Throwing a 4003 Away Every Year (Cost of Smoking)

[Tarrbot]

Well, I've determined that I am a wasteful, wasteful person.

After calculating how much I smoke and the direct costs for continuing to do so, I think it's time to give this stuff up.

Twenty years ago I smoked Camels exclusively. In the late 90s, I quit. I'm not sure why I quit other than I just quit smoking. I then proceeded to move to San Francisco for work. After about 5 months there, I started back. Camels, again. I have lots of excuses on why I started back from working too long to the anti-smoking ads (rebellion anyone?).

Regardless, that was 9 years ago and I'm still smoking. Since then, I've met a wonderful woman who unfortunately has asthma, as does her/our daughter. They tolerate the smoking but likely only because I don't smoke around them. This is to be the first sign.

I smoked for the taste and RJ Reynolds changed it completely last year. This is to be the second sign.

In my cantankerous nature, I switched over to Nat Sherman Classics. I enjoyed them in the past but finding them is often a trial as they are considered "luxury cigarettes" and not every place has them. On the plus side of this switch, I found that because they were a better tasting cigarette, I didn't smoke as much. I shaved 2 packs/week off.

Unfortunately, the side effect of switching is that Nat Sherman's are pricier. Like $2/pack more.

I've been wanting more musical equipment lately and being a bit on the miserly side for things I get myself, I sat and waited patiently on deals that never materialized.

Anyway, I was driving in to work one morning when it dawned on me how much I truly spend on smoking. Or put another way, how much I lose for continuing to smoke.

I smoke 5 packs of Nat Sherman's per week. At a cost of $8.50/pack, I spend $45 (with tax) per week. With 52 weeks per year, I average $2,340 per year in throwing money away. This is to be the third sign.

That's like buying a new Ric 4003 every year, playing it for that year and putting it in a wood pile and burning it. Then starting it all over again.

So with that in mind, I didn't buy my 5-pack carton this week. My plan is simple. Reduce your nicotine intake to near negligible levels over a three to four day period and then just stop. This will reduce the nicotine in my system, thus reducing my physical dependency on this wasteful drug. I'm not too worried about the psychologicial aspects of it. I routinely don't smoke for 5-6 hours at a time and the thing that forces me to continue smoking is the physical dependence on the nicotine.

Last Wednesday, I started cutting back on my smoking. I think I had like 12-13 cigarettes. Thursday was about the same.

On Friday morning, I had 2 full packs left. That's 40 cigarettes. Since Friday morning, I've only smoked a total of 17 cigarettes. I had 9 Friday, 5 Saturday and 3 today so far.

I may dwindle off in the next few days and dig into that last pack, but even if that's the case, I will not buy another pack of cigarettes.

Not that I need to think about burning Rics to motivate me to quit, mind you. I have 2 dear reasons that are far more important than that.

However, in about a year, I may reward myself with either a Markbass stack or another Ric (fretless maybe?).

Just thought I'd share and hopefully bring up how expensive smoking really is at the same time.

[jps]

[whojamfan]

Smoking is so expensive these days it's amazing. Anyone who can quit, do it, throw your pack a day or so habit away and put the money you would have spent on them in a jar daily. In 6 mos, after your lungs really start to reheal themselves, count your change, and start planning on what you're gonna get. You will be surprised

[winston]

I don't smoke and I never have smoked. Having said that I am not a crusader that runs around telling people to quit. I usually mind my own business.

Having read this thread I too applaud you for your determination to quit Scott. Like you, I also believe in establishing goals, even if they are only really there to provide the impetus for a change that is believed to be good or productive. Hopefully after you have a closet full of 4003's you will find some other good use for your savings...........

[Tarrbot]

Hopefully after you have a closet full of 4003's you will find some other good use for your savings...........

Hopefully, I can spend it on more productive things. Like a drum kit for someone (not me) to play when they're over or a new amp or guitar.

However, I know where it'll go.

The two that seem to think my wallet is bottomless.

And honestly, that's still better than where it was going.

Today's total. 4. Tomorrow? We'll see.

[longboard_ric]

Good luck Scott.

As we pointed out in another thread, smoking is an expensive and generally a self destructive habit with not one redeeming feature.

I adopted the same method as yourself, but I cut down over three days.

The day it became obvious that I had to stop, I reduced my intake to four only and that was tough. The next day I had two and the third day I had one. The next day was a Saturday so I made sure I was occupied all day, playing with the kids and working around the house, not giving myself any time to think about it. It became progressively easier to get by without them, but you still had to be wary of not falling back into the habit. (Just one won't hurt will it ?...........Of course it will !!!!)

