For Smokers Only: Save a ton of cash with e-cigarettes

I just wanted to take a moment to tell you about e-cigarettes, and how much cash you will save if you switch. I wanted to post sooner, but I feared my enthusiasm was simply brought about by the newness of my stylish e-cigarette. Now that I have some time under my belt, I think it's fair to say that I no longer smoke cigarettes. The statistics shown in my screenshot are for my husband and I combined. As you can see, we have saved well over $2000.00, not to mention the time added to our lives. There are others ways that switching to e-cigarettes can save you money, and perhaps you hadn't thought of these. First, how many times have you run out of cigarettes and had to make a special trip to the store to get them? Gas is certainly not cheap, and all those little jaunts to feed your addiction will add up. Second, burn holes. Holes in your car upholstery, your blanket, your clothes. The saving there are obvious. Third, cleaning expenses go way down once you make the switch to e-cigarettes. No more tar coating your walls, furniture, curtains, etc. I could not believe what a filthy habit I had given up; it took me a month of cleaning to get everything clean again, but now it stays pretty clean. Household cleaners are pretty expensive, and you will use less once you switch. Fourth, insurance premiums will go down after you have quit for one year, because your medical expenses will likely go down as well. We spent around $80.00 for our initial e-cigarette kits, still cheaper than a carton of cigarettes. We are spending an average of $25.00 a month for liquid nicotine. I sometimes spent that much in a DAY for regular cigarettes. We did some research and decided on Halo brand rechargeable, refillable e-cigarettes. I am not necessarily endorsing the brand, but one of the reasons we chose them is because their nicotine is made in the United States, so I feel more confident about the ingredients. Disposable e-cigarettes can end up being costly, but we have really hit our cash-saving groove with the rechargeable ones. Now that we have our hardware, we order bottles of nicotine to keep them filled. Bottom line, if you just can't give up the nicotine, e-cigarettes are the way to go. The cash savings is indisputable, and like me, you may find that you can take it or leave it after a few months. Do your research, and give it a try.

How about those gas prices?

Today's hot topic everywhere: gas prices rising again, like they weren't high enough already. I've been reading articles about it all day. I am sick to death of hearing about how people need to sell their big vehicles if they are so concerned about gas prices. I'm sick of hearing about how people should move, get better jobs, etc., if they can't afford gas. People who are hard working, yet live on a tight budget, are in serious trouble here. Not only is gas going up, groceries are going up, clothing is going up, everything is going up because everything is affected by the price of gas. If you were on a budget that met your basic needs a year ago, you are going into the red this year. No one wants to buy the big SUV's and trucks, so selling them is not an option. Trade in value is zip for the same reason. Home values have gone down, so moving closer to work is not an option for many people. What's a person to do? The only thing I know to do is cut back anywhere we can and save as much as possible. Myself, I drive 30 miles each way to work, so I check the prices in my town and the town I work in, then get gas where it's cheaper. It's only a few cents, but it all adds up. You can check them here: http://www.gasbuddy.com/ and http://autos.msn.com/everyday/gasstations.aspx?zip=&src=Netx and one more http://www.gaspricewatch.com/ . Pick the one you like best and track the prices for yourself.

You can also do small things that add up:
- keep your oil changed regularly
- check the air in your tires frequently and keep at recommended pressure
- don't carry unnecessary weight in your vehicle
- walk when you can, it's good for your health and good for your wallet
- plan your trips so you can take the shortest routes
- make a grocery list and limit trips to the store (don't run out for milk, for example)
- shop at WalMart? Buy a gift card at the checkout and then use it at their pumps for gas,
you'll save three cents a gallon.

Please feel free to post any other helpful hints you may have, we're all in this together!