How Much are your Vices Costing you Every Year?

A pair of In-N-Out cheeseburgers. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We all have bad habits of different types. You may think its okay to indulge in the occasional vice; you work hard, you need to let off steam and have some fun. So what if you have a few drinks after work or buy another pair of shoes. If you have so many shoes that you keep them boxed under the bed because you have nowhere to store them or if your few drinks after work have become a daily ritual, this means that your vice has become habitual and you may need help to reverse your ways. 

Fast food

We all love the convenience of fast food, especially if you don’t have to get out of your car! With many fast food outlets open 24 hours, it is so easy to order, then drive through and collect your order. As an occasional treat, this is okay but if you find yourself eating fast food on a daily basis, this could have a detrimental effect on your health and your wallet. 

Daily coffees

It is so nice to start the day with a freshly brewed cappuccino or latte. The true coffee aroma is intoxicating and grabbing one of the way to work plus having one at lunch time is only loose change. Well, that’s how it feels but add up two coffees a day and see how much you’ve spent on coffee or energy juices in a month. 

Cigarettes

The price of cigarettes has risen dramatically over the past few years. Government taxes on cigarettes are exorbitant. If you total how much you would spend on cigarettes per week, you would then see how much your smoking vice is costing you per year. For smokers, insurance policies are also more expensive. 

Impulse spending

Unfortunately, the euphoria you experience after purchasing the must have item, is short lived. The reality check happens when you first sight your credit card statement. You must keep track of your spending and put a stop to unnecessary impulse buying. 

Alcohol

A Kranz (wreath) of Kölsch beer. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

You can buy a bottle of wine at a reasonable price and a whole bottle of liquor can last for ages. This may give you false reassurance that you are not continually outlaying money for alcohol. Add up your weekly spend and then work out how much a year your drinking vice is costing you. Social drinking is acceptable but excessive drinking can lead to many health issues, such as liver damage. Heavy drinking can also cause inability to drive a motor vehicle or inability to focus. This may also have an effect on your employment and your close relationships. 

Research has shown it takes approximately two months to break a bad habit. Once that has been accomplished, it is important not to replace the old vice with a new vice. Vices can cause havoc with your pay packet. Adding up how much you spend on cigarettes, alcohol or impulse shopping can be quite a shock. If you need help with a budget plan, Fox Symes can assist you, click here to check out their website. Fox Symes offers solutions to individuals to help reduce credit card debt and can provide valuable advice on consolidating your debt.