to wonder if you smoke how can you afford it?

[Member869894]

I almost fell over today to see someone spend over a tenner for a packet of fags. I gave years ago when they were about three pound a packet. How do people afford it??

I spent no other money on myself at all when I was smoking. So whereas my friends would get their hair done, waxing, nails, occasional clothes shop, shoes etc, I just didn’t spend anything else on myself.

Now I’ve quit I have money to occasionally treat myself (okay, mostly I treat the kids).

Some people spend hundreds of pounds a month on a car whereas DH drives a car that cost us £1500 three years ago 🤷‍♀️

I can afford it but I hate it. The money I spend is awful but I do enjoy it

I would love to roll my own but have never mastered it.

I absolutely loved smoking. I found quitting extremely hard until I tried vaping with nicotine salts liquid - absolutely revolutionary.

I still crave a cigarette occasionally but had a few puffs on a friend’s recently and it was really gross. In my head it’s totally different.

My DM prioritised smoking above having enough food and being able to go out. I was a very isolated child and teenager who was always in the house alone, I was desperate to go out with the other kids to brownies or ballet or band practice but we couldn’t afford it. I self harmed and attempted suicide because I was so lonely and depressed... but at least mummy had her fags.

We're not exactly rolling in it but I afford it because it's my one "luxury". I don't do coffee fancy or otherwise,no interest in makeup, shoes,bags etc. Not overly fussed about going out....you get the point.
I get my nails done once a month and smoke,that's it.

DD is flatting with two girls who dropped out of uni and are only working casual hours but are both smokers. T

hey never have any money, and it is often DD and the other flat mates having to cover their share of power / electricity as they can't afford to pay. Yet they can afford cigarettes.

Pisses DD right off.

I quit smoking many years ago, but you know what? I've always said that if my (non-smoking related) illness returned, I'd not have further treatment but would go with the flow, accept that I'd die sooner rather than later -and light up and smoke like a chimney until whenever

I think it's ironic that those that can't afford it do. I think it's a class thing.

No idea. I always smoked Marlboro reds and they were expensive even back then, now I think they’re £11 . I smoked 3-4 packs a week as well so it would be absolutely eye watering nowadays.

Haven’t smoked for years thankfully and I don’t know anyone who does.

My next door neighbours have just had their third baby so the girl has given up work. They supposedly are hard up and yet they both smoke.

Not sure how many they smoke but she always seems to be in the garden puffing away. I get my dogs in now if she is out there as they kept coming in stinking of smoke.

She is 30 and she sounds just like old man Steptoe coughing every day.

I think people just prioritise it over other things as well.

Another vapist here, I'd urge anyone who wants to quit smoking to give it a try. Don't be put off with all the jargon that comes with vaping, just go to your nearest store and tell them you want a basic starter kit. You should be able to get set up for around £20.
Even cheaper is the 88 Vape kit they sell at Home Bargains and The Range. Not the best quality, granted, but great for an introduction and the liquids do taste quite nice.

Well if you’re my DM, you afford it by not spending money on other things regardless of whether or not your family actually needs them. Growing up she could never afford food that wasn’t cheap crap, she couldn’t afford decent school shoes that didn’t fall apart or clothes that weren’t hand-me-downs from all and sundry... oh, but there was always money for cigarettes!

It's madness a pack of your generic benson and hedges sets you back 8.99, super kings around 9.99. I sell cigs as part of my current job and it's kind of upsetting to see the same people buying a packet everyday.

A pack of fags for 300 days is £2697. That's a maddening amount

To the smokers on here do please consider the health risks. They aren’t just theoretical. I know 3 people who died from smoking related cancer (and yes it was def the cigarettes that caused it! The lung cancer they had only effects smokers). Watching your mum die at 60 from this addiction is no fun, my cousins also had to watch their guardian die from this too.

