Why are cigarettes so expensive in Australia? Wife complains her husband won’t quit smoking
My Husband Refuses To Give Up His $450 A Month Cigarette Addiction — And It’s Forcing Me To Choose Between Bills Or Food
- Woman sought advice on how to reduce her family’s monthly expenses
- Hundreds said her husband had to quit smoking to save $113 a week
A man has been criticized for spending hundreds of dollars on smoking while his wife complains about the rising cost of living.
The woman shared a breakdown of the couple’s expenses and asked for advice on what could be cut back.
Many rioted because $113 a week — or $452 a month — is spent on packs of cigarettes.
If this were eliminated alone, the couple would save an additional $5,424 each year to spend elsewhere, keep in the bank, or invest.
The couple’s weekly expenses include rent, gas, groceries, bills, and other miscellaneous expenses, while phone bills and insurance are paid monthly.
The woman shared a photo of a list of expenses to the Mums Who Budget Facebook group, writing: “I need to cut back but don’t see where I can help? Smokes hubby and can’t force him.’
In Australia, cigarette prices are among the most expensive in the world, with a pack of 20 cigarettes costing between $25 and $50 depending on the brand.
By 2026, a pack of cigarettes will cost about $49 — $10 more than the current price — thanks to a massive increase in tobacco excise taxes introduced as part of the federal budget.
One woman turned to social media for advice on which monthly expenses to cut to save money. Hundreds were amazed at how much is spent on smoking each week
More than 800 comments flooded the post, with many encouraging the woman to ask her husband to quit smoking – believing it to be the “obvious” choice.
‘Smoke! No one needs them,” one woman wrote, another added, “If hubby switched to tobacco, he would be on less than $75 a week.”
A third said: ‘I know you can’t force someone to stop smoking, but could they consider buying cheaper cigarettes?’
In response, the wife said she would talk to her husband about reducing the number of times he smokes.
“I can’t help the smoke, but he’s not going to vape or do things under the table and he’s making triple [the amount] I do, so…” she said.
“But I’ll talk about cutting. I have my vices. I like food and cooking and sometimes it’s not cheap.’
But this also did not go down well with other parents who felt that food should not be compared to a product such as cigarettes.
“I don’t think it’s fair to compare smoking to buying food for you and your kids just because you enjoy it,” one mom commented.
More than 800 comments flooded the post, with many encouraging the wife to ask her husband to quit smoking – deeming it the ‘obvious’ choice (stock image)
Other monthly costs included $100 Telstra bill, $185 Optus bill, $330 car payments and $63 for insurance.
Many agreed that the phone bill could be further reduced – perhaps down to $40 a month on certain cellular plans.
The woman revealed she also shops at Woolworths and Coles, but admits she could visit Aldi to save more money.
Earlier this year, experts revealed some easy ways Aussies can save money.
Matt Hearn, HPH Solutions financial planner, suggested walking to pick up nearby takeout instead of paying the extra money for delivery.
In fact, preparing meals instead of buying takeout saves a huge amount of money, as does turning off electronics or air conditioning when they’re not essential.
“Instead of having multiple streaming services at once, you can subscribe to one service every three months,” he said.
‘Consider replacing more expensive fitness subscriptions with cheaper alternatives or exercise outside for free.’
While it may take a little more effort, small changes like these can help Aussies feel better about themselves and their back pocket, he said.