Saving Money By Breaking Bad Habits

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We all have our vices, right? Those habits we just can’t break, the things we continue to do on a daily basis, despite knowing that we’re doing ourselves harm. Everyone has a vice. Whether it’s as innocent as biting your nails or as dangerous as smoking, we all have one, and we all know better. In many cases, our vices double as the scourges of our bank accounts, as we are paying, sometimes daily, to continue our disastrous tendencies. In light of the current economic climate, there is no better time to rid ourselves of our unhealthy and financially-draining habits.

Quit smoking. This is obvious. Cigarette prices continue to rise as lawmakers continue to levy ever-increasing taxes on the product. The average cost of a pack of cigarettes nationally is in excess of $5, exceeding as much as $9 per pack in some parts of the country. That’s one expensive vice! For a one-pack-per-day smoker purchasing at the national average, that’s around $35 per week. Think about it. That’s $140 per month and $1680 per year for a habit with absolutely no virtuous effects. Quitting smoking now can also save you thousands in medical expenses down the road.

Lay off the alcohol. Almost as detrimental to your physical and financial health as smoking is alcohol consumption. The price of alcohol alone is enough to deter most people from drinking too much, but additional spending  under the influence is more than enough reason to kick the habit. With your inhibitions lowered and your judgment impaired, you can may not realize how much you’re spending when you order drinks for the whole bar or take everyone out to eat later on in the night. Alcohol is expensive enough as it is, and the collateral damage to your bank account should be enough for anyone to rethink his or her habit.

Stop watching so much television. When you think about it, T.V. is basically a selling tool, and the longer you sit in front of the tube, the more likely you are to fall victim to the urge to splurge on what’s being presented to you in advertisements and product placements. Getting away from the television can also give you the opportunity to get some exercise which, like quitting smoking, can save you money down the road.

As you can see, vices are extremely expensive and extremely expendable. Most individuals have at least one vice of some sort, so why not share some of your tips on how to kick the bad habits?

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