I'm glad I quit years ago, sure is getting expensive

[Dan Murphy]

....Cough! Smokes to cost 82 cents more
By Rob Olmstead Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted 3/31/2004
If you're a smoker in Cook County, beginning Thursday, it might be hard to tell whether the reason you're grabbing your chest is a smoke-induced heart attack or just sticker shock.

Prices will rise 82 cents a pack due to a hike in the Cook County tax. Even if you currently get your smokes at a discount shop, it's likely you'll be paying around $5 bucks a pop.....Gas stations are usually a bit more expensive. The worst of all are bars in the city, which has its own cigarette tax. At the Daily Bar and Grill on North Lincoln Avenue, for example, they're already charging $7 a pack.

Local paper news item

I recall, when I was a smoker in my youth, you could drive into a gas station (all full serve then)(particular chain was Clark Gas, used cigs as a loss leader) and the attendant would come out to the gas pump island and go to a case mounted out there and serve you your packs of cigs, all for a quarter a pack. When I finally quit, in '72, I was paying about 40 cents a pack. How times, and prices have changed.

 

[always quiet]

Yikes!! I never even tried cigarettes....always seemed like money just going up in smoke! That's EXACTLY what it is now!!!

 

[preshi]

$7.00 for cigarettes....holy toledo...

 

[mom2boys]

I don't know how anyone can afford to smoke. Hopefully those prices will keep more kids from starting.

 

[coliebird]

I quit 4 years ago when they went up to $4.00 a pack around here. I refused to spend that much money on cigarettes (I smoked a pack a day) so my husband and I quit cold turkey together. I can't imagine how people pay $7.00 for a pack.

 

[JoNo]

A few months back while I was at WDW I was talking to a guy from N.Y. He told me smokes up there were running around $8-$9 a PACK! I don't know how true that is, but if it is, that's a LOT of money!!!

 

[stinkerbelle]

Originally posted by JoNo
A few months back while I was at WDW I was talking to a guy from N.Y. He told me smokes up there were running around $8-$9 a PACK! I don't know how true that is, but if it is, that's a LOT of money!!!

In NYC - oh yeah - that's true!

Friend of mine used to work in the city...HATED having to buy them there! always "stocked up" when she came home to CT.

I'm paying just under $5 a pack with tax right now...hubby and i need to quit....

 

[MAC3]

I know Dan! I have to buy them twice a week for DH and it kills me to do it. Thank God only one of us smokes now! I just bought 2 cartons yesterday 1 for an upcoming trip for a whopping $50.00.

I work on the NH border and buy them there as the same amount of $$ in MA would have only bought me 1 carton.

 

[winniedapooh]

Dan, when I quit in 1992 they were going for somewhere around $2.00 a pack!

 

[airhead]

How much a pack??????????? Did I read that right? $5-7 a pack!!!?!??!
Wow!! I quit when they went to .55/pack.

 

[snoopy]

Here in Virginia they are still relatively "cheap", at about $3.50 per pack. I'm still soooooooo glad I quit, I'd much rather have that money in my pocket.

 

[JESW]

Yikes Dan, I thought you were talking about Disney vacations!

Jill

 

[Kitty 34]

I'm glad I quit. I so love spending the $$ on trips to WDW and other places rather than on trips to the party store!

 

[lil mermaid]

Wow, I had no idea how expensive they were!

Dan, Snoopy, everyone else who has quit - I am glad you quit too!

 

[wishuponastarforever]

Glad for all who quit
I quit in 1974. I'm grateful every day.

For those who want to quit

DH had a heart attack in November - he was only 54 at the time. He has three stents in his right side and one on the left.
He's still smoking

I keep my mouth shut - no lectures - I know he needs to do this on his own. It's hard though, I'd like to rid the planet of cigerettes to protect him. Wish it were possible.

To those who still smoke and don't want to quit - sorry I don't mean to offend.

 

[Lisa F]

Even adjusting for inflation, the price has quadrupled. $.40 in 1976 would be about $1.75 today.

I wonder how the high taxes have affected the number of smokers.

 

[DocRafiki]

Good. More incentive for people to quit or to not start.

I never tried them. I know I have an addictive personality and that one would be the end for me. Man, I wish I never tried chocolate! Or caffeine!!

 

[Planogirl]

It's ironic that government entities urge people to quit and yet rely so heavily on these taxes. I can't imagine spending such amounts!

 

[catsrule]

I'm very glad you all were able to quit.

 

[wdwnutze]

When I started smoking (77 I think) butts were .65/pack. I quit in 91 just before they went up to $2.00. I remember thinking at the time how outrageous the prices of butts were. So glad I quit when I did.