Smokers will fork out more than £90,000 on cigarettes in their lifetime, a study has revealed. Research revealed the average smoker spends £27.54 a week on almost four packets of cigarettes.
That equates to £1,432 every year – almost double what it would have cost a decade ago owing to the rise in the cost of cigarettes and tax increases taking a packet of 20 from £4.51 to £7.47.
With the average Brit smoking from the age of 15 and a half, that means they will smoke £90,221 worth of cigarettes in their lifetime.
Dermot Ryan, Managing Director for electronic cigarettes E-Lites, which commissioned the research, said:
”Smoking has always been an expensive habit, but it’s staggering to see the cost in black and white.
”And it’s only going to increase as more and more tax is added on over the next few years.
”For many, the cost is a big motivator when it comes to reconsidering your smoking habit, so a price or tax increase could actually be a good thing for those who need a little extra help to cut down.
”Thinking about what else you could spend that amount of money on can really give you the motivation to seek help – especially when electronic cigarettes provide such a good alternative that can reduce the harm to both your bank balance and your health.”
The study of 2,000 smokers found that the huge cost of cigarettes means 61% will try to cut down or give up if there is another price increase in the next budget.
Six in ten admit they always try to cut down or give up altogether whenever the cost goes up.
More than half of smokers said the rising cost was a big reason for trying to cut back, while another 54% said they wanted to kick their bad habit due to health concerns.
Not wanting kids to see you smoking, no longer thinking it’s cool to have a cigarette, and the smoking ban driving smokers outside were other key reasons to address a smoking habit.
But while 61% of smokers admit they worry about the cost of their habit, 18% admit they bury their head in the sand and try to ignore how much they spend on it each month.
Another 22% claim they aren’t at all bothered about the amount of cash they have to part with to buy their cigarettes.
However, a surprising 15% of smokers even owned up to missing a night out with friends so they had enough cash to buy their cigarettes.
Another 12% have gone without fuel for their car, while 16% even claim to have put cigarettes above food when it comes to spending their cash.
Utility bills, holidays and family days out are other things smokers admit to missing so they have enough money for their next packet of cigarettes.
Due to the rising cost, 28% also said they would be prepared to smoke electronic cigarettes as a cheaper and healthier alternative.
Top five reasons for wanting to cut down or quit
1. Health concerns
2. Cost
3. I don’t want my kids to see me smoking
4. Smoking is no longer cool
5. Don’t want to go outside to smoke
Top five things people go without to buy cigarettes
1. Food
2. A social life
3. Fuel
4. Paying utility bills
5. Family days out
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