How Much is it Going to Take?

With cigarette prices going through the roof, smokers are finding it more difficult to afford the habit. According to the Center for Disease Control, the average price for a pack of cigarettes in 1970 was $0.38. With the average cost now topping $5.00 a pack, you’d think most people would be smoking themselves into bankruptcy. This price change includes an average increase of $2.00 per pack in taxes, which is tiny compared to what governments pay for healthcare for those suffering of smoking related illness. The CDC also says that over 400,000 lives are lost each year due to smoking related illnesses.

Many are quitting the habit, because of the health risks, and because of the cost. Some would not even attempt to quit if they could still get a pack for 40 cents, and the health care costs for end of life treatment for these smokers would still be rising. The cost of obtaining the cigarettes does make a difference whether people quit or not. More importantly, it keeps experimenting teens from picking up the habit.

So how much is it going to take you to quit? Will it take $5, $10, $20? Determine what that price is for you, and each pack you buy, put that amount in a jar. This will be like putting your own cigarette tax on yourself. In one month, see how much money you have collected. Then you could either donate that money to your favorite politician, or donate it to an anti-smoking organization. Whatever you do, don’t spend it on cigarettes.