Smokers spend 17 days a year smoking, $2500 on habit

Aussies spend 17 days a year smoking

* Outlay $2500 supporting their habit
* Most will cut other expenses first

SMOKERS are puffing away an average 17 days a year and burning enough cash to pay for family health insurance or a holiday if they quit.

A new study has found smokers spend an average of $2500 a year on their habit, although most will cut spending on entertainment, eating out, clothing or accessories before ditching the killer habit because of economic pressure.

They are also wasting an average 17 days a year each when the time spent puffing their cigarettes is added, or a combined 49.3 million days a year as a nation, the Herald Sun reports.

After research conducted by Galaxy for Pfizer Australia, Melbourne respiratory specialist Dr Peter Holmes said that if smokers wanted to make it through the economic downturn, quitting would be a good start.

"It takes a few cents to make a cigarette and they charge about 90c each, and if someone was ripping you off like that with a television or a car you'd be on the phone to Consumer Affairs instantly," he said.
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"People would rather cut down on going to movies, eating out and buying clothes before choosing to cut back on smoking, and smoking is such a good way to put more money in their wallet - it's after-tax income."

According to the poll of 1100 Australian smokers, Victorians smoke an average of 13.5 cigarettes each day, while Queenslanders puff on 15.4.

With almost one in five Australians smoking, annual spending on cigarettes is more than $7.4 billion, but only 45 per cent of Victorian smokers said they would cut back in times of financial stress.

Tom Bialek, 48, of Lara, spends $80 a week on cigarettes but does not have the money to pay for health insurance, which would be his first priority if he quit.

For Chris Morris, 57, the money saved by quitting would take him around the world.

"If I didn't smoke I'd go on a holiday. My girlfriend is going on a boat cruise around Prague, which would be nice to afford," he said.