When’s the last time you added up how much you spend on tobacco products? You might know that they’re pricey, but how pricey? The average pack-a-day smoker in America spends $2,920 on cigarettes a year. The costs could be even higher if there are local taxes or if the user prefers another product like e-cigarettes.

If you’re looking to have extra cash on hand, quitting tobacco can help. We can help you find out what you could save.

Cue the YouCanQuit2 Savings Calculator

Start by checking out the YouCanQuit2 Savings Calculator to figure out exactly how much you could be saving by living tobacco free. The tool allows you to calculate how much you spend on cigarettes, smokeless tobacco or electronic cigarettes over periods of time (think: one week, one year and even over 10 years). Let’s look at Brian for an example:

Brian buys three packs of cigarettes ($8.00 each) and three pods for his e-cigarette ($4.00 each) a week. Since Brian buys this weekly, he ends up spending about $1,900 per year on tobacco products.

Do Brian’s spending habits sound like yours? If so, your mind is probably buzzing with all the things you could use extra money for instead of tobacco products. Things like:

1. Dig in. Tired of eating the same meals in the dining hall? Once you quit tobacco, you’ll be able to take yourself (and a buddy!) to lunch or dinner at your favorite place. What’s better than enjoying food and friends?
2. Treat yourself. With the extra cash handy, you’ll be able to finally buy that something for yourself that you’ve been eyeing. Bonus points for treating yourself to a fitness tracking item, such as a watch, to help you with your fitness or weight goals. Don’t forget when you quit tobacco, your bank account is not the only thing winning- your muscles win as well!
3. Experience more! Live life to the fullest as you start your tobacco free life. With the money you save, buy that concert ticket, travel to a place you’ve always wanted to go or experience something you’ve been saving up for.

Are you ready to quit?

Yeah – that extra cash is quite motivating! Check out these resources if you’re thinking about quitting. If you’re ready to get started, use the YouCanQuit2 Quit Plan, an interactive tool that guides you step-by-step on how to quit tobacco. Remember, you can do this!