Heads Up for Smokers - new MI Tax.

[kaylyn831]

Yes, it's a nasty habit and yes, I still smoke.

A few years back Hubby and I switched to loose tobacco and roll our own. It really saves money - we can roll 2 1/2 cartons for $25 instead of $45-$55 for just one carton of our old brands.

I went to my tobacco shop yesterday and was told to buy up as much as I can before April first because that is when Michigan will start taxing loose tobacco $24 MORE per pound. I only pay $19.95 per pound now. So after April first that same pound will cost $43.95!!!

Fortunately, my Husband drives OTR and we will just get ours from out of state - but for all the Michigan people who cannot do this - wow.

[jmk]

Yes..I heard this awhile back...I know there are people who hate smoking so let's not even go there ok??For us smokers this is NOT a good thing.I too have been rolling my own for over a yr now...I knew it would just be a matter of time before the govt got into this >:(Time to investigate 'alternate methods' on buying tobacco I guess.And I'm also stocking up on tobacco..hmmm wonder if they are going to tax the tubes too
Appy Trails
Jan

[ATMKathy]

I am a smoker too, but buy mine by the carton and foolishly pay for the packaging. I finally convinced hubby to pick a date for both of us to quit and am actually looking forward to it.
Are they bumping up taxes as a whole or just on the loose tabacco?

Sometimes nothing beats a smoke with beer or coffee. I will miss it. :-(
Kathy

[jmk]

Tax is on all tobacco products..Cigarettes will go up $1.00 a pack.I know I need to quit also....but this is an unfair tax.So people who smoke will find other ways to get tobacco products or cigarettes...Yup I will be one of those that does ;)A lot of the tobacco shops will lose money..how is this helping the economy???Our govt at work
Appy Trails
Jan

[LLStar117]

I quit smoking about 4 years ago. I quit cold turkey one day and then stuffed my face with licorish after that. I was constantly looking for things, I couldn't find the pack or the lighter. I knew I had quit but was just hard to break those habits. My first goal was 3 days, then 3 weeks, then 3 months and made it past 3 years. I don't know why my goal was 3, but it wasn't too big or too small. It just worked. I wish anyone luck in quitting, but I don't know how I ever afforded smoking, I have no idea where i got the money from, and I have no idea where it goes now. The get rich by quitting is a scam. LOL You spend that money somewhere and who knows where.

My hub said that Obama raised the tabacco tax, so it might not just be MI.

[paintsnpalos]

I had set a date that I was going to quit by my 50th Birthday............well that didn't happen........I know it's a nasty habit.......I know it's so bad for my health......but I really enjoy it and really hate to give it up.......

I try really hard to make myself want to quit........even tell myself I need to quit so I can stay around and see my little angels (granddaughters) grow up.........so I'm still working on it....

[kaylyn831]

I am sorry I did not word it correctly the first time.

It is a nationwide Obama tax. But other states have lower state taxes so it will still be cheaper to buy out of state.

[magicwoman6]

I am not a smoker, and I think they are going overboard. Smoking is not the only thing that should be taxed harder. What about alcohol and junk food. What about just trying tax on food again, yes I know this hurts everyone, but would be a little more fair. Man oh man, I work my butt off, no free rides here, If I want something and I am paying for it with hard earned money, it shouldn't cost more than everything else. Well I guess if nothing else, people could always go on a no smoking strike and refuse to buy smokie treats for a while, if nothing else just quit, then what the heck will they tax???LOL!!!LOL!!!

[LifeAtAGallop]

I don't smoke but I don't think it is fair to go after the smokers. I think they should go after alcohol and drinkers like they do tobacco and smokers . Those politicians wouldn't stand for that now would they. Maybe there wouldn't be as many drunk drivers if they raised taxes on it so people couldn't afford it. It's only fair.

[horsecrazymom]

I don't smoke and never have (or will). I do not think it is fair they are just going after smokers, though I do think it is right for the taxes to be a bit higher on things that are known to be bad for you like smokes, alcohol, and junk food. I said a while ago they should start raising junk food prices and make the healthier stuff more affordable, but its the opposite right now. If you go on a diet to eat right and healthy your grocery bill will d**n near double!! "Healthy" foods low in fat, sodium and fresh fruits and veggies are EXPENSIVE! That's not fair either..

