How much $$$ did smoking cost & what have spent your savings on?

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dennism

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Oct 18, 2015
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Smoking is really expensive here in Australia for me it's around $40 aud a packet a day. That works out to be $14,560 a year. I buy squonk mods and rda's, and other stuff with my winnings.

Now my main goal is trying to cut down or even quit on nicotine.
If that price doesn't turn you to vaping, nothing ever will.
 

corn flakes

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I am actually using Amazon Fire TV boxes on most TV's and a NVidia Shield in my office with some media apps. I have an attic mounted antenna to get live local TV and news and central media server that also runs NextPVR to record shows and stream live TV to any TV in the house from the antenna. I have more than I could possibly watch and no monthly bill (other than internet). PM me if you need any more details, I don't want to take this thread too far off topic.


You have mail
 
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flavourchaser

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If that price doesn't turn you to vaping, nothing ever will.
Yeah that's the main drive that got me on to vaping. I was coughing at first when I switched over to vaping, but I was persistent and now the coughing is gone and I'm a full time vaper. No more ciggies. Too expensive.
 

stols001

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Um, I don't think the cost of an addiction would have driven me one way or another frankly, and while the husband and I used to get loose tobacco and tubes from a reservation which is probably the only way I could have ever AFFORDED to smoke 3 packs a day, it was the life points that were far more satisfying.

I wish I could tell you where that "fictional money" went although to be fair, I started vaping along with a SHARP drop in income and a HUGE increase in healthcare costs, so I'm going to say, well, IDK.. I do have enough nic to last for the rest of my life and I am prepared to vape.

If anything the high cost of cigarettes is APPEALING in some ways, much as I like useless, expensive, bad for you things. Thank God I never got in to cigars is ALL I can say.

Anna
 

SupplyDaddy

I'm considered a Mad Scientist in some circles!
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Smoking = $4106 (2012 number, using the lower number for what I smoked, Not the wife's higher cost) for 2 people for 3 packs a day for 1 year.

Vaping = 12 new mods a year, 24 new batteries 8 gallons of VG, 12 bottles of flavors, 2 liters 100mg Nic, 1 gallon of PG, 12 Tanks/Toppers, and throw in some coils and wick and wire..
$1700 (rounded up).
 

Rossum

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Smoking was costing me about $5,000 a year back when I quit in December of 2013.

Since then, I've spent about half the savings on a substantial collection of mods from a couple of the vendors here on ECF, a lifetime supply of nic, a couple of mini-freezers (my wife doesn't want my nic in "her" freezers), and various other vape-related things.

I have no idea where the rest of the savings went. :laugh:
 

DaveP

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A year and a half ago I was spending $125 CAD smoking every week! Now I have so much extra cash but I can't figure out where it goes. Lol. Other than vape gear.

For me, my vaping savings leak out of my debit card into the things I buy daily. It's all good. When I want to buy new shiny stuff I remind myself that it's money I used to spend on cigs. The average cost of a pack of cigs where I live is $4.49. I smoked 2PAD, so I'm saving $3232.00 a year at current prices. That's a lot of shiny vape gear!

A pack a day costs ...

Average Cost in Georgia ($4.49 p.p)
Cost Per Month $135

Cost Per Year $1616

You can select your state at this link for pricing according to how much you smoked.
Average Cost of a Pack of Cigarettes for Georgia
 
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DaveP

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OMG if I ever start smoking in a serious way again, I am moving to Georgia. Average cost of smokes in the town I live in like twelve and change.

Anna

Georgia is a big tobacco state. It's a wonder we don't have to pay more just because of that. Vaping is the cure.
 
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RedForeman

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Obligatory thread-related content: At the beginning of 2011 I was buying a carton a week at about $40/each, so about $160 a month. I now buy 2 120ml bottles of my go-to flavor almost every two months for about $60, but I'll call it $40 a month since I reorder at about 7 weeks and sometimes add a small bottle of a new flavor that looks interesting. I have no idea what the real ones cost today, but going on what I was paying 7 yrs ago about $120/month savings. Well not saved actually, just not spent on tobacco. Who really struggles to figure out how to spend a hundred bucks?

So what does an OTA antenna give you above that? Is a 100 mile range really that if you buy the best? If so, I could get Atlanta, Columbus, and Albany stations direct. I guess that would be the only benefit from an OTA antenna.
In Macon not much. Terrain and antenna elevation matter, as well as what you buy/install. There's a number of phone apps that will help you figure out which direction/strength your local broadcasters are. I use one cleverly named "TV Antenna Helper."

