Jobina was talking to one of our neighbors the other day. They were talking about "life" stuff and Jobina asked the person how their attempt to quit smoking was going. Apparently, it was not very good. The neighbor mentioned that the disappointment of not being able to go cold turkey was bad, but what was more depressing was that they were still spending over $300 a month on smokes. This neighbor smokes about a pack a day.
$300 a month on cigarettes! Oi Vey! This was shocking to me, how could anyone spend that much a month on something that is hurting you? Jobina and I were talking about it this morning; what would we do with an extra $300 a month? I was thinking that with that much money I could afford premium cable, date nights with my wife, books, etc. Just so you know that would be $3600 for a year - which would be enough to buy a used car, go on a nice tropical vacation, or buy yourself new living room and dining room furniture. It gets worse though; imagine that you smoked for 10 years, you'd be out $36o00! That's enough for a downpayment on a home, a new SUV, or much of your kids college. Of course if both you and your mate smoke a pack a day you are looking at $600 a month, $7200 a year, and $72000 over a decade. Ouch!
I have never tried smoking and thus have never experienced having to find the motivation to quit what is arguably a terribly addicting habit. But for $300 a month extra in my pocket I would quit! After I started thinking about all the things I could buy (and this may sound weird) I found myself jealous that I did not smoke (and thus could not quit and save myself a couple of hundred dollars every month)! Sure it would be tough, but for me I think the motivation of the money would be enough to quit. What would you do with an extra $300 a month?
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7 comments:
Its not so simple though. Remember its only $10 every time you buy a pack. I agree it adds up, but there are many things that people spend money on to feel good, and may not be good for them. I'm thinking eating out is one where I am guilty. So easy to 'forget' to bring a lunch, and by the time its lunchtime, I can very easily justify the $7-10 for a quick bite as I can't work when I'm hungry. And its usually fast food or severely deep fried chinese buffet food. But now that $7-10 every day or even 3 days a week adds up to an astronomical amount of money vs the $2-3 it would cost to make your lunch at home.
No offense, but very obviously written by someone never trapped in "the habit".
(don't mean to rain on your parade)
I don't think their was a parade to rain on. He did say that it's a "terribly addicting habit". What Mark and I were doing was just dreaming...if we had something that we usually spent $300 a month on and then quit it, what would we spend the money on? Personally? I'd put Trinity in preschool, I'd get a membership to the "Y" and maybe a bus pass for me and Riker so I could get around without hating the feeling of it costing me so much every time. Oh, and I might get cable again.
Terry: You are correct in saying that small daily costs add up of course. Are you saying then that the money shouldn't be enough motivation as we do this with other things? When these costs are for something that harms you (fried foods) or something that hurts you and those around you (smoking), the question then becomes - why are we doing it and at what cost? What makes someone buy the fried food everyday vs making a healthy lunch at home? What makes someone continue smoking when they know its hurting them? And most importantly - what's stopping them from stopping?
Anonymous: Thanks for commenting. This is just my opinion of course, but not being "trapped" in a habit does not necessarily disqualify a person from commenting on it - sometimes those grappling with addictions are the people with the least accurate perspective on what is happening to them/what they are choosing to do! That being said, like everyone I have my addictions - they are just different ones. People are by nature addicts - using compulsive behavior and thoughts to deal with the "stuff" in their lives. We are all addicts in one way or another.
Anyway, I digress. What I was trying to say in my opinion post was that for me, $300 a month would be an extremely strong motivation to quit. And yes, I find it difficult to understand those for whom it would not. The Tipping Point (by Malcolm Gladwell) has research that shows that ability to quit smoking is very different with different people, for many it is simply finding enough strong motivation to go through the discomfort of cessation. Helping clients find the motivation powerful enough to help them make changes is challenging but fulfilling work. Some motivations (besides the monetary one) that I've mentioned included social reasons, threat of cancer/death, inability to perform in sports, not growing old enough to see one's children/grand children, a desire for self-mastery, to save one's marriage/job, to be a role model to one's children, to find a mate, to please God, etc.
Jobina: Thanks for sharing! We will get cable again . . . someday!
I think my point was more the 'instant gratification vs long term benefit'. When I'm hungry (or craving a cigarette, or whatever it may be) its easy to justify the $10, and easy to forget that it adds up to lots of money.
Also, $300 may be a great motivator for some, and a non-starter for others. It is a testament to the save vs spend mentality that has developed in our society over the past 3 to 4 decades.
Also might explain why our economy is so consumption driven.
What is bad about smoking? On my mother's side of the family the only surviving sibling is the long-term smoker. For $300/month I may take up the habit.
p.s. don't mind me these days.
~Stacey
"...the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil... (1 Timothy 6:10)"
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