Changes in alcohol & tobacco consumption?

**Mamaof2rugrats** · 06-14-2008, 01:04 PM

I don't smoke so I've never had that expense. I usually only drink hard liquor a few times a year which just consists of picking up some Jack Daniels so about 20.- a time.
I do tend to buy a deal of ( 18 I think) longnecks and they will sit in my fridge for months at a time. I just don't drink much , but every once in awhile might drink 1.
My DF smokes. Really trying to get him to quit before we get married. He smokes between 1 and a half to 2 pack a day. Talk about an expensive habit!

**FrugalWitch** · 06-14-2008, 08:00 PM

I quit smoking cold turkey four years ago. I had smoked over a pack a day for almost 25 years when I quit. My incentive was a diamond ring I had wanted desperately. DH said he would put it on lay-away and every week that I remained totally smoke-free he would make a payment. There was also the rule that if I started smoking after I got the ring it would have to be returned or sold. I love that ring!

DH and I rarely drink. He has maybe 1 beer and 1 rum & Pepsi a week. I'll have either a Margarita or a Bailey's twice a month.

**brainyblonde** · 06-14-2008, 08:38 PM

Quit smoking for health reasons long ago.

I am a somewhat less than social drinker, but I enjoy the occasional glass of good wine and DH enjoys a few beers or margaritas when the mood strikes.

And, no, there's no wolf at my door, either.

**Michelle** · 06-14-2008, 08:48 PM

I've never smoked, and I don't drink often, so nothing has changed in this area for me

**Brat** · 06-14-2008, 10:28 PM

I quit smokeing 14 months ago because of the price...was a 4 pk a day smoker....everything has gone up so much since and all of husbands medical bills that haven' seen any of the money yet...

Here you can't smoke anywhere but your own home and only if you don't have small children...so guess that it is good that I quit....

**Missourimom** · 06-14-2008, 11:49 PM

Originally Posted by AmyBoz

People will sit in their yards, smoking a cigarette and drinking a beer while they watch the repo man taking their belongings away.

Wow, what an offensive and totally off the wall remark. Just a tad judgmental, don't ya think?

Anyway, my dh and I stopped buying cigarettes and starting ordering our tobacco. We purchased a little machine for $35.00 and we make our own now for about $1.00 a pack.

I'm so glad we did this so the repo man won't take our stuff.

**annymoll** · 06-15-2008, 12:04 AM

Originally Posted by AmyBoz

I'm sure that people who are serious drinkers and smokers aren't going to change one darn thing about their vices, due to economic woes.

People will sit in their yards, smoking a cigarette and drinking a beer while they watch the repo man taking their belongings away.

And curse and blame the repo man as well!!!!I will never forget being young and seeing this first hand. We had friends who RENTED furniture from one of those rental places. They smoked and drank away the money for their payments . We happened to be there when the repo man came, and they cussed and all but spat in his face,blaming HIM. I remember thinking, "You people are crazy"It was both funny and sickening at once.

**karone** · 06-15-2008, 03:44 AM

dont smoke and drink rarely so nothing will change.

**inneedofhope** · 06-15-2008, 01:35 PM

annymoll- my bil is in the furniture rental business- he deals with it every day, christmas is the worst- having to repo the kids new bed because mom and dad drank the $$ (small town, know that's what happened cuz saw them in the bar with the cash).

I haven't yet adjusted my consumption, but will b quitting the cancer sticks any day now. I keep pulling the patch off saying try again tomorrow. Some of it is cost, some of it breathing issues and pain, ds, most of my friends and co-workers are non smokers, and it doesn't do much for my professional image. My main reason is I am terrified of dying a slow painful early death. When i started up again after 6 yrs smoke free all i was thinking about was my emotional plight and that immediate little high to escape. Thought I could control it and just be a "social" smoker. HA HA. Yeah- bad idea, and stupid way to punish myself.
I don't drink much, even less now. I haven't really wanted to lately. Both the $ and how it makes me feel. I take medication that I'm not supposed to drink with anyway.

I am reducing my soda consumption drastically. The cost factor is the main reason, health second. I can't keep guzzling the $$ with the gas and oil prices.

**ironmaiden** · 06-15-2008, 07:48 PM

We used to buy bottles of wine. Now we do a box in the fridge.
We'll have one glass after the kids go to bed.

My father was 67 when he died that slow miserable and painful death from lung cancer.

**Jeanna** · 06-16-2008, 08:35 AM

Originally Posted by AmyBoz

I'm sure that people who are serious drinkers and smokers aren't going to change one darn thing about their vices, due to economic woes.

People will sit in their yards, smoking a cigarette and drinking a beer while they watch the repo man taking their belongings away.

So true! I smoked when I was a teenager ( I know, I know) but have been quit for 22 years now. Never been much of a drinker, of course tried it when young, but do not drink at all now. So that doesn't really effect us. Unfortunately my husband is a dipper. I had gotten him to quit and he had stayed quit for 20 years and then started back again. More for his health than the money I wish he would quit again.

**jkelstaten** · 06-16-2008, 08:59 AM

I've never in my adult life smoked or drank, so nothing for me to change.

**frugal_z** · 06-17-2008, 12:53 AM

I have chewed tobacco since junior high and started binge drinking in high school. While in college I also started smoking cigars. At the height of my alcohol and tobacco use, I would estimate my expenses at over $100 a week. Only after suffering significant health issues six years ago did I quit cold turkey. I recently started chewing again, about one can every other month and I drink maybe one beer a month. I have asthma so no more smoking ever again.

Originally Posted by ErikM02

I don't smoke (cigs) but do have a problem with binge drinking (only on the weekend).

I mostly have started buying cheaper stuff at the liqour store. What I try to do is drink and get a good buzz going before I visit my point of interest for the day. However I've been staying home a lot lately because I have no money.

I know binge drinking is horrible and I'm fighting my own personal demons to quit binging. I'm going to do my best to not drink hard alcohol and just stick to beers...

ErikM02 - Beers only is a good first step. Best of luck, brother.