How Much Does Smoking Really Cost?
Smoking is an expensive habit, but in more ways, than you may think. If a person smokes a $5 (with costs rising yearly) pack a day, every day, they are spending just over $1800 a year. This may or may not seem like a lot to you, but there are so many other costs that go beyond the cost of cigarettes. Below are some of the more hidden costs associated with smoking.
Life Insurance: Statistics show that smokers die at a younger age than nonsmokers. This raises the cost of life insurance. Smokers can pay almost double the premium of nonsmokers.
Health Care: Smoking causes many health issues. A smoker spends more money going to hospitals and doctors than most non-smokers. Co-pays for doctor visits add up.
Medications: The increase in health problems due to smoking forces people to have to take more prescription medications.
Home Owner’s Insurance: You may not think that smoking and owning a home are directly related, but they are. Smoking raises the risk of house fires, which then raises homeowner’s insurance premiums.
Value of The House: Smoking in a house can greatly decrease its value. The smell left from smoking settles into the carpets and walls and even leaves a residue that is not desired by non-smokers. With these negative effects, a person is less likely to want to buy a house that has smoke damage than one that does not. They might make a much lower offer than the asking price because of the cost that will be incurred to remove the smoke damage.
Value of Possessions: Net worth is partly calculated by the value of things you own. Exposing items to cigarette smoke greatly reduces their value, which ultimately reduces your net worth.
Car Resale Value: Just like how a house loses value when it is smoked in, so does a car. The car becomes less appealing to the non-smoker, ultimately decreasing its value.
Earn Less Money: Studies have shown that smokers have less opportunity in the workforce. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) National Workrights Institute estimates that thousands of companies in the US refuse to hire smokers.
Cost of Cleaning: Smokers spend more money than non-smokers keeping their cars, clothes, and houses clean. Smoking tends to wear out items faster than normal, causing smokers to purchase new items.
Dental Care: Smokers have more dental problems than non-smokers. The more trips to the dentist, the more money out of your pocket. In addition, smokers spend countless dollars on toothpaste to whiten smoking stains and breath fresheners to disguise their breath after smoking.
Smoking really takes a toll on your pocket. The costs can be astronomical. This is only the financial side of it. The actual health effects can be enormous as well.