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?

'I don't owe money to no one! I love my amber leaf! You're all perfetic!'

Why should parents buy their children everything they want? You seem to think that all disposable income should be spent on the children and the adults shouldn't have anything to spend on themselves

I totally agree with this comment. Personally I don't smoke but do drink but equally I certainly don't buy my teenager everything he wants - what a bizarre idea - I am sure he would love designer clothes, an iPad, tickets to concerts & whatever else it is that teenagers want but he understands that he needs to save up for these things from birthday/Christmas money and a part time job. I probably could afford to 'buy' him more luxuries but I don't think it would help him long term and I prefer to save for my own pension .

I've earned (before tax), £124 today. I'm off for a fag, in my garden, that I feckin own.

Have to say i'm a bit at people comparing a gym membership to smoking. I dont care whether people smoke, thats their business, but a gym membership is an investment in your health and longevity

No, but their children probably do

I worked with someone who with her partner got through 4 packets a day but "couldn't afford" to continue paying for her daughter's music lessons. Weekly music lessons cost a fraction of an 80 fag a day habit.

I was pondering the same question yesterday evening. There was a huge queue for a food bank in Covent Gdn / The Strand, and it took me a moment to process what the crowd was waiting for. A good number of the homeless were smoking. So desperate for food (cheap compared to smoking) they were prepared to spend what little money they had on cigarettes instead? I don't begrudge them a meal, but smoking has always been in my view unaffordable, why would you do it?

I am familiar with the nature of addictions, but nicotine can be beaten without support if someone has the choice between smoking and starving.

When I smoked I didn't buy myself nice clothes or go on holiday. I never went 'without' life is so much better now but I don't judge because it was the hardest thing I ever did quitting!

Most people I know on low incomes who smoke either use roll ups or buy bootleg cigarettes. Very few would be paying full shop prices.

I've been on benefits for a long time and it's very tight at times but I don't smoke or drink so I've found it just about manageable to meet food/utility bills. Paying for cigarettes or even roll ups definitely make a difference on a low income. But then I have other luxuries like paying for activities for the dc so I suppose if I were addicted to cigarettes I'd cut things like that out.