Canadian Personal Finance Blog

Archive for July 9th, 2007

Looks like the “cache” of smoking in Canada is starting to drop, for 15 to 19 year olds at least. Previously it was 19% of kids at that age that had themselves down as smokers, but that has dropped to 15%, which is good to hear. What is even scarier is in 1999 that number was 28%, which I hadn’t realized.

The other interesting question I have is how are these kids getting smokes? Isn’t it illegal to sell kids below the age of 18 (or 19) cigarettes? Are their parents buying it for them? I really hope that is not the case.

Health matters aside, I was wonder how much do cigarettes cost right now in Canada and found on the Non Smokers’ Rights Association web page a useful map of Canada with the price of 200 cigarettes for each province. A carton of cigarettes for Ontario costs $67.97 which if you smoke two packs a day (which I seem to remember was about average) lasts about 5 days, so that means you could save a lot of money just quitting smoking.

My other question is if these 15-19 year olds are managing to buy cigarettes somehow, how can they afford this? Time for a temperance video folks!

Related Links

• No Smoking in Ontario
• Cigarette Taxes going up in Ontario

So I would bet some of you say, big deal, you have saved $12.95 a month by getting Free Banking for a year (sum total about $156.00 for the year), why do you care? Every little bit costs you is my theory, and every time I control a small thing, I feel more in control of my financial situation. I have many other areas where I can and will go after a small savings, just because it bugs me:

• My high speed Internet access is too high, and I think I can save $13 a month there
• I spend far too much on coffee, and vow to attack that spending
• I spent too much on my lunches at work, but I am attempting to remedy that situation

There are so many other areas I can work on, and will attack these areas in earnest, but saving $13 a month is important, and if you don’t think so, feel free to mail me $13 a month.I also feel good about it, because I feel like I “got a deal” which always feels good too!

I have NO idea how people smoke (yes there is nothing worse than a reformed smoker), but let alone the health aspects, how can you afford the price of a carton of smokes these days? I am worrying about $4.50 a day on coffee, just think if I was still a smoker? Wow!