Quit smoking, save $36,000

Jun 4, 2009 5:44 PM

It’s a no-brainer. You quit smoking, you live longer, and you save money. Smoking costs the United States approximately $97.2 billion each year in health-care costs and lost productivity.

$97.2 billion? If you’re like me, you’re not convinced of the savings unless you see how the numbers directly impact you. I played around with the American Cancer Society’s cost of smoking calculator—and at one ten-dollar pack a day, I’d smoke up $280 per month and over $3,600 a year. And what if I keep that pack-a-day habit up for the next ten years? That’s over $36,000 down the drain.

Factor in the higher health insurance premiums you’re sure to pay and medical bills you could see because of smoking-related illnesses such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and lung cancer, and you’re coughing up your retirement plan, home renovations, or maybe your daughter’s college fund.

If you’re thinking of quitting, and you’re not sure where to start, here are some steps to guide you:

Set a date to quit.
Tell your friends and family you're quitting, and ask them not to offer you any cigarettes and not to smoke around you.
Talk to your doctor about getting treatment to help you quit.
Ask your doctor or another health care provider what support is available in your area for people who want to stop smoking.
If you've tried to quit before, think about why you started again and try not to fall into the same trap again.
Get rid of all the ashtrays, lighters and cigarettes in your home, your car and your place of work.
Once you get to your "quit day," don't smoke—not even one "last" cigarette.
Don't let anyone smoke in your home. Ask them to smoke outside.
When you get the urge to smoke, do something to distract yourself. Have a drink of water, go for a walk, talk to someone, get busy with a hobby or a chore you've been meaning to do.
Change your normal routine so that you don't think about when you used to smoke. For example, if you used to have a cigarette right after breakfast, have your breakfast somewhere where you can't smoke—say, in the office. Switch to tea if you used to drink coffee.
Try to reduce stress by having a hot bath, taking an exercise class, or by reading a book or magazine.
Drink lots of water and other fluids.

—Ginger Skinner

See more tips on how to quit smoking, and see our Treatment Ratings (subscribers only) to find out which drug treatments and lifestyle changes can help you.