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07-23-2010, 12:08 PM
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#1 | | TO SERVE AND PROTECT :) Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Louisiana
Posts: 5,780
| Maybe a newbie, or soon to be newbie, someone just on the edge about vaping isn't quite sure how much this is going to cost in the long run can benefit from this thread.
I hear comments like "I saw this e-cig kit on TV", or "heard about them on the radio", or "almost bought one at the mall".
First: Don't do it. Take the laptop out on the patio, light up a cigarette, and read this.
Startup costs:
A minimal starter kit, with enough stuff to get you through your first 24 hours should not cost more than $50. Sure you could start off with an expensive MOD for about $125 (including battery, charger, couple of cartridges) and possibly save money in the long run, but if you are even considering a $150 mall kit, don't. Really scared? Try a $10 disposable for the first day or two. And don't do free, because it won't be free.
So, just to get started, about $50 bucks and vape all day.
Intermediate costs:
Now after you have discovered vaping works for you, you are in trouble. No supplies to continue. No spare parts to keep vaping when one dies, even if you can swap it out with your supplier, you have moved into the "single point failure" zone. Do that just one time and you will not want to experience it again. Add about $50 to the $50 startup kit for spare parts, 30ml juice, a few extra cartridges or cartomizers.
So, the cost just to get started, and have about a week's supply has moved up to $100.
Long term costs:
If you've made it past the shock of spending 2 to 3 times the cost of smoking cigarettes for your first week, now it's time to start saving money.
Every so often you will need to replace parts. Sorry, shit happens. For a long while it will seem you are being nickle and dime'd to death replacing batteries, attys, chargers, pass throughs, but, shit happens.
Stick with a model that gives you several options to buy replacement parts.
With astute shopping you should be able to keep hardware replacement costs to less than a dollar a day. Maybe a little more while you build up a comfortable spare parts supply, but it should settle out to about a dollar a day. Shop around and you can find juice at 25 to 30 cents a ml. Vape about 3ml a day and that's about a dollar a day for juice. I would recommend having at least two weeks worth of juice on hand. A month's supply is better.
Try and make purchases above the free shipping minimum that most sellers have. $50 or above and you should be able to get free shipping.
Future costs:
If you become a collector of e-cigs, this info doesn't apply to you. But if you exhibit a little self control, your first month of vaping shouldn't set you back any more than $150 or so. Is that less than you spend on cigarettes? Maybe, maybe not. But $50 to $60 a month after that probably is cheaper.
Shop, shop and shop:
Don't go for the free deals, don't believe the hype on TV or the radio.
Don't jump on the first kit you see.
There are plenty of reputable sellers in this forum in the SUPPLIER HYPE section. Vapers, feel free to add comments to this thread, but suppliers please keep your ads someplace else.
Post a bunch of supplier ads, hype and crap in this thread, and I'll pounce on it. Get it?
????
Good.
Rocket
__________________
A good e-juice, fresh carto, and 3.7 volts from a REALLY REALLY BIG battery works for me. YMMV
Last edited by Rocketman; 07-23-2010 at 08:02 PM..
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07-23-2010, 02:06 PM
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#2 | | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: West Texas/New Mexico
Posts: 2,344
| I had continuous, regular equipment failure and suffered with planned obscelesence when I was SMOKING. Every time I lit one they'd go up in smoke and I'd end up with a pile of ashes, a small evil smelling wad of nylon stuffing and a bad taste in my mouth.
Since I've been vaping I've spent probably about $125 per month, BUT you are right about basic vaping and the average vaper and expenses. I'm not experiencing any great failure rate on the equipment, but I have made some really bad choices on juice flavors.
(Vapers try a 3 or 5 ml sample if your supplier offers them before getting a 30,50 or 100ml jug of anything you're not familiar with.)
My spending levels have allowed me to stash a couple of liters of juice, over 100 cartomisers, 100 carts,20 atomisers, 30 factory batts,chargers,connectors, pas thrus and paraphenalia galor PLUS mods and batts.
A couple of months I've gone over budget,but not by much. I allow myself no more than I was spending on smokes and have probably spent $40-50 less per month and currently have enough stock to last for the 2yr shelf life for frozen juice.
I've saved money and had a ball with my new hobby which as a side effect was the only methodology successful in getting me of "regular" smokes. bikes | |
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07-23-2010, 04:52 PM
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#3 | | I Want YOU!... To Vape! Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Sunny Florida! U.S.A.
Posts: 626
| Unequivocally...
