My Cigar Budget
Well, I did it. I swore that I never would, but curiosity got the best of me. I finally sat down and did a conservative estimate on how many cigars I smoke, and how much I spend on them, on a monthly basis. Let’s just say that I should be ashamed of myself.
I typically smoke one, sometimes two a day, on Monday through Thursday. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, I smoke typically 3 – 5 a day. My conservative estimate was 13 a week, which comes to 56 a month. My average cigar purchases are usually $11.00 a stick. After some basic math, it wouldn’t take a 5th grader long to figure this out.
My dilemma is that I really enjoy cigars, and the cigar culture that goes with it. Hell, I am the president of the cigar club, so that should say something about how much I love cigars.
This estimate doesn’t even include the trips, accessories, gas and time I commit to this lifestyle. This also doesn’t include the cigars I give away, or the one’s I purchased and they are still resting comfortably in their make shift apartment in my home.
I had a cigar rep from General Cigar tell me once, that the “average” cigar smoker smokes 2 cigars a week. I can finally say that I am above average in that category.
I’m not sharing this to sway anyone from smoking cigars, nor is this my “dear John” letter to the herfing lifestyle. I’m just venting a little, and now trying to find a way to finance my cigar hobby, if that’s what it is. I am not addicted, and I can stop at any time. I just don’t wish to quite yet.
I guess I am above average as well. I smoke 3-4 sticks per day during the week and 5-8 on the weekend days. When I started ramping up the quantity, I did decide to cut down some on the quality and as such try to average around $4-5 a stick with a couple outliers of course.
Geof O. | Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
Great post, although it is a little depressing! I used to own a cigar shop and lounge in the Denver area, and now that I no longer get cigars at cost it’s amazing just how much you can spend.
I had a somewhat significant “left over” inventory when I closed, but it was mostly repeats; a couple of boxes of Brand A, size A, a couple boxes of Brand B, size B, and so on. I still have plenty, but you can’t smoke the same stuff over and over and over again. So, I too have been guilty of purchasing plenty of cigars, even as I had an existing inventory at home.
Feel free to follow my blog. It’s a lot of ranting and raving, but I enjoy writing, and it’s a good place for me to journal my experiences. Best wishes, and happy smoking!
milehighcigarsociety.blogspot.com
Brian Fakharzadeh | Apr 12, 2010 | Reply
Hey! I really enjoyed reading this! I am the same way about enjoy cigars as well as the culture and lifestyle. For me the smoking is my comfort zone when I go some place to smoke or have people over to smoke its like a mini vacation from the crazy world. I started out as a 2 Cigar a month smoker now Im at 1 or 2 per day. This grew because I continued to fall in love with the cultrue that surrounds cigars. Anyways thanks for the blogs! I just started reading but so far they are all great!
zack | May 14, 2010 | Reply
this is a very honest confession i have seen! loved your post but i suggest its better to work out on increasing your income rather than simply quitting this great hobby for money!
smokewire | May 27, 2010 | Reply