by Diane Kramer

Created on: June 11, 2009   Last Updated: June 13, 2009

Currently, I have stopped buying cigarettes about 2 months ago, with all the taxes and the prices risings so fast. I started to make my own cigarettes; it was less costly. Almost a month later, they decided to raise the taxes on cigarette tobacco also. After spending a few hours doing research, I realized I should try pipe tobacco. The pipe tobacco is coarse, but it is about the same price as cigarette tobacco used to be. To help with the coarseness of the grain, I put an apple or orange peeling in the bag. It moistens the tobacco and make it less dry; sometimes if pipe tobacco gets too much moisture, you can open the bag at the top and take out the peelings.

I smoke menthol, so it was difficult to find at first. The company that made my cigarette tobacco came out with a mint brand, and did away with their own cigarette tobacco. You can purchase a bag of tobacco for approximately 15.00, and for me, who is a heavy smoker, it lasts about 3 weeks. The tubes used are with filters, and because I like menthol I chose menthol tubes. I purchase them for about 2.00 at my local cigarette shop.

By not buying packs or cartons of my favorite cigarettes, I have saved myself 180.00 per month by rolling my own. It's inconvenient at first, then we get used to it, especially with all the savings. I roll about 3 packs a day. In my book, I always have cigarettes on hand, or am able to roll when needed. Tobacco always seems to be on-hand, and the savings add up. Figuring on spending 10.00 plus per day on two packs of cigarettes at 5.00 a pack, 7 days a week equals 70.00 a week, 4 weeks in a month equals 280.00 in one month. Now consider spending 16.00 for 3 weeks, and approximately 8.00 for tubes, you would have great savings.

I purchased a reasonable machine for about 5.00, but with doing so much rolling now, I plan on purchasing a newer, faster machine for about 100.00 which would allow me to speed up the process of rolling the cigarettes.Cigarette machines can be purchased at your local smoke shop, and most can be returned if you are not satisfied. There are several websites that also promote cigarette machines from being very reasonable to being very expensive. You can search for various machines just by putting in "cigarette machine" using the search bar of your browser.

Anyone wanting to save more than a few dollars and keep smoking, I suggest you purchase pipe tobacco when you are rolling you own cigarettes. The savings alone are enough to make you want to roll your own.

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