Let me start off by saying that I am indeed a smoker, so this isn’t a bash on smokers. I am fully aware that it’s bad for me, and don’t smoke indoors or near our daughter. I do want to quit smoking one day, but I’m not ready just yet.
Okay, so my question is: Should smokers save for retirement or focus on health care?
I was thinking the other day about saving up enough money for retirement, and I realized something. If we keep smoking, we might not even make it to retirement, or have much of it. Hopefully, we will have quit well before that.
The main focus is on life-long smokers. I can see benefits for each, as well as drawbacks.
What do you think would be a good thing to focus on and why?
I really believe you need to do both. As you become more interested in improving your health, I think you will find it much easier to quit the “butts”.
First – how brave of you to admit you smoke ANd put cigs as a line item – Bravo.
I did the same; I smoked for twenty years and it was definitely the way to go. And, as an addict, they would be bought no matter what else to save for or pay for.
Second – I never pondered this either way. I’ve been saving for retirement my entire adult life so I continued to do so. I also thought, unconsciously anyway, that I wouldnt smoke “forever”. I didnt know when I would stop just assumed I would. (which I did, several years ago.)
when you say “focus on health” do you mean health care spending/saving for future problems or your actual health? If you mean the latter then of course do both.
Frantic- Yeah, I hate how they feel as such a “must have” expense. We could save so much more money if we’d quit. I’m the same way w/ the not smoking forever thing, but I haven’t quit yet. GOOD 4 U!
That’s so awesome that you were able to quit smoking after so long. I haven’t smoked for 20 years, but probably about 16 now. 
Started at 13, and ever since then I wish that I had never started or even tried it.
“Focus on health” I mean the first- health care spending/saving for future problems. All the bad stuff that can happen from smoking can get really expensive—especially cancer. Some people don’t have health insurance (myself included) and that $hit can totally ruin things financially and quality of life-wise.