When I used to smoke a pack was about £7.50. Then I switched to rolling tobacco which was marginally cheaper but still. I do wonder how on earth I ever afforded it.
Started smoking again after having DD, using rolling tobacco. Me and DH were going through a 30g pouch every 4-5 days.
Got pregnant with DS and back on my vape, still on it. This thread has strengthened my resolve to not go back to smoking!

I often wonder this, I'm in Australia and I think they are around $40 a pack.

I smoke a pipe and I buy my tobacco in Spain when on holiday. One third of the UK price.

I am aware of the health risks. My choice.

I recently discovered that accendo is right, in Australia smokes retail at around £21. I was stunned.

Even more stunned because I learned it from a group of fruit-pickers I employed who are single mums on benefits. Working for me for ‘extra pocket money’ that went straight to buying fags. Easily a pack a day, each. But when they aren’t working, they still spend the same. I saw first hand how many ways their kids are deprived- torn thin clothes, junk food to eat, no dental appointments. Let alone the constant 2nd hand smoke.

It was eye-opening to see these young women doing hard physical labour, often in the rain, for long shifts (chosen by them) because they wanted money for ‘the kids’. Except the kids actually needed the £20 per day that went on fags. I’ve obviously been sheltered, I’ve never seen addiction in action quite like that.

To answer the OP, most people can’t afford it. But the addiction tells you it’s ok to replace many of life’s necessities with cigarettes, and I guess people do it that way. Quitting seems expensive too, I guess.

Working in a supermarket kiosk in the mid 00’s really opened my eyes. Kids in the queue would ask for sweets or even just a drink and be told by their parents they couldn’t afford it, then the parent would put £20-£50 of cigarettes on their credit cards

Then there was the lottery which I was shocked how many people spend £20 a week on!!

It’s not just a class thing. I went to a naice middle class grammar - my friends all smoked, as did many of my family. Went to a red brick uni on a creative arts course, most fellow students smoked. Worked in media / creative jobs, most people very middle class but huge number of smokers. Live in an affluent area and there are plenty of smokers.

People often don’t understand the severity of this addiction for many users - allegedly as addictive as heroin and you can buy it in your local corner shop legally.

Smokers are also much more likely to have mental health issues and / or a history of abuse/DA than non-smokers.

You don’t need to tell smokers the heath risks. They know them. Telling them changes nothing. They need support to quit, which the government is cutting left and right.

Vaping did nothing for me previously and nor did NRT via any form, but nicotine salts liquid enabled me to quit with very little trouble and I was a very addicted longterm heavy smoker. If anyone wants to try it but has no idea where to start, you can buy very easy pod systems these days. Sites like Vape U.K. are really informative and will give great advice on what you need or just go into your local shop but definitely ask for nicotine salts.

I remember sitting in the living room with my mum and I honestly couldn't see her through the smoke. I must have stunk going to school

Firstly, I am a smoker. I am addicted.
I go without to finance it. Luckily I work abroad and buy them there. Or should I say I buy tobacco there as I have been smoking roll ups now for 6 years due to the cost of my habit.
As an addict I really don't appreciate your ill informed judgements and pious comments about us addicts.
Secondly, don't you know that these threads always end up in a bun fight?
Ye who live in glass houses yadda yadda.
It must be hard for you being so perfect

@OneTownsVeryLikeAnother that's really sad.

Reading the previous posts, I think the addiction must be really strong. I knew a nice, normal mum once who let her kids have sore feet in too small shoes and they sometimes didn't have coats. She couldn't afford new ones but always have booze and fags at home. Not the same as letting them eat out of bins but I never really got it.

This was a few years ago, no idea if she's still smoking but I doubt she would be able to afford it.

About 10 years ago when they were relatively cheap, my ex used to buy knock off tobacco from his work mate. He didn't realise until about a year in, checked the serial numbers on the packs and they were all the same. No knowing what it did to his health. Unfortunately some people will look for a cheaper option first and it can be even more unhealthy than the real thing.can only imagine this is more common now they're so expensive.

Go on lots of holidays to Europe and buy duty paid. DH has been stockpiling pre-Brexit