So, I don't often try to proselytize Mustachianism. It never seems to work out well. But when a conversation about quitting smoking popped up, I couldn't help but make a little comment about how an expensive habit like smoking affects your long-term finances.
Here is the first exchange:
I think they're over 6 bucks a pack here now. I was behind a guy at the gas station the other day who got a couple packs and couple Monster Drinks and his bill was almost twenty bucks!
Wow, $6 a pack? That adds up to an insane amount over time.
Food for thought: If you were a 2 pack a day smoker and quit smoking 10 years ago, and put the money you were spending on cigarettes into a savings account, you would have an extra $50,000 after adjusting for inflation. Or if you invested that money in the S&P 500, you would have an extra $66,000 after accounting for inflation. That's a lot of money to give away in 10 years time. Good job to all of you who have kicked the habit!
I just did some back-of-the-napkin math to come up with the $50,000 and $66,000 figures. I may be off by a little, but I was just trying to drive the point home. The next response?
Reminds me of this- :-D
Male Logic - Critical Thinking At Its Best!
Woman: Do you drink beer?
Man: Yes
Woman: How many beers a day?
Man: Usually about 3
Woman: How much do you pay per beer?
Man: $5.00 which includes a tip
(This is where it gets scary !)
Woman: And how long have you been drinking?
Man: About 20 years, I suppose
Woman:So a beer costs $5 and you have 3 beers a day which puts your spending each month at $450. In one year, it would be approximately $5,400. correct?
Man: Correct
Woman:If in 1 year you spend $5400, not accounting for inflation, the past 20 years puts your spending at $108,000, correct?
Man: Correct
Woman:Do you know that if you didn't drink so much beer, that money could have been put in a step-up interest savings account and after accounting for compound interest for the past 20 years, you could have now bought a Ferrari?
Man: Do you drink beer?
Woman: No
Man: Where's your Ferrari?
Now of course, ignoring the idea that $108,000 is not going to buy you a Ferrari, the idea of saving up for 20 years for an expensive money-pit race car is about as dumb as spending $15 a day on beer (besides, I would rather have the 3 beers a day than a Ferrari). So to hint at my position, I added:
I love that joke :D
But I'm not saving for a Ferrari ;)
The next response made me slap my forehead:
Those scenarios never get by the sniff test. Because, if it's not spent on beer it's spent on something else instead. Like just recently, need a new $9000 furnace and heat pump. I suppose we could freeze to death next winter, but would be an unpleasant experience.
Um...So, let me get this straight: If you had drank 3 beers a day or smoked 2 packs a day, your furnace and heat pump wouldn't have gone out? Because that is the only way I can see how that would be relevant. Oh well. Has anyone else had any humorous attempts at spreading the word?
Topic: Overheard on Facebook (Read 6412276 times)