Smoking was a way to keep your hands occupied as well, the action of lighting up, putting it in your mouth, removing it, flicking off the ash, for me was almost as addictive as the nicotine. And then there are the set rituals, when you get in the car, you light up, after a meal, while having a beer, the list goes on and on. For all of these you will have to find a substitute that works for you, one that breaks the habitual cycle.

Nicotine patches were not around when I stopped, and many find them helpful, but ultimately they are a substitute and you have to stop them as well: and the cost money too !!!

One action I took was to spend the money I was to save over the first twelve months, straight away. With that in mind I could not afford to buy cigarettes again. Money (and nagging partners) are great persuaders.

Personally, if I had not stopped when I did, I doubt whether I would be here today.

I am not suggesting you buy a new 4003, but you may find it is helpful!!!!!

I'd suggest given how far you have come in a few days, you throw that last pack in the fire before you open it. If you do open it you will only smoke them all regardless of how long it will take. As long as you have it, it is still a temptation and destroying it will confirm to yourself your commitment.

If you can stay off the things for a couple of days, you can stay off them forever.

Keep thinking of those new Rics.

[jimk]

I want to congratulate you on your fortitude and courage. Best of luck. I think you are headed down a very good path.
JimK

[paologregorio]

Your lungs, friends, and Rickenbacker Dealer will love you. The Michigan state government will be saddened at the loss of tobacco tax revenue however. I vote with your lungs and friends.

[collin]

Nice Scott, glad you finally figured it out! You'll live longer to enjoy the cool stuff you can buy by not smoking---double bonus!


All my friends (most of them total drunks and also smokers, and other substances), wonder how I'm always buying guitars....I remind them the current price of cocktails, crates of beer, (other said substances), and cigarettes cost.

Adds up, eh?

[1965]

ll my friends (most of them total drunks and also smokers, and other substances), wonder how I'm always buying guitars....I remind them the current price of cocktails, crates of beer, (other said substances), and cigarettes cost.

Tell me about it. Some of my friends were at a bar the other day and managed to push their tab up to $700 in two hours.

[wints]

Props to you Scott...

Apart from major illness, the $$$ cost is usually the most effective way of getting people to quit. When they think they financially must, then the psychological effect is a little easier.

Remember, just never quit trying to quit...

[tyarbrough]

All my friends (most of them total drunks and also smokers, and other substances), wonder how I'm always buying guitars....I remind them the current price of cocktails, crates of beer, (other said substances), and cigarettes cost.

Adds up, eh?

Yes this is one of the great ironies of smoking...the less money you have the more likely you are to smoke. So besides the health issues, you also have many people who could really use the money on something else burning up a lot of cash on cigarettes. Very few wealthy people are smokers. I've heard the lottery is the same way...the people who are addicted to it essentially pay a voluntary tax.

[collin]

I've heard the lottery is the same way...the people who are addicted to it essentially pay a voluntary tax.

haha....don't even get me started. The Lottery is the statewide "idiot tax" for dreamers and the desperate. Talk about keeping yourself socio-economically pinned down even further...

Tell me about it. Some of my friends were at a bar the other day and managed to push their tab up to $700 in two hours.

Damn!! That is a lot of booze. (What were they drinking, Cristal? ) They coulda just bought some liquor store hooch and had a backyard party for a fraction of that. That's like half a Ric or something....craziness...

[Tarrbot]

Just a small update.

No smokes so far today. I get up every morning at 6:15am (at the latest) so I've been up about 10 hours so far.

I've had hardly any cravings other than being a bit hungry this morning. That might be because I ate less last night, though and I don't normally eat breakfast. After lunch I did have one slight bit of desire but quickly packed that away where it belongs.

If my original quitting years ago is any indication, after the first day, it's all downhill. At this point, I'm not even thinking I need one. I eliminated the higher dosage of nicotine the last several days and it's basically on cruise control right now.

Yes this is one of the great ironies of smoking...the less money you have the more likely you are to smoke. So besides the health issues, you also have many people who could really use the money on something else burning up a lot of cash on cigarettes.

Oddly, those who did smoke and could somehow quit I find to be in a higher tax bracket, as a whole.

Not trying to paint with a broad brush here, but those who have worked to get into higher tax brackets tend to understand what it takes to get from point A to point B and are motivated to get to point B.

I know what's it's like to not be motivated and it severely sucked the money out of my tax bracket.

[kiramdear]

I started cutting back a couple of weeks ago, limiting my per-lightup dose to only one puff and then stubbing it out, and I'm down to about one cig a day. Today I stopped inhaling. With me it's always been more about the habit than the fix. It's a toughie, but I'm gonna win.