To wonder how people afford to smoke?

[paintingbutterflies]

I know addictions are just awful. But so many people seem to be struggling with money and smoke. I wonder where the money comes from. Do people just go without basic things?

[lynmilne65]

God yes, have been sober for 30 plus years but giving up smoking was hell!'

[MrsJoyOdell]

Yes all smokers children are desperately deprived, clearly.
I'm an on/off smoker - stress makes me pick them up but I find it easy to quit again. 30g of tobacco lasts me over a week, it's £11. I've basically swapped the wine and chocolate and it's evened out

My mother spends more on alcohol than I ever have on tobacco. She drinks an average amount for her age group IMO, every night usually, and a bottle of wine every Friday/Saturday easily. But that's fine because drinking is cool.

[ivenoideawhatimdoing]

You should all write a book.

How to lead your life exceptionally well, like we do!

By the Anti smokers of Mumsnet.

[lynmilne65]

frog in a pot

[Glumglowworm]

Ive never smoked and I hate smoking. But YABU.

It's like anything. You make choices. Some people smoke, some people but trashy magazines, some people pay for sky sports, some people have a fancy coffee every day. You're only judging the people who make a choice that you don't agree with.

[spankhurst]

It's a bit disingenuous to say that no, smokers' children don't go without. It's all relative; a poorer smoker's child must, surely, be affected materially by their parent's decision to spend family income on cigarettes? They're hellishly expensive these days.

[FooFighter99]

I wonder the same thing considering a pack of 20 now costs about £10!

DH and I both smoked, I quit when I found out I was pregnant with DD (it was all the incentive I needed after many failed attempts) and DH used an e-cig to help him quit by the time she was born (after threats of not being allowed near her if he was still smoking...

There's no way we could afford to smoke now though!

I feel sorry for those who struggle to quit but also struggle to make ends meet. It must be very frustrating

[noeffingidea]

I used to smoke, up to 40 a day. Can't remember how much they cost then.
My children had far more than what I ever had and neither of my parents smoked.
I proritised smoking over things like a car (I don't drive), prosecco, spa treatments, make up, hair extensions, nail treatments, spending hundreds of pounds on my weekly food shop, buying expensive clothes, jewellery, all things that seem quite popular on mumsnet.
Now I don't smoke I still don't spend money on those kinds of things. Guess I just have simple tastes.
Hope this helps, OP.
Oh, just to add, many people don't pay shop prices for their fags. They buy them from dealers which means the govt loses out on the tax.

[Ragwort]

So many judgey comments - I don't smoke, but I do spend money on expensive coffee and wine.

You can judge anyone for spending if it doesn't fit your own values- I can't believe the sums of money people spend on the 'style and beauty thread' - but clearly this gives enjoyment to many people - or what about all the waste at Christmas when people spend a fortune on unnecessary presents and other crap? (and then get into debt - you see this every single year on Mumsnet).

Of course it is awful if children are going without basics - but this applies to whether the money is spent on cigarettes, drink, gym habits, flash cars or whatever.

[BabychamSocialist]

I gave up a while ago (over 10 years) and used to smoke 20 a day. I picked up some cigs for my friend the other day and couldn't believe it when they were over a tenner!

I'm glad I gave up when I did, I'd feel guilty at spending so much now, but I don't judge anyone who smokes - it's an addiction like any other.

[StickThatInYourPipe]

Literally cannot believe how many threads on smoking there has been recently! This is the fifth one bag I have seen in two days.

I quit smoking and didn't notice a huge book in my bank account - I spent about £8 a week as I would smoke roll ups and 50g would last about 2 - 2.5weeks.

[sororitynoise]

My parents would go to the fag counter to buy 3 packs of 24 before they did the food shop in Asda.

Whatever was left over was the food budget for 3 kids and 3 adults.

Tell me smokers aren't selfish.

[ivenoideawhatimdoing]

sororitynoise smokers aren't selfish. Your parents are.

[Cyc10ne]

@ivenoideawhatimdoing

What a horribly judgemental thread.

Do you all drink? How dare you spend money on alcohol when your children will be destitute!

The average bottle of wine costs 7/8 quid. Similar to a packet of tobacco/most cigarettes and in many cases doesn't last as long. A few bottles of nice wine/ale will cost as much/more than many parents cigarettes.

But bloody hell, lets flame parents who smoke. It's tobacco, not heroin get a grip.

They spend money like normal people spend on alcohol/magazine/dvds/netflix... all adult things. Most people don't pawn their children's shoes for some fags.

Reading this you'd think that a cigarette was akin to the cost of a mortgage payment. Get over yourselves

I don't smoke and I do drink (in moderation) but this is a great post.

[sororitynoise]

The cost is one thing but the damage to Heath, use of NHS resources etc is just unbelievable- smokers are disgusting.

I truly believe any parent who smokes with children (or smokes during pregnancy) should be monitored very closely as they clearly do not care about the implications of their actions on the health of their children.

[BabychamSocialist]

sororitynoise

Smokers pay far more into the NHS via income tax and the huge taxes on tobacco than they're ever likely to take out. Smokers effectively are taxed twice. It's one of the reasons the govt. won't ban smoking - it's too big of a money earner for them.

[Jayne35]

I used to smoke cigarettes - until they were £5 a pack then Tobacco. I gave up for over two years then started again - didn't actually notice the money saved as it just got frittered on other things, I'm smoking cigarettes again now and 10 per day is costing £29.40 a week.

Yes it's expensive but I have friends who spend much more than that on their hair, nails, eyebrows etc. I doubt very much their DCs miss out, just as mine never have.

[StickThatInYourPipe]

BabychamSocialist exactly! If the govt. actually wanted the whole population to stop smoking they would make it an illegal drug and not something you can easily buy at the supermarket!

[x2boys]

Because certain shops sell knock off tobacco and packets of cigs for around £3?

[Cocklodger]

Because 50g of tobacco and filters papers etc for the week likely wouldn't be more than £20 a week and that's if you're a heavy smoker. I used to pay (left the uk just a few months ago) £17,50 per week for 50g plus papers. Hardly breaking the bank and would last me 7-10 days
Cigarettes are very expensive though.

[paintingbutterflies]

Isn't it the case that poorer people are more likely to smoke, though?

If you have plenty of money you can afford high end makeup, coffees and holidays. If you are living on less than £1000 a month then smoking must be a huge percentage from that.

[Cocklodger]

Cigarettes maximum £80 a month.
Rent and council tax £500
Utilities (water, gas electric) £110 a month.
Travel etc £50 a month
Mobile phone pay as you go £15 a month.
Food £110 a month...
all adds up to under £900 (excuse my 1am
Sleep deprive maths)
These are the expenses I had when I last lived in the uk. I've left now but it was less than a year ago, I also had extra expenses but they weren't essentials.

[LurkingHusband]

Grow your own ?

www.coffinails.com/growing.html