Connect with us via Twitter and share Australia's best health and medical info with those close to you
PrintSummary
Smoking costs money as well as your health. Cigarettes are expensive. Quitting can save you money now and future health costs too. If you smoke one pack of cigarettes each day for ten years, you’ll spend enough money to buy a new car or put a deposit on a house.
Smoking costs money as well as affecting your health. Cigarettes are expensive and quitting can save you money now as well as saving on future health costs. If you need an added incentive to quit, think about how much of your weekly income is going up in smoke.
One packet of 25 cigarettes costs around $16 and the price keeps rising. What could you do for yourself and your family with that extra money? More than you think.
At today’s prices, if you smoke one pack of cigarettes each day for ten years, you’ll spend over $58,000 – easily enough to buy a new car or put a deposit on a house.
After one day
After one day of not smoking, you’ve got an extra $16 in your pocket. You could treat yourself to a cafe lunch or buy a couple of your favourite magazines.
The health benefits of not smoking for one day include:
- Most of the nicotine is cleared from your body
- Your blood pressure and heart rate drop towards normal levels
- Your finger tips are warmer.
After two days
After two days of not smoking, you’ve saved $32. You could go to the movies, go to the footy or cricket, or treat yourself to a lunch.
The health benefits of not smoking for two days include:
- You notice that your skin, hair and breath smell fresher
- Less carbon monoxide in your system means your lungs are more efficient.
After one week
After one week of not smoking, you’ve got an extra $112 in your pocket. You could have a facial, take someone to dinner, go to a gig, or buy a few books, CDs or DVDs.
The health benefits of not smoking for one week include:
- The small hair-like structures that clean your lungs, called cilia, are starting to work better. (Some people may cough up some phlegm for a few weeks.)
- You have higher blood levels of protective antioxidants, such as vitamin C.
After one month
After one month of not smoking, you’ve saved $490. You could go away for a weekend, cover your monthly petrol costs, or treat yourself to some new clothes.
The health benefits of not smoking for one month include:
- Your lungs are working more efficiently
- Exercising is easier
- Your immune system is starting to recover.
After three to six months
After three months of not smoking you’ve saved over $1,400. This is enough for a new computer or a plasma TV. After six months, you’ve got almost $3,000 to spend. You could take your family for a holiday in Queensland or buy a return ticket to London or the United States.
The health benefits of not smoking for three to six months include:
- You’re likely to cough and wheeze less, and cough up less phlegm
- Blood flow to your extremities, like fingers and toes, improves
- Your body is better at healing cuts and wounds
- You may feel less stressed or in a better mood than when you were smoking.
After one year
After one year of not smoking, you’ve saved $5,800. This is enough for an around-the-world plane ticket, some new furniture, or a lump sum off your mortgage.
The health benefits of not smoking for one year are that your lungs have continued to improve. Your small airways are healthier and your lung function is better than if you had kept smoking.
Other cost-saving benefits of quitting
If you quit smoking, you’ll save money in many other ways, including:
- You’re less likely to suffer from colds, the flu or other respiratory infections, which means fewer trips to the doctor, less money spent on medications and fewer sick days
- You won’t need so many visits to the dentist to have your teeth professionally cleaned
- You don’t have to spend as much time and money on maintaining the house. For example, smoking inside your home discolours paint and wallpaper
- You cut down on your cleaning bills because clothes, furniture upholstery and the interior of your car no longer smell of cigarette smoke
- The risk of fire in your home is lower.
Future benefits
The health and financial benefits of quitting continue as the years go by and include:
- Your chances of conceiving a baby improve. Smoking can cause fertility problems, such as impotence in men and a lower chance of conceiving in women. Women who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to have a miscarriage.
- Over time, your senses of smell and taste will slowly improve.
- Within two to five years, your risk of heart attack and stroke is substantially reduced. You’ve also saved between $11,000 and $30,000.
- After 10 years, your risk of lung cancer is less than half that of a continuing smoker and continues to decline (provided the disease is not already present). You’ve also saved over $58,000.
- After 15 years, your risk of coronary heart disease and stroke is nearly the same as a lifetime non-smoker. You’ve also saved over $87,000.
- Quitting smoking benefits men and women of all ages and improves health in general.
Where to get help
- Your doctor
- Your pharmacist
- Quitline Tel. 13 7848
Things to remember
- If you need added incentive to quit, think about how much of your weekly income is going up in smoke every week.
- At today’s prices, if you smoke one pack of cigarettes per day for 10 years, you’ll spend over $58,000 – easily enough to buy a new car.
You might also be interested in:
- Smoking - effects on your body.
- Smoking - quitting tips.
- Smoking - weight gain and quitting.
- Smoking and eye disease.
- Smoking and heart disease.
- Smoking tobacco is deadly.
- Smoking - quit services for diverse groups.
Want to know more?
Go to More information for support groups, related links and references.
This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:
(Logo links to further information)
The Quit logo - links to further information
Last reviewed: November 2012
Content on this website is provided for education and information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. Content has been prepared for Victorian residents and wider Australian audiences, and was accurate at the time of publication. Readers should note that, over time, currency and completeness of the information may change. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.
Smoking costs money as well as your health. Cigarettes are expensive. Quitting can save you money now and future health costs too. If you smoke one pack of cigarettes each day for ten years, you’ll spend enough money to buy a new car or put a deposit on a house.
Content on this website is provided for education and information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your qualified health professional. Content has been prepared for Victorian residence and wider Australian audiences, and was accurate at the time of publication. Readers should note that over time currency and completeness of the information may change. All users are urged to always seek advice from a qualified health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.
For the latest updates and more information, visit www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
Copyight © 1999/2013 State of Victoria. Reproduced from the Better Health Channel (www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au) at no cost with permission of the Victorian Minister for Health. Unauthorised reproduction and other uses comprised in the copyright are prohibited without permission.
