Burning Your Money...Literally.
OK, if you're an adolescent and you smoke, then you're probably thinking, "Yah, whatever. I earn money and I spend money on the things I like...you know, the things that bring me happiness. That's exactly the same as all of the adults I know. They earn money - sure more than I do - but it doesn't matter. They go and spend their money on things that they like too. Vacations, cars, huge TV's, entertainment...it's all the same. I'm merely spending my money on something I like too."
It sounds reasonable, but there's a serious flaw in the thinking. First of all, ask yourself how much of your earnings go into cigarettes and other unhealthy choices? It's not just about the dollar cost; it's also about what proportion of your earnings go into these products. The average teen works between 11-15 hours per week during the school year. Most teens earn minimum wage, which in Ontario is $9.60 per hour. Do the math:
It sounds reasonable, but there's a serious flaw in the thinking. First of all, ask yourself how much of your earnings go into cigarettes and other unhealthy choices? It's not just about the dollar cost; it's also about what proportion of your earnings go into these products. The average teen works between 11-15 hours per week during the school year. Most teens earn minimum wage, which in Ontario is $9.60 per hour. Do the math:
*Average working teen earns around $125 per week:
*Average teen smoker blows through a pack of cigarettes a
day, at an average Ontario price of about $10 per pack:
Here's what's left for spending on things you like:
*Average teen smoker blows through a pack of cigarettes a
day, at an average Ontario price of about $10 per pack:
Here's what's left for spending on things you like:
$125
-70
$55
-70
$55
"That means that the average teen smoker is spending over 1/2 of what he or she earns on tobacco."
(and the only thing that's left over when it's gone is a craving for more.)
If you are a teen who works and who smokes, your numbers may be slightly different, but when it comes right down to it, you're spending a huge portion of your earnings on something that won't be around for very long and will not do anything for you once its effect wears off...which comes pretty quickly! Even if you are working 20 hours or more per week (which, by the way, is not a great idea if you want to do well in school and build your own future) tobacco is still burning a hole in your pocket. A teen working 20 hours per week earns around $200 weekly. That same teen still spends over 35% of his or her paycheque on tobacco. Not a good ratio. Not at all.
Up to 1/2 of a teen's paycheque...are you kidding me???
(Well, it's actually even worse than that.)
A recent study in a respected journal of health found that each pack of cigarettes actually costs $150 when you factor in the costs associated with increased health care and early death from smoking.
It's up to you. It's your money. It's your life.
