Okay, Suzie…What’s the Catch?
Tax on Cigarettes and Tobacco Products to go up a total of $2.86 per pack on April 1st, 2017.
Last November the voters approved an additional $2 tax on cigarettes and tobacco products, above a previous tax hike of $.086 less than a year earlier. I guess non-smokers are tired of footing the bill for medical issues caused by smoking and using tobacco products.
So now you want to quit! I can’t blame you on that one. The average cost of cigarettes today in California is $5.81 per pack. The new tax will raise that to almost $8.00 per pack of cigarettes making a pack a day habit a cost of $2,920.00 per year. Wow! New York City smokers don’t care much though, because they are already paying over $12.00 per pack.
The CDC estimates the true cost of smoking at about $40 per pack when you take into consideration the inevitable health issues that follow smoking wherever it goes.
You probably already know that 1 out of 2 smokers dies from smoking related diseases. That should be enough reason to drop your cigarettes and run scared and screaming down the street. Somehow most of the smokers I talk to and work with have some kind of idea that nothing will ever happen to them because it’s very sneaky. What they don’t realize are the hidden health issues that are going on, like infertility, the potential increase in diabetes, stroke, muscle damage and the 14 years they are cutting off their life and quality of life.
Why is it so hard to quit?
A better question may be: Why is it so EASY to quit?
Two-thirds of smokers quit on their own, no patches, no gum, no drugs, no nothing. The challenge is the 1/3 of smokers who want to quit, but can’t do it on their own.
One of the reasons it’s difficult to quit is because you believe it’s going to be difficult. We have been told repeatedly that nicotine is addictive. In some cases it’s as addictive as heroin!!! What? Heroin! Are you kidding me? Well no wonder you can’t put it down. If it’s as addictive as Heroin you should be experiencing night sweats, heart palpitations, vomiting and hallucinations…possibly even death.
No wonder you’re scared. Scares the bageezus out of me!
Truth: when you quit smoking, you don’t experience anything of the kind. Worst case scenario, you may get a little grumpy, a little irritable, you might think about it a lot at first, but in no way will you be sick. In fact, you’ll start feeling better and have more energy in just a day to a few days. Being cranky isn't going to kill you and it will pass!
Step 1 in quitting is to realize you may have some silly ideas and beliefs about smoking.
Step 2 – make a decision and make it final. No more cigarettes.
Step 3 – stay tuned for my next post.
Don’t forget to sign up for your free hypnosis audio for healing, which will help you relax and rejuvenate, get your body and mind in a state of peace and reduced stress, where quitting is easier. SmokeFreeCal.com/home