Quitting Smoking to Save Money in Today’s Economy
Get the Flash Player to see this player.
November 18, 2009
SIOUX FALLS, S. D. - Every year, just over 4,000 South Dakotans find out they have cancer, and one of the proven ways to reduce that risk is to stop smoking. The American Cancer Society's (ACS) "Great American Smoke Out" is coming up Thursday (November 19), an annual event that has helped thousands of people quit over the last 30 years.
Denise Kolba, Health Care Partnership director for the South Dakota ACS chapter, says everyone knows the health benefits of stopping smoking -- but few may consider the economic reasons to quit. In South Dakota, for instance, cigarette taxes make up $2.54 of every pack sold.
"It really can become cost-prohibitive for some people to continue to smoke and, if it becomes cost-prohibitive, hopefully that's a great way for them to really look at their expenses."
Kolba says the ACS Web site will even help you determine how much of your hard-earned money is, literally, going up in smoke.
"On our Web site, you can find a lot of great resources, such as a 'quit calculator' that will tell you how many cigarettes you're actually smoking in a year. And then, you can calculate how much money you spend on those cigarettes."
She says research shows the smokers who are most successful in kicking the tobacco habit are those who have some means of support. SouthDakota's QuitLine pairs callers with a "quit coach" who helps them develop a plan for staying tobacco-free. The QuitLine number is toll-free, 1-866-SDQUITS (737-8487). Coaching is available Monday through Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.