit worrying). I stopped my spreadsheet on the savings because it was around 1.5k after 1.5 years of vaping.

It is just like smoking. Only you can stop the $s.

 

[XJ-linux]

I have an app that tracks cigarettes avoided, money saved, etc... I've entered every single vaping expense (wicks, shipping fees, juice, devices, chargers, batteries, wire, etc...). Grand total since August 2012 is:
$2323.64 spent

The calculator uses the "old" price I paid for smokes when I quit in 2012 (never added the $1+ per pack it's gone up since then) and according to the app I would have spent $5919 (not counting lighters or anything other than actual cigarettes).

I've saved (very conservatively) $3500 in two years.

I state all that as my rationalization to myself whenever I order a whopping $50 in vaping supplies or splurge on a $200 on a higher end mod setup. I can't put a price on not having bronchitis in the winter, summer colds, money spent on medicine to treat those symptoms, etc...

It is a pile of cash, but I'd have willingly spent twice that amount in one pop for a "cure" for smoking that worked long term for me.

***I'll add that about $500-800 of my vaping expenses occurred in the last few months when I started into it as a hobby. Before that I had maybe $1500 in it over 2 years just using cig-alikes, and two Innokin VV v3's with mini pro tanks. Worked just fine for me and I can always unload the high end stuff and recoup some of the cost. Can't do that with used cigarette butts.

 

[keepsmiling]

I just said it the other day...my signature has a long way to go to catch up with me at this point!
It all started with a junky $25.00 kit and a $10. bottle of juice...
Then more juice, several of what I thought were "better" batteries- 6 I think.
More juice. A couple kanger Pro tank II's, coils,the aero sleeves for the PT2's, then an aero-tank mini, a couple spinners, an MVP 2.0, more juice, more coils, a Kanger aerotank full size. Ordered a wrap for the MVP. Ordered a custom built stand for all my toys.
Hmm..more juice and coils..
An aspire mini..and some coils for that.
More juice X2 orders...
An Innokin vv V3. Thought it got lost in the mail so I ordered another one...
A Provari mini with a bella tank. Oh heck..now I needed some cartos, some batteries, a charger, a box to store batteries...
Somewhere in there I discovered pretty tips! Got two I have to return because one doesn't fit anything and the other is not the color it was advertised as.
Discovered and ordered a Molehill mountain tip. Then two more. Ordered 4 more boxes of coils.
I think that might bring me up to date.
I have a long way to go before I "break even"..

 

[Seanchai]

Once I had a battery I liked (and a backup), rebuildable tank atomizers, and a rebuildable dripping atomizer, all equipment costs essentially stopped. I've picked up a few things here and there since then, but they're "wants" when I happen to have a little extra cash, not "things I need in order to have a satisfying vape." Deducting equipment costs *and juice*, I've probably saved about $1400 since I started vaping in September (vs. what I would have spent if I continued smoking.) About $150 of that was spent on equipment that didn't work for me in the long term, but I passed it on to newer vapers who do prefer that kind of equipment, so I don't regret those purchases.

 

[HauntedMyst]

…but I’d also like to save some money in the long run, too.

So I’m wondering—for those of you who haven’t evolved into true “hobbyists”…are you saving money? And how long did it take you to get there?

Yeah. Took me about 9 to 10 months of vaping before I hit the break even point and that was with buying a lot to try. If I am any example, the cycle goes like this.

1. Try disposable. Like disposable enough to buy more
2. Look for more economical things - enter the eGo and CE4
3. Love the eGo/CE4 but want more so you try new juice
4. Upgrade the CE4 to something like a Protank
5. Jump onto mods followed by
6. Jump into RBA's
7. Try a few of each until you find the ones you love.
8. Finally try DIY
9. Sell off extras and move into vaping for the joy of it.
10. Save money finally

One of the great thing about this vaping thing is if you don't like what you buy, you can sell it and get some of your money back in the classifieds. Just because you didn't care for something doesn't mean someone else won't. Now even when I pick up the occasional odd mod or atty, I'm still ahead of the game.

 

[Hill]

It all depends on the vaper and how much of a hobby you want to make it. Personally I spend an average of about $20 - $30 a month now. I've been vaping about 1 year and 2 months once I found the device that I like best (Provari with an AGA T-2) costs went down considerably.

And if you decide to DIY your own juice = BIG Savings.