Use that app first and see what's near enough for you to pick up a strong signal. That will guide you on how much antenna to buy, or whether to buy one in the first place. Keep in mind that most broadcast channels actually have several sub channels. If it looks like you're only picking up 3-4 stations, that could actually be 15-20 channels to watch. Just also be aware that, just like the olden days, half of those are PBS, church, and Spanish.

You might get 100 miles if you're on top of the terrain and have an outdoor antenna on a tall mast. Realistically, unless you live deep in a valley you will probably pick up out to 20 miles with a decent indoor antenna, maybe up to 50 miles with an attic or outdoor model. And by that I mean clear signal with no picture defects (weak digital signal does that).

I live about 25 miles NNE of Atlanta. Lots of years ago when DTV first came out, Radio Shack was still in business and I bought a big outdoor antenna and enough pole to put it above the roofline. I am on high terrain and the antenna is about 30' off the ground. It was kind of a production doing that. I also drove in a new ground rod and did all the cabling. Consider all that with your cost. What I get for that is crystal clear reception on most of the Atlanta stations broadcasting east of downtown, which is probably around 70 channels. [oops. just hooked up the big antenna to see, and scanned 140 channels. I usually only use it for backup when cable goes out, which is nearly never. So hadn't scanned in a few years] There's some places that still sell big outdoor antennas, I'd look at the likes of Home Depot or Lowes to start.

The once in a while I park my semi at the Atlanta Petro pointed east so my trailer isn't blocking things, a channel scan has counted up over 100. That's using a better than average indoor antenna that ran me about $60, up on a high shelf.

Hope that gives you an idea what you're missing out on. Or not. Edit to add: PM me with a phone number and a good time, and I'll talk your ear off on the topic.

Edited again: I looked in my phone app. Your success will be determined on how close to I-16 mile marker 9 you are, about 7 miles SE of downtown is where all the broadcast towers are. Good news, all the major networks and probably 20-30 channels of stuff you won't like!
 
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stols001

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THE MAJORITY of tobacco cost is taxation. Usually by the states is what causes the variations, as frankly, I think I remember hearing like Big Tobacco gets less money than the government per pack, I tried to look it up but man, all I got were a bunch of propaganda sites and whatnot, but it makes sense for a "BT" state to encourage smoking by reducing the tax, passing smoke friendly laws and etc., and yes, like less than 50% is still a profit by anyone's standards but BT states want their farmers and etc. to have jobs, not just pay less for smoking although sure, they also want you to smoke and etc.

RI, from the sounds of things, is just all around grafty, like I think it's ruled by some sort of East Coast Mafia mob of some sort, or it was last I checked, and etc.

Anna
 

JC Okie

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I’ve been smoke-free for 8 years and a month (6/30/2010) and as you can see from the banner at the bottom of my post, I’ve “saved” $22,210.50. I got that ticker back when I started here and started vaping, so it’s accurate, BUT it’s based on 2010 cig prices, which have gone up substantially since then. Of course that’s not a net number, but I can say that for the last 7-1/2 years I’ve made my own juice and coiled my own rebuildable atomizers. I vape exclusively on a mechanical mod (REO) that is indestructible. (However, I have replacement parts and can completely rebuild it-and have-if necessary.) I buy my nic, PG, VG, and flavoring in bulk. I actually keep three of us in juice and mods at all times, as my niece and nephew both vape on me and have now for 4 years. (My choice.) What little money I spend on vaping these days is for batteries (couple a year for each of us,) drip tips (just fun) and an occasional roll of wire. Because I became a devotee of a specific line of mods way back in 2011 when I first moved away from the eGos, I have avoided the traditional “shineyitis” that is so prevalent. That’s not to say I haven’t spend a bunch of money on vaping in the past 8 years, but nothing even close to $22,210.50. I probably have spent more than I think, all in all....I always felt (still do) that even if vaping cost the same as smoking, I’d still prefer vaping over smoking. So I have never really checked myself; whenever I want something vape related, I usually don’t even discuss it with myself....let alone say “no”! :lol: That said, I’m very frugal by nature.....
 
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Seiggy

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Well like many, I was able to quit smokes when I started vaping back in January of 2012. I decided then that I would keep track of all e-cig related expenses from devices, e-liquid & wire to tools. I've tried to keep track on the cost of a carton (I was a carton a week) and the cost has gone up twice since then and I need to adjust for a third rise per carton cost. So my total savings from 2012 thru 2017 (I have not calculated 2018 yet) is $10,106.84. And as mentioned by another here, getting older just shifts the savings from needs, wants and got-a-haves to medical, and all the pills they want you to use. But at least I'm not digging the dept hole any deeper (I think). Tomorrow may be another story.
 
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