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GIVE UP A VICE TO SAVE MONEY ?

By
Real Estate Agent with Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage

I was listening to a 'Guru' in the car today and he was talking about different things people should do to save money this year.    He covered all the basics such as energy savings:  turning off your lights and appliances when not needed, turn off the tap when you're brushing your teeth,  drop the temperature in your home when you're away during the day and cool it down at night too when you're sleeping . . .

There are so many tips that we've heard over the years, most of which we apply (I hope!) 

But the one that got me thinking was this . . .

PICK ONE OF YOUR VICES AND GIVE IT UP!

One of them?  :0)

How many vices do people have I wondered?

So I started thinking about Vices and/or Addictions. (these are not my own but vices of people I know!)  ((really!!))

1.  Smoking (to me this is just the most stupid of all vices!!!)

2.  Drugs 

3.  Alcohol

4.  Gambling

5.  Gluttony  (Vices or Deadly Sins?)  This includes Coffee!!

6.  Shop-a-holics

I'm sure there a many many more vices but just with these popular half dozen, how much money could be saved each month/year  if only one was chosen? 

Would it be enough in savings to make up for not participating in the Vice any longer?

Take smoking for example:  (did I mention how stupid I think smoking is??)

The price varies obviously from Country, to State, to Province.  There is even a site to help you  Cigarette Prices

So for example sake, New Yorkers pay $12 per pack

My friend says he smokes 1 1/2 packs per day  (30 cigarettes - I think he smokes more!) 

This site calculates your cost  - this example is $6574.50 per year!!!!!!!!!!

This made me crazy . . .  I wanted to start smoking so I could give it up and save that much money, LOL

So, maybe this Guru was onto something ?  What do you say?

 

 

Posted by

If you're thinking about selling, I'd love to meet with you and provide a Market Analysis and go over my Marketing Plan - it is the little things that make the difference.**

 Susan Emo
Sales Representative,
Sotheby's International Realty Canada, Brokerage*
Kingston, Ontario

www.SusanEmoSellsHomes.com

 Serving the Kingston, Gananoque and the 1000 Islands Region
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Comments (21)

Bud & Beth McKinney
RE/MAX UNITED - Cary, NC
Cary/Raleigh/Apex NC - The Team That Cares, RE/MAX United

Vices cost exuberant amounts of money! It's just plain silly. That guru is right, it's a very good way to save money.

 

Jan 24, 2013 04:41 AM
Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

Gary -  that is a great idea too.  I agree that excessive TV/Movies would be a vice too.

Jan 24, 2013 04:42 AM
Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

Bud and Beth -  I am often shocked by what people pay for their morning drive-thru Latte !! 

Jan 24, 2013 04:44 AM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

12 fricking dollars?  Anyone want me to mail them cigarettes from GA?  About $30 a carton here.  Holy Bat Man, they could keep smoking and make money.  Oh wait, that's not legal.  Oh well.

I guess k-cups are my biggest vice I could save money on, but I just don't want to buy that little messy thing to make one cup of maxwell house when I so love having that cup of flavored coffee each afternoon.

Jan 24, 2013 04:46 AM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Susan,  Any amount we save is worth it ... it is enough because it DOES all ADD UP over time. I think we fool ourselves by saying it's only $5 a day for coffee. I've given up so many things ... no more vices and no addictions.  My motivation for doing so was not to save money ... but the end result is the same. 

Jan 24, 2013 04:49 AM
Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

Tammy - when I first heard that I almost lost it!!!   I remember people saying they would quit smoking when it hit $1 a pack, yes I'm old(er)

I cut down on my dogs vice . . .  treats!  They get a bisquit before bed but no more Bacon treats, or pup-a-roni etc.   They don't need it.  It wasn't good for them, especially their teeth, and OMG were they getting expensive.  I really felt I was being taken advantage of because of my love for my dogs.   No more and they have their girlish figures back :0)

 

 

Jan 24, 2013 04:53 AM
Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

Kathleen, any vice we can give up especially for our health, is a good thing!   Those $5 a day cups of coffee sure do add up:  $1825 per year!

Jan 24, 2013 04:54 AM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News
I wonder if gluttony would now cover people who have a 2 or 3 times a day designer coffee habit. You could save a bundle by learning to make coffee at home that likely tastes as good or better than what you are paying at the coffee store.
Jan 24, 2013 05:17 AM
Eric Michael
Remerica Integrity, Realtors®, Northville, MI - Livonia, MI
Metro Detroit Real Estate Professional 734.564.1519

Susan, I still can't believe how many people are still smoking. I never have, so maybe I just don't "understand." As for a drink or two...

Jan 24, 2013 06:05 AM
Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

Cindy -  I am constantly amazed at the long line at the drive-thru coffee place at all hours of the day and night.  I sit at the traffic light near it and I see all ages, all income brackets waiting for their fix!   I do call more than 1 cup of coffee a day, gluttony :0)    Mind you, the one cup that I enjoy at home each morning is a massive cup!!

Jan 24, 2013 06:36 AM
Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

Eric - I have never smoked nor do I understand how someone can 'learn' to love it.  We're not talking Crack here where a person is instantly addicted.  And there are more than enough aids to help a person kick the habit. 

Jan 24, 2013 06:39 AM
Sharon Lee
Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN
Retired and loving life

Susan-All great ways to save money. Sweets are my vice but 2013 it is something I am spending a lot less on. I want a girly figure too. LOL

Jan 24, 2013 07:18 AM
Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

Sharon - we're going to have to see pics! 

Jan 24, 2013 07:40 AM
Sharon Lee
Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN
Retired and loving life

Ha-I am camera shy

Jan 24, 2013 07:43 AM
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Hey Susan,  I gave up smoking in 1996 and can not figure where that money when to that I should be saving.  I know it is around here somewhere.

Jan 24, 2013 10:06 AM
Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

Will - good for you!  Do you think maybe you ate it?  LOL

Jan 24, 2013 10:20 AM
Christine Pappas - REALTOR®
eXp Realty - Willoughby, OH
When You’re Ready To Move, I’m Ready To Help

I recently got Apple TV and am now in the process of figuring out how to get rid of most of my cable big.  That will be a big savings.

Jan 24, 2013 10:22 PM
Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

Christine - great idea.  Those cable bills take out a huge chunk of cash eachh month!

Jan 25, 2013 12:33 AM
Malcolm Johnston
Century 21 Lanthorn Real Estate LTD., Trenton, Ontario - Trenton, ON
Trenton Real Estate

Bottled water - one of the dumbest things to spend money on. What a racket.

Jan 26, 2013 06:47 AM
Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

Especially the so called Fiji Water!!!!

 

Jan 26, 2013 10:58 AM