I used to be a smoker so I know firsthand how hard it is to quit.
For me, it was so excruciating, torturous, and miserable that I would never start again.

Yes, the pain of withdrawal was terrible, but quitting was worth it for lots of reasons. First I am healthier since I quit and second, I am definitely richer since I don't spend all that money on smokes.

Thanks to a calculator on the www.cancer.org web site's "Great American Smoke-Out" link, I determined that the cost of my cigs, based on the measly $1.50 a pack that I used to pay for my pack-a-day habit way back when, would be $13,696.50.

Well, of course, cigarettes now cost about $4 - $5 a pack, so we're talking about even more serious money — in the neighborhood of $36,000 - $45,000 — if we calculate smoking a pack a day for 25 years starting now.

Well, they say money talks. So I'm hoping to convince you that quitting smoking could be your ticket not only to better health, better breath and better-smelling clothes, car and home, but also to a substantial chunk of disposable income for you to spend on other things, such as trips or electronics, food or entertainment, or even a hefty down payment on a home.

Financial Reasons to Quit

An MSN Money article on smoking concluded: "The financial consequences of lighting up stretch far beyond the cost of a pack of cigarettes. Smokers pay more for insurance. They lose money on the resale value of cars and homes. They spend extra on dry cleaning and teeth cleaning. Long term, they earn less and receive less in pension and Social Security benefits."

Smoking a pack a day would cost you as much as $1,400- $1,800 a year.

Smoking a pack a day would cost you $14,000 - $18,000 over 10 years.

Health Insurance for people who smoke increasingly involves a surcharge.

Take a minute to think of all the fun and good things you could do with that money if you weren't spending it on nasty ole stinky smokes.

Health Reasons to Quit

• 20 minutes after quitting: Your heart rate and blood pressure drop. After 12 hours, the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
• 2 weeks to 3 months after quitting: Your circulation improves and your lung function increases.
• 1 year after quitting: The excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker's.
• 5 years after quitting: Stroke risk falls to that of a nonsmoker.
• 10 years after quitting: The lung cancer death rate is about half that of a smoker's. The risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, cervix and pancreas decrease.
• 15 years after quitting: The risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmoker's.

Source: American Cancer Society

I'm not blowing smoke about this. At least think about it! Check out the www.cancer.org web site, or Nicotine Anonymous, or your county health department for programs that might help you or someone you love kick the habit.

Mary Hance
aka Ms. Cheap
Check out my blog page at www.tennessean.com/mscheap
615-259-8282