Debates raging over electronic cigarettes have barely seemed to have left the news over the past 18 months with opposing views regarding their safety and efficacy as smoking cessation tools are called into question. Although the evidence is pointing more and more towards their safety with no official and controlled studies suggesting otherwise, a strong opposition still exists. However, one thing that cannot be doubted is the money saving potential of these new devices; millions of Britons could soon have fuller pockets thanks to the new innovation.
With the average price for a packet of 20 cigarettes currently at a staggering £7.46, a 20-a-day smoker could be spending a whopping £2,685.60 a year on the habit. As smokers will know, these prices are highly likely to rise with the ever-increasing taxation on tobacco products. Whilst giving up cold turkey would straight away free up a lot of additional cash for the smoker, this is often harder said than done.
With figures suggesting that electronic cigarettes are currently the most popular alternative to traditional tobacco products available, they may provide the more realistic money-saving avenue. A good quality and durable electronic cigarette kit will set you back less than £50. This kit could last you for the entire year with just a few further investments needed.
The vapour which is inhaled in electronic cigarettes is created by a fluid known as e-liquid. These will need to be stocked up on but last for far longer than a pack of tobacco and are not subjected to the same high level of taxation. For a comparable usage amount over a month, you will need to spend little over £20 on e-liquid – an equivalent to three days’ worth of cigarettes.
With the other extras that are needed for e cigarette upkeep, the cost of using an electronic cigarette would be roughly £75 for the first month and £40 for subsequent months. This means that the cost of using an electronic cigarette would be under £550 for the year, leading to a saving over more than £2,000 per annum. A 20-a-day smoker could simply cut down their nicotine expenditure by more than 80%.
A spokesperson for Totally Wicked e-liquid explains: “it is entirely gratifying for us to be able to save people significant amounts of money. The prices of cigarettes are getting out of hand and normal people simply can’t afford it anymore – it is getting to the point where you have to choose between smoking or a mortgage!”
The savings are so significant that they are equivalent to the average food budget of a family of four. Switching from cigarettes to e cigs could mean that you and your family effectively eat for free for the rest of your lives.