BTW.. I drink.. not saying that is bad for you like smoking but I really do not understand the concept of smoking.. I have a very asthmatic son though so I have a hard time with anyone wanting to ruin their lungs with/for a "stress reliever".. But I am a nail biter and some may say that is just as bad as smoking so.. who knows lol

[winny468]

I am a smoker as well and always trying to quit. As of now not happening. If they go up $1 per pack I will force myself. I will try the goal of "3". Maybe that will help.

[stolzml]

it's nation wide!

davidkirkpatrick.wordpress.com/2009/02/07/schip-and-tobacco-taxes/

here is a chart to show exactly how LARGE these tax increases are... thousands more will be out of work, c-stores lose revenue, smoke shops close up, unemplyment increases, funding for this SCHIP program disappears... the real question is, after Obama KILLS the tobacco industry, who is going to pay for SHIP? new taxes on Sugar? on fast food? on gas? soda pop? what new taxes can the poor & middle class pay??

congress is already working on new milage taxes to pay for roads, a GPS chip on all vehicles so they can monitor how many miles everyone drives & tax by the MILE traveled... okay so there is no work locally, now not only will you pay high gas prices to drive to work an hour or more from home, but hey you can pay extra for each mile you drive!! what a great idea... when you pull into the gas station to fill up, you first will have to pay the taxes on the miles you have driven since your last fill up! then IF you have anything left you might be able to drive home!!! Say good bye to horse shows, traveling to trail ride, everything??? i guess there will be homes now for all those extra horses because who will be able to drive? welcome back horse & buggy... what about school buses? do they pay by the mile too? what is trash pick up going to cost? so glad i still live in an area where one can burn trash! if the chps only go on autos, can we all start driving tractors, lawn mowers, mopeds???

how is this NOT raiseing taxes on the working class & the poor? the way i see this, it's ONLY raising taxes on the working class and the poor!

[stolzml]

i did find on a few of the RYO boards, to protest teh new SCHIP taxes smokers are trying to get everyone to mail their congressmen & the president TEA BAGS! :-) great idea!

[renegadespiritcat]

Alcohol is already taxed and unless someone drives drunk it does not cause other people any health issues. Junk food also does not harm those that do not partake of it. But smoking does. My FIL and a friends father both died of emphysema from years and years of smoking. It is slowly poisoning your bodies. I know addictions are difficult to stop. I once was addicted to nasal sprays and let me tell you being addicted to something that is mandatory for your body to be able to both breath and operate normally at the same time is a horrible thing. I went to my doctor admitted my failings and inability to stop the addiction on my own. THAT is the most difficult step. Once you seek help there are many many options out there now that are making it much easier for people to stop smoking. There is Wellbutrin, and Chantix and any other multitude of things out there to help you become both more healthy and save all that money spent on more useful things like vacations etc.
I have never ever smoked, grew up in a home with both parents who smoked and had asthma myself what a joyous youth that was. NOT..... I've also watched my parents both in PT after serious surgeries for smoking related health problems. So I have seen what toll it takes on people. I also know my mother was a wretched woman for a couple months after she ceased smoking cold turkey and she went through a lot of cinnamon red hot candies and toothpicks but she is in her 80's now and other then lapses of memory at times she is healthy and much better off then had she not quit 28 years ago when hospitalized for open heart bypass surgery.
I know a lot of people welcome the no smoking in public places because we who do not smoke are also poisoned whenever you that do light up around us. We don't have our own little bubble to walk around in and breathe from.
So perhaps instead of looking for different places to buy your addiction fix maybe consider seeking help from the doctor to stop the addiction permanently?
Not scolding not preaching here just offering a different perspective.
~Cat~

[stolzml]

i'm not a smoker, i have asthma and i THINK i still live in "the land of the free & the home of the brave"...but obviously that is changing. This tax is unjust, it's discriminatory & it is taxation without representation...gee, wasn't that what started a little war way back when??? the point in protesting an unjust tax that singles out a minority is that eventually this minority won't exist, so they move on to the next minority, then the next, an keep picking at groups who are too small to defend themselves... if you don't stand up at the start for what is right & just, who will be there to stand for you & your interests when "big brother" comes for YOU. just because it's smoking this week, doesn't mean it won't be a "recreational animal" luxury tax next month, or an extra tax on truck owners, or extra tax on non-food animals, or on a half million other interests or habits of minority groups. This concept of taxing one group at rates as high as 200% tax is simply the begining of one really large can of worms. anti smoking groups need to wise up & realize the domino effect they are starting. it's not about simply the right of individuals to smoke, it's about the right of individuals to representation & the right to avoid unlawful pursecution.