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Smoking cigarettes and overindulging in adult beverages aren’t good for you. That’s not exactly a mind-blowing revelation, you’re probably already very well aware of the risks of smoking and drinking. Increased risk of various types of cancer, risk of heart disease, risk of stroke: These health effects of smoking and drinking are well-known and well understood.
What you might have not yet considered, though, is how much money you could save by quitting smoking. In fact, living a healthier life is generally more affordable than living in a way that’s unhealthy.
The costs of smoking cessation options are significantly lower than the average cost of a pack of cigarettes. What’s more, you’re not likely to keep buying smoking cessation products for years on end like you will with cigarettes if you don’t quit. Likewise, if you’re prone to drinking while you smoke and vice versa, quitting one can help you quit the other.
This means that quitting isn’t just good for your health, but it’s immediately good for your wallet.
Think about how much you’re spending every month on cigarettes and alcohol. Now, imagine what you could do if you had that money back. You could invest that money, save it for a vacation, or just open a savings account for a rainy day.
Smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol frequently, and other unhealthy lifestyle choices do more than just impact your health. These activities can impact your finances immensely. Consider how much higher your medical insurance is if you’re a smoker and a drinker. That’s before you even start talking about hospital bills and lost income from missing work due to medical issues that can arise from this lifestyle.
Even if you’re not concerned about your physical well-being, consider the impact your lifestyle will have on your finances. Moreover, think about the impact it could have on the people who care about you. Not just how your decisions could affect them financially (though they could), but also how your actions affect them emotionally.
People in your life don’t want to see you harm yourself, no matter how you’re causing that harm. Maybe people close to you have pleaded with you to stop or have pulled back from your relationship instead of watching you cause more damage to your health.
These relationships can probably be healed if you’re willing to quit smoking and make a commitment to taking care of yourself. Your body–and your life–are both worth preserving.
