Up In Smoke 2 of 2, by Rachel Sanfordlyn Shreckengast
article page one, article page two
Cutting the Costs Associated with Smoking
You may not feel that you are able to stop smoking right now or you may not want to quit at all. This is an issue I've never seen a stop-smoking article address...some people simply don't want to quit, no other reason needed or wanted. Others want to stop eventually, but don't feel that now is the best time. Preaching doesn't help nor does goading, pushing advice or "trying to convince" someone that it's best for them. They have to be ready to quit and ready to quit on their own terms in order for it to be successful.
I'd also like to give one more piece of advice to people who want loved ones to quit smoking. Unless you have permission (from the smoker), do not EVER tell anyone/everyone else that your loved one is trying to quit. If they don't manage to quit, you've just made them feel like a complete failure (and they'll feel like saying "Well, I couldn't quit last time and everyone is bugging me about it, so I won't even bother trying again because I don't want to dissapoint anyone over it again."). Yes, it's circular logic but it also becomes a matter of pride. It's easier for someone to say proudly "Guess what, I haven't had a cigarette in 3 days!" than to hear "So, did you manage to quit this time or are you still smoking?". It actually adds to the stress of trying to quit smoking. The only exception is if you have the smoker's permission as they may be trying to quit smoking through pressure from others. Congratulate them for trying if it doesn't work rather than berating them and they'll more than likely try to quit again...and the next time they try to quit, they may well be successful.
Now that I've had my little rant, I'll tell you how to smoke more cheaply (whatever your reason). First and foremost, I'd like to discuss the costs of cigarettes. Many folks insist on smoking name brand cigarettes. In my particular area (Poconos, PA), the cheapest price (that I can find, anyway) you can buy a brand-name pack of king size cigarettes for is around $3.35 (including tax). There are 20 cigarettes in a pack, which means that each cigarette you smoke will cost you 17 cents (rounded up). A carton will cost you around $33.50. If you want to smoke brand-name cigarettes, there isn't a lot I can do to help you cut the costs. Below you will find my tips on cutting costs for name-brand cigarettes;
 Shop Around (cigarette prices can vary wildly, even in the same area)
Search for "Discount Cigarettes" on the web (you may or may not find a lower price on your brand)
"Pack" your boxes and soft packs (it's supposed to help cigarettes burn and last longer, this is why you see people pounding their cigarette packs on their palm or a flat surface - I have a friend who packs his cigarettes so hard that he once split an entire pack apart, so be wary of this particular pitfall - also, note that this isn't a tested method - it's unproven)
Get on manufacturer mailing lists (they'll usually send you coupons for brands that they sell)
Try switching to generics (in my area, you'll save a little over a dollar per pack)
Speaking of generics, this is a viable option if you want to save money on smoking. In my area, a pack of generics will cost you right around $2.00 (including tax) per king sized pack. This comes to ten cents per cigarette and $20.00 per carton. In my area (and every area has different cigarette prices), you save $1.35 per pack by smoking generics. In other words, you save $13.50 per carton.
If you still think the cost is too high, there's this brand I smoke called Niagara's (Lights - I personally think they taste like a slightly lighter & better version of Marlboro Lights, another plus is that I smoke less with this brand). It's not a generic cigarette brand, it happens to be a Native brand that you can purchase through Cigarettes S.E.N.T Direct for $10.25 a carton. This comes to $1.03 (rounded up) per pack, which is around 5 cents (rounded down) per cigarette and taxes aren't an issue. The catch is that you have to buy 4 cartons at a time. Of course, this isn't the only Native American brand of cigarettes, there are a wide variety of brands available. If you are interested in these types of cigarettes, you can find plenty of information (including comparison charts, lots of information and a taste comparison guide) at the Discount Cigarettes Shopping Guide. It's the most extensive site of its type that I've found and there is quite a bit of useful information.
There is also the option of rolling your own cigarettes. Since I know absolutely nothing about rolling your own cigarettes, I'll provide links that will give you more information on the process as well as the costs involved. From everything I've read, the costs are somewhere in between generics and Native cigarettes. Here are the links;
SoYouWanna roll your own cigarettes?
RYO Magazine
Smokers United: Smoke Cheap
Finally, you can sometimes (some are cheaper and some more expensive) save money with herbal smoking mixtures. These mixtures usually contain no tobacco or nicotine, but instead contain a variety of different herbs. They are sometimes sold as smoking cessation aids. You can purchase herbal smoking mixtures online or you can make your own mixtures. In some cases, the product is loose and needs to be rolled. The products that are sold already rolled, are generally more expensive than brand name cigarettes. Just remember that no matter what you smoke, it will get into your lungs and studies really haven't been done on the effects of smoking various types of herbs. As a result, I can't personally recommend this particular method for saving money on smoking. I include it here only for informational purposes.
I hope you've enjoyed this article and found it useful!
Best Wishes,
Rachel Sanfordlyn Shreckengast
042102
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