Save money on your tobacco habit

Ultimately quitting a habit like smoking will save money and lead to better health, but addictions being what they are it isn’t reasonable to assume that everyone that wants to save money also absolutely wants to quit smoking. I say this without the least inclination of shame, get off my darned habit!

And if you’re nodding your head thinking “Right on sister!” then you too are a smoker. In that case continue reading.

Currently a carton of generic cigarettes are about $30, and some premium brands (depending on which state you reside) can be upwards of $70. Here in Oregon premium brand cartons have settled in around the mid $40 range.

For a carton a week smoker this is a cash hemorrhage– and I have a very simple solution. Make your own fully filtered smokes. 6 ounces of premium cigarette tobacco costs about $10 and 200 filtered tubes cost between $1.25 to $2.80 a box– enough to make a carton of regulars. So I’m spending about $12.80 for a carton of smokes.

Why is the price of DIY cigs and store bought so vastly different? Because the cost of ready made cigarettes is mostly composed of taxes.

Beyond the cost there are some additional benefits.

Ever get a stinky pack from a premium brand, where the taste is just off? That’s $4.56 down the drain, because we all know that there are no non-funky cigarettes in that pack it goes right into the garbage. DIY cigarettes never have that issue, because you are supplying the tobacco you know it’s not comprised of the floor sweepings from the factory or consists of moldy leaves.

Loose tobacco is generally healthier. It’s not bleached, chemical treated and then recolored. It’s cured, treated with the minimum of chemicals to produce the right flavor and then packaged. If you are interested in this aspect go talk to your local tobacconist but be prepared to listen and learn, those of us that enjoy a good cigarette are passionate about what makes for a good tobacco.

You can also control the flavor, cut and length of the tobacco. Yes, there are mentholated, regular and light cigarette tobaccos but you can also indulge in the odd batch of cherry, vanilla, chocolate, hazelnut, or maple (among others) and create custom blends for yourself.

How to make cigarettes with filtered tubes? First make sure you know what you want. The light smoker that takes in 10 or less cigarettes a day can probably get away with the tamp and slide models.

These are mostly (or completely) plastic hand held models where you place the tube onto a small guide tube, fill the slot with tobacco, swing the lid down into place to tamp the tobacco and slide the top to move the spoon into the tube which carries the tobacco with it.

Since our house has two adult smokers we went for the next step up, the crank style cigarette machine. It works in much the same way, fill the slot, put a tube onto the guide and pull the handle.

The top-o-matic has the clear advantage of being able to produce 100s and regular length cigarettes from the same machine as well as always pushing the tobacco completely down to the filter plug. There’s a simple guide that screws right into the tobacco slot to adjust for the length of the desired tube, so two smokers with different preferences can share the same machine. The average cost of the top-o-matic is between $30-$40.

The only clear drawback shared with the slide style and the crank style machines is that they do take two hands to operate. Electric machines are also available, and run from $99 (plus overseas or North American shipping) to $450+.

These machines aren’t particularly faster than the unmotorized versions, but they are better for people who have problems with the ergonomics of two handed operation.

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Please note that the Fresh Choice machine (last video) manufacturers will only guarantee their machine if you use Fresh Choice tobacco in it, so besides being pricey ($450 + shipping) you’ll be locked into their brand of tobacco in order to keep from voiding the warranty.

Disclaimer: I am in no way, shape or form advocating smoking as a hobby or recreational activity– this article is merely for the benefit of cigarette smokers that want to save some money. Also be aware that Federal law strictly prohibits the manufacture of cigarettes for sale unless accompanied by the requisite permits and licenses, so make your smokes for personal use only. We don’t want the ATF knocking on your door.

All things in moderation, including moderation.

Filed under frugal shopping, home economics |