To think that people who smoke aren't totally skint?

[Greedymiss]

Probably going to get shot to pieces for this, but aibu to think that if you are are buying cigarettes, then you aren't actually totally broke?

This has come from someone who has been saying that they can't afford food, but are spending between £40-£70 per week on cigarettes.

I do get that times are tough and the reason that this has made me feel angry is because it reminded me of my parents when I was growing up. We never had money for any luxuries like days out or nice clothes, because they were always poor. Yet they both smoked like chimneys and drank like fish.

Of course it’s still a choice. People quit smoking every day.

OP, are they asking you for money for food?

People decide what to spend their money on.

No-one is twisting their arm

Well done!

I switched to vaping around 8 years ago. I feel a lot less addicted but if I couldn't vape I'd probably end up back on the fags at some point.

When I was a student, back in the mid 90s, I did PT bar work. One of the places I worked was a traditional local pub. A group of male, middle aged regulars would come in straight from work every evening, have 3 or 4 pints accompanied by half a pack of cigarettes then go home for their tea. These men constantly moaned about how skint they were, yet I estimated they each spent £12-15 per day on fags & beer. That’s £25-£30 a day in today’s money. After working there, I decided I would never marry a smoker.

Yes

YANBU.

They are skint but also addicted.

They probably should not spend the money on smoking but they do.

It isn't always hard to give up. A person has to find what works for them. And what works for one person will not for another. Once you find what works then it can be easy.

It is a shame if people cannot see what they could spend the money on instead.

vapes are £2.15 on ebay. I got white peach flavour delicious. I recommend one they have changed alot since they came out. Its two day postage as well.

It's a hardcore addiction for those who are addicted rather than having just a couple of social fags.

Years ago I had a 40 a day habit (I'm disabled and wasn't even getting PIP at the time.)

I was utterly broke and unable to afford anything else except maybe food basics

Thankfully I eventually managed to give up.

Also rolling tobacco isnt that exspensive.

I don't think people are understanding how the cycle of poverty feels to the individual or the perspectives that people in poverty have.

It seems obvious with a clear mind that they should quit, and that money could be better spent.

Totally agree with this. And I have never smoked.

@WentForAWalk

£600 a month??? 😱 Bloody Hell!! Has smoking become really expensive lately or am I really out of touch? Do kids still smoke behind the bike sheds at school? And if so, how do they get the money?

True.

I stopped smoking 35 years ago, without any help - there are tablets, sprays, gums, etc., now, to help people to stop

I've never smoked, but I've read that it's as addictive as heroine, so YABU.

Plenty of people do give up smoking though, so it can'tbe impossiblefir everyone. Or maybe they could spend £20 a week on fags and £20 on food? I've little sympathy tbh.

It's about time they reduced the price of cigarettes. The biggest spenders on them are usually the poorest in society.

It depends on your personality, chemicals in your brain etc. how "easy" it is to give up smoking.

You could have gone with a different OP, e.g. 'AIBU to not give this person money?' You would have got very different responses.

No, YANBU to not give them money.

That’s not what that means at all. Why on earth do you believe prioritising cigarettes over food isn’t a choice just because you’re addicted to cigarettes? Being an addiction means that being addicted to it in itself is not a choice, the secondary decisions you make from that are still a choice.

Nicotine is extremely addictive, yes. It's not in the same league as alcohol because you won't die if you go cold turkey. Not sure of the mechanics of heroin withdrawal (I understand it's horrible but maybe not physically catastrophic if you go cold turkey)?

But of course anybody can prioritise other spending over smoking and I have no sympathy for people who claim to be unable to eat or heat their house because of their smoking habit.

When I was younger I smoked 20 cigarettes a day. When we suddenly found ourselves needing to find £10,000 out of thin air, I stopped the fags immediately. It's totally doable. The world is full of ex-smokers.

Would you think someone who spends their money on heroin instead of food was a good parent? Strange comparison. There are studies that show Haribo is as addictive as heroin.

I hope you said no?

Surely, if they wanted to quit, there is help available on the NHS - patches?gum?
I can’t really be sympathetic to people who claim to be unable to buy food/pay bills, yet still smoke. Especially if they have children.