Warning: We’re talking serious cash here

There are still some that say that the cost of a 20-a-day habit will never be enough of an incentive to quit smoking. But have you calculated the true cost of your smoking? Well, sit down because this is going to be a shock… it could be over £250,000 in your lifetime!

A quarter of a million pounds.

That’s hardly pocket change, is it? Not only are you seriously harming your health by smoking, but you’re also making a huge dent in your bank balance too.

Now think about how you could use that money. Luxury holidays? A more impressive car? A fancier house? Paying off your mortgage?

Unless you’ve been living under a rock lately, you’ll be aware that the cost of living is shooting skywards, so cutting costs is a priority for many of us. Could cutting back on the ciggies be a cost saver for you? To find out just what savings you can make, NVee has a handy, easy-to-use calculator. Just plug in your age, how many cigarettes you smoke per day and how much you spend on them, then hit “Calculate” and sit back as the pound signs whirl around in your eyeballs.

Here are a few examples to give you an idea of how much you can save based on a pack of 20 cigarettes costing £10.

You’re probably already aware that nicotine is the addictive ingredient in traditional cigarettes and it’s this, other than habit and social reasons, that is most probably what prompts you to keep lighting up. When you start vaping you can choose e-liquids that contain various levels of nicotine that match your previous smoking habit so you can manage nicotine withdrawal more easily. Also, you can choose tobacco-flavoured e-liquids that mimic the taste of your old ciggies to make the transition even easier.

The sensation of vaping is quite different from smoking although you do get the same hand-to-mouth muscle memory. You’re still inhaling, but you’ll probably need to adjust to the different tastes and the throat hit that you’ll get from vaping.

Changing habits takes time, so stick to what you’re used to doing. If you normally have a cigarette when leaving work, having a pint in the pub, or watching TV in the evening, vape instead. Or just get out your e-cigarette when you need a nicotine hit.

If you’re a smoker, then switching to e-cigarettes is the best thing you can do for yourself. The side effects of making the shift depending on whether you decide to stick with nicotine. Because you can choose whether to use it or not and how much when you buy your very first vape kit.

To give you an extra boost of inspiration you’ll be encouraged to know how positively your body will react to the first weeks and months of vaping. Forewarned is forearmed.

How will your health improve when you make the switch to vaping?

The good news is that within minutes of switching you’ll already start to feel the benefits.

1. In just 20 minutes, you’ll find your pulse rate will drop back to near normal. Your oxygen levels also start to return to normal. You might feel a bit dizzy or lightheaded as your brain gets a sudden whoosh of the oxygen it’s been lacking all these years.
2. Within 8 hours the residual carbon monoxide in your body starts to reduce. E-cigarettes don’t produce carbon monoxide and tar, two of the most dangerous constituents of tobacco cigarettes.
3. After 48 hours your lungs will start to clear as they begin expelling mucus. You’ll likely find food and drink is much tastier than before as the receptors in your nose and mouth repair.
4. After 72 hours, according to the NHS, your breathing will be easier, and you’ll feel more energised.
5. Within a matter of weeks your blood circulation will be improved.
6. In three to nine months your lung function will increase by up to 10% and any coughs, wheezing and breathing issues will improve. Walking upstairs will be easier.
7. It’s a well-known fact that smoking cigarettes puts you at a far greater risk of a heart attack. Within just a year that risk will have halved compared to the risk you would have faced as a smoker.
8. The big news is that after 10 years your chances of dying from lung cancer will be halved compared with those still smoking.

You might not realise it, but lung cancer isn’t your only cancer risk. By switching to e-cigarettes, you reduce your chances of getting one of the other smoking-related cancers including tracheal, kidney, bowel, liver, bladder, nose, mouth, neck, oesophageal and stomach cancers, to name a few. And it’s not just your physical health that will improve: your mental health will benefit too. You will likely find your mood is better with stress, anxiety and depression all improving.

So, there are many seriously dangerous conditions that are caused by smoking, yet the threat can be easily eradicated by making the switch to vaping. Some people worry they will still be vaping nicotine. But while it’s addictive it’s relatively harmless. Plus, with the right choice of e-liquids, you can gradually reduce your nicotine intake over time, even eventually dropping down to zero if you like.

Regardless of any withdrawal symptoms you might experience, remember, they’re relatively short-lived, you will soon feel so much healthier and fitter – and your body will thank you for it.

For more information and advice about quitting smoking please see a Stop Smoking and Start Vaping guide. They have lots of information about choosing your first vaping kit plus a calculator to show you how much money you could save with e-cigarettes (in case you need any additional incentive!).

Age: 25

No of cigarettes smoked per day	5	10	20	40
Cost per Day	£2.50	£5	£10	£20
Cost per week	£17.50	£35	£70	£140
Cost per month	£76.04	£152.08	£304.17	£608.33
Cost per Year	£912.50	£1,825	£3,650	£7,300
Lifetime Cost *	£51,100	£102,200	£204,400	£408,800

Vaping Savings

The table below shows the cost of vaping and the savings you could made when compared to smoking.

No of cigarettes	5	10	20	40
E-liquid bottles per week	0.9	1.8	3.6	7.3
E-liquid bottles per year	47	95	189	379
E-liquid cost per Year	£157.58	£315.15	£630.30	£1,260.60
Savings per Year **	£754.92	£1,509.85	£3,019.70	£6,039.40
Lifetime Savings †	£42,118	£84,236	£168,473	£336,946

More Costs and Savings Over a Lifetime Smoking vs Vaping

Age 45:

Cigarettes smoked per day	5	10	20	40
Lifetime cost	£32,850	£65,700	£131,400	£262,800
Vaping Lifetime savings †	£27,020	£54,039	£108,079	£216,158

Age 55:

Cigarettes smoked per day	5	10	20	40
Lifetime cost	£23,725	£47,450	£94,900	£189,800
Vaping Lifetime savings †	£19,470	£38,941	£77,882	£155,764

*Based on the average life expectancy of 81 years (per the Office of National Statistics)

**Savings per year if you switch to vaping today based on your current age

† Savings during your lifetime if you switch to vaping today based on your current age.

Go on, and have a play with our online calculator for yourself. And if you’re still not convinced, then think about some of the hidden costs of your habit:

• Dental treatment: Smoking can have a disastrous impact on your teeth, from staining and bad breath to gum disease and even mouth cancer. Your dentist will also probably tell you to quit even as he’s banking your fees
• Smellies: Tobacco smoke lingers and clings, so you need to spend extra on products to mask the odour. This could mean dry cleaning charges, perfume, deodorant, air and breath fresheners to make you more socially acceptable
• Life expectancy: A typical life-long smoker aged 30 can expect to lose about 10 years of life expectancy compared to someone who has never smoked. Smoking can increase your risk of having a stroke or a heart attack by 50%
• Wages: If current or ex-smokers had never smoked, overall earnings could be 1.9% higher
• Life insurance: A 50-year-old smoker can expect to pay twice as much in insurance premiums as a non-smoker

It all adds up. Seriously, wouldn’t you rather have the money?

Let us help. We’re here for anyone who wants to quit smoking by switching to vaping. We have a ton of resources to help you via our Stop Smoking Support Page plus we’re on the end of the phone if you need any help choosing your ideal vape kit and e-liquid, including picking the right levels of nicotine in your e-liquids to help with the transition. Or you can always chat with us online.