It’s a habit that many of us want to be rid of, however, according to the latest NHS statistics, almost 15% of adults in the UK are still classified as smokers.

It’s no doubt an incredibly tough habit to kick, and despite the various warnings about the negative affects it can have on our health, many people still find the allure of cigarettes too much to walk away from.

There is, however, another major factor which could sway people to move away from their smoky friends and embrace a healthier lifestyle, the money-saving aspect.

Smoking is an expensive habit to have and can affect your bank balance in more ways than you might expect. Below are a few reasons why quitting smoking could benefit you financially.

The cost of cigarettes

Cigarettes are an easy target for the government to increase taxes on. This means that as the years go by, the cost of a pack of cigarettes will rise significantly faster than most products. A cost of a pack in the UK broke the £10 mark in 2017 and has continued to rise steadily since.

Depending on your habit, this could burn a serious hole in your disposable income. For example, if you smoke a pack of cigarettes a day your monthly cigarette bill is likely to break the £300 mark!

That’s a lot of money to be literally burning a hole through!

Life insurance/ Health Insurance

Smokers who take out a life insurance policy should expect to pay significantly more than those who don’t smoke. According to data taken between January and November 2018, the average non-smoker will pay £9.96 per month for decreasing term life insurance – but a smoker would pay £21, which is a 111% increase!

It’s not just life insurance either, smokers can expect to pay a premium for their health insurance too!

The cost to society

If you think that it’s just the individual who ends up paying for smokers, think again. Research commissioned by ASH, and included in the HM Treasury consultation on the introduction of a tobacco industry levy, has shown that the total cost to society (in England) is approximately £12.9 billion a year.

This includes costs covered by the NHS for treating the diseases caused by smoking, as well as lost productivity in the workplace due to factors such as smoking breaks.

The cost of fire damage

This final point may seem a little severe, but unfortunately, it’s a pertinent one that needs to be raised. Smoking materials remain the primary cause of fatal accidental fires in UK homes.

In this case, the loss of possessions is the least of your worries. During the period between 2014-15 there 59 deaths attributed to accidental fires started by smoking materials.

Smoking is a tough habit to kick, but it’s more than worth the battle when you consider the benefits to both your health and wallet. In 2019, there are more resources available to help you try and leave the cigarettes behind. Why not give it a go?

  

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2 Responses to The Financial Benefits of Quitting Smoking

  1. the website

    on June 7, 2019 at 12:26 pm Barney Stinson

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