Smoking - the financial cost

Smoking costs money as well as affecting your health. Cigarettes are expensive and quitting can save you money now, as well as saving on future health costs.

If you need an added incentive to quit, think about how much of your weekly income is going up in smoke. One packet of 20 cigarettes costs around $39 and the price keeps rising. What could you do for yourself and your family with that extra money? More than you think. At today's prices, if you smoke one pack of cigarettes each day for 10 years, you'll spend over $140,000 - easily enough to buy a new car (or 2) or put a deposit on a house.

After one day of not smoking

After one day of not smoking, you've got an extra $39 in your pocket. You could treat yourself to a cafe lunch or buy some phone credit.

The health benefits of not smoking for one day include:

• Most of the nicotine is cleared from your body.
• Your heart rate slows to a normal rate and your blood pressure is more stable.
• Your finger tips are warmer.

After 2 days of not smoking

After 2 days of not smoking, you've saved $78. You could take a friend to the movies, go to the footy or cricket, or treat yourself to a meal at a restaurant.

The health benefits of not smoking for 2 days include:

• Your skin, hair and breath smell fresher.
• Less carbon monoxide from smoke in your system means you're breathing more easily.

After one week of not smoking

After one week of not smoking, you've got an extra $270 in your pocket. You could have a massage and a facial, take the family to dinner, go to a gig, or buy some new clothes.

The health benefits of not smoking for one week include:

• You have higher blood levels of protective antioxidants, such as vitamin C.
• Your sense of smell and taste may improve.

After one month of not smoking

After one month of not smoking, you've saved $1,200. You could go away for a weekend, cover your petrol costs for a few months, or buy a new TV.

The health benefits of not smoking for one month include:

• Your heart is working more efficiently.
• Exercising is easier.
• Your immune system is starting to recover and your body is better at protecting cuts and wounds from infection.

After 3 to 6 months of not smoking

After 3 months of not smoking, you've saved $3,500. This is enough for a new computer and your internet costs for a year. After 6 months, you've got nearly $7,000 to spend. You could take your family for a holiday to Queensland.

The health benefits of not smoking for 3 to 6 months include:

• The small hair-like structures that clean your lungs, called cilia, are working better.
• You're likely to cough and wheeze less, and cough up less phlegm.
• Blood flow to your fingers and toes improves.
• You may feel less stressed or in a better mood than when you were smoking.

After one year of not smoking

After one year of not smoking, you've saved over $14,000. You could buy some new furniture or pay a lump sum off your mortgage.

The health benefits of not smoking for one year are that your lungs have continued to improve. Your small airways are healthier and your lung function is better than if you had kept smoking.

Other cost-saving benefits of quitting

If you quit smoking, you'll save money in many other ways, including:

• You're less likely to suffer from colds, the flu or other lung infections, which means fewer trips to the doctor, less money spent on medications and fewer sick days.
• You won't need so many visits to the dentist to have your teeth professionally cleaned.
• You won't have to spend as much time and money on maintaining the house. For example, smoking inside your home discolours paint and wallpaper.
• You'll cut down on your cleaning bills because clothes, furniture upholstery and the interior of your car no longer smell of cigarette smoke.
• The risk of fire in your home is lower.

Future benefits of not smoking

The health and financial benefits of quitting continue as the years go by and include:

• Your chances of conceiving a baby improve. Smoking can cause fertility problems, such as impotence in men and a lower chance of conceiving in women. Women who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to have a miscarriage.
• Over time, your sense of smell will continue to slowly improve.
• Within 5 years, your risk of stroke is substantially reduced. You've also saved $70,000.
• After 10 to 15 years, your risk of developing lung cancer is half that of a person who continues to smoke. You've also saved over $140,000.
• After 20 years, your risk of coronary heart disease and stroke is nearly the same as a person who has never smoked. You've also saved over $280,000.
• Quitting smoking benefits men and women of all ages and improves health in general. Remember that the rate and extent of recovery can vary from person to person.

Where to get help

• Your GP (doctor)
• Your pharmacist
• Call Quitline on 13 78 48 or visit the Quit website.