 

[six]

Yes, The spending can end. I just bought my first new PV in over 2 years. That purchase was made out of desire, not necessity. Once you figure out what works for you, buy the highest quality device you can and then stop buying stuff. When I settled in to what I liked, I bought attys every 5-6 months, juice every 3-4 months, and replaced batteries in my rotation as necessary. When I stopped buying things on whims and when I stopped looking for things that worked "better" than what I had, my expense was just supplies and came out to about ~$60 per month. I could probably get that down to ~$15-20 per month if I wanted to DIY juice.

 

[Mezrein]

What are the apps you guys use? I created an excel spreadsheet to do the job but would love an app. My vape budget is what my smoking budget was, 200 a month. I almost never hit that as I am fairly settled in my provari's and kfls now. But would still love an app to track things in tandem with my spreadsheet.


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[TamiP]

Lots of vapers feel that no matter what they spend on their 'hobby' that includes buying lots of new equipment etc, is better than the stupidly high cost of analogs and the incredibly high health costs of analogs.

HOWEVER, I too like to make my hobby as cheap as possible. If you are in the "want it to be cheap" catagory, the best way is to learn how to make your own liquid (not that hard), and learn how to rebuild atomizers and tanks, buy one good setup that you won't have to replace very often and avoid looking at all the new "shineys" that come up all the time. If you can control the urge to buy a lot of new toys all the time, then it is very possible to save money.

 

[bluecat]

What are the apps you guys use? I created an excel spreadsheet to do the job but would love an app. My vape budget is what my smoking budget was, 200 a month. I almost never hit that as I am fairly settled in my provari's and kfls now. But would still love an app to track things in tandem with my spreadsheet.


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No apps.

No apps. Spreadsheet works well. The less I have my phone in my hand the better.

 

[Boiler]

I kept my e-cig budget at or below my pack-a-day habit, so I always saved money.

Identify your vaping preferences, establish a goal that fits those needs, and work towards it. Eventually, everything will come together into a small set of gear that gets the job done, and you won't have to chase every mod, juice, and atty that comes to town.

 

[young gotti]

i've saved money...a lot of money

i tend to buy in spirts, for example recently i purchased a nemmy, stingray x, taifun, kayfun, 2 drippers, a bunch of liquid, wire, and a hypertank

probably cost me less than $200 and i wont buy anything for probably like 6-7 months now

i also only bought the stringray x and tobh because tomorrow with 2 years

 

[Mezrein]

No apps.

No apps. Spreadsheet works well. The less I have my phone in my hand the better.

Lol I understand, but I'm a techno junkie at times. If there's an all for that I'd like it. Lol.


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[XJ-linux]

What are the apps you guys use? I created an excel spreadsheet to do the job but would love an app. My vape budget is what my smoking budget was, 200 a month. I almost never hit that as I am fairly settled in my provari's and kfls now. But would still love an app to track things in tandem with my spreadsheet.


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I downloaded one for my iPhone called VapeMate. It was free at the time and I think it still is.

 

[danca90]

Once you are happy, and don't buy shiny things, it ends. I have 4 mods, and only use 2. I've got no need to buy more. I have a kayfun, and 3 drippers, 2 carto tanks.
The way I see it now, batteries are like lighters, juice is like smokes.

 

[sbc83]

I would say I am not a hobbyist. I started to vape as an alternative to smoking. I was hoping it would give me that something extra to stop smoking. I vape for the calming effect of a good fake smoke and the nicotine relaxing effect.

I do not need a high end mod.. A good clone mech and an MVP2 works for me, so no reason to go any higher. I have a vape budget of 30 bucks a month (self imposed). I vape mostly unflavored but do some DIY for flavoring. The last month I have purchased some premixed liquids and did so again this month.. All under 30 bucks. Without those purchase, I average less than 10 a month (how much less? I quit worrying). I stopped my spreadsheet on the savings because it was around 1.5k after 1.5 years of vaping.

It is just like smoking. Only you can stop the $s.

I'm much like you. I use some 1 year old 1300mah ego's for out and about and a MVP 2 for home use, they work and do it reliably. I just don't see the need to continue spending $50-$200+ per month on vape stuff and justifying the unneeded expenditure just because it's less then was spent on cigarettes.. I've spent $320 total in about a 1.5 years and i'm set till next March, my 2 year savings will be about $1400 which is a lot considering I only spent about $850/year on cigs. I live a frugal life by choice and just don't like spending money when it's not needed.