YES! (Love that question!) 
*Note: After over a year of vaping, ( I do so now because I tend to enjoy it.) I have placed my yearly cost analysis at my present rate of consumption since January 1, 2010 at between $2-300.00 per a total of 12 months. (Barring theft or catastrophic failure & not to mention heath benefits that are well.... priceless.)
12 months of purchasing analogs for family member... $2400.00 ...do the math! 'nuff said for me!
__________________
"Life is tough .... It's even tougher if you're stupid." -- John Wayne
Last edited by Stehle; 07-23-2010 at 05:13 PM..
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07-23-2010, 05:53 PM
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#4 | | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Arkansas
Posts: 2,164
| IMO, the cost of smoking vs. vaping is priceless when it comes to health | |
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07-23-2010, 05:58 PM
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#5 | | TO SERVE AND PROTECT :) Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Louisiana
Posts: 5,780
| Priceless would be quitting altogether.
E-cigs are just cheaper 
__________________
A good e-juice, fresh carto, and 3.7 volts from a REALLY REALLY BIG battery works for me. YMMV
Last edited by Rocketman; 07-23-2010 at 06:03 PM..
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07-23-2010, 06:04 PM
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#6 | | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Arkansas
Posts: 2,164
| LOL to true | |
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07-23-2010, 07:17 PM
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#7 | | ~XpLiCit MeMbeR~ Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 423
| Vaping has saved me about $400 a month plus my health is TIP TOP now!!! Its like these things are a blessing sent to us! lol...
__________________
SiCk Of ThE CoRRupTioN! | |
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07-23-2010, 08:13 PM
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#8 | | I Want YOU!... To Vape! Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Sunny Florida! U.S.A.
Posts: 626
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Rocketman  Priceless would be quitting altogether.
E-cigs are just cheaper | Well said my Rocket buddy!
__________________
"Life is tough .... It's even tougher if you're stupid." -- John Wayne
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07-23-2010, 08:31 PM
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#9 | | Home of Vaper Research Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Leftern Mass
Posts: 1,503
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Rocketman Maybe a newbie, or soon to be newbie, someone just on the edge about vaping isn't quite sure how much this is going to cost in the long run can benefit from this thread.
I hear comments like "I saw this e-cig kit on TV", or "heard about them on the radio", or "almost bought one at the mall".
First: Don't do it. Take the laptop out on the patio, light up a cigarette, and read this.
Startup costs:
A minimal starter kit, with enough stuff to get you through your first 24 hours should not cost more than $50. Sure you could start off with an expensive MOD for about $125 (including battery, charger, couple of cartridges) and possibly save money in the long run, but if you are even considering a $150 mall kit, don't. Really scared? Try a $10 disposable for the first day or two. And don't do free, because it won't be free.
So, just to get started, about $50 bucks and vape all day.
Intermediate costs:
Now after you have discovered vaping works for you, you are in trouble. No supplies to continue. No spare parts to keep vaping when one dies, even if you can swap it out with your supplier, you have moved into the "single point failure" zone. Do that just one time and you will not want to experience it again. Add about $50 to the $50 startup kit for spare parts, 30ml juice, a few extra cartridges or cartomizers.
So, the cost just to get started, and have about a week's supply has moved up to $100.
Long term costs:
If you've made it past the shock of spending 2 to 3 times the cost of smoking cigarettes for your first week, now it's time to start saving money.
Every so often you will need to replace parts. Sorry, shit happens. For a long while it will seem you are being nickle and dime'd to death replacing batteries, attys, chargers, pass throughs, but, shit happens.
Stick with a model that gives you several options to buy replacement parts.
With astute shopping you should be able to keep hardware replacement costs to less than a dollar a day. Maybe a little more while you build up a comfortable spare parts supply, but it should settle out to about a dollar a day. Shop around and you can find juice at 25 to 30 cents a ml. Vape about 3ml a day and that's about a dollar a day for juice. I would recommend having at least two weeks worth of juice on hand. A month's supply is better.
Try and make purchases above the free shipping minimum that most sellers have. $50 or above and you should be able to get free shipping.
Future costs:
If you become a collector of e-cigs, this info doesn't apply to you. But if you exhibit a little self control, your first month of vaping shouldn't set you back any more than $150 or so. Is that less than you spend on cigarettes? Maybe, maybe not. But $50 to $60 a month after that probably is cheaper.
Shop, shop and shop:
Don't go for the free deals, don't believe the hype on TV or the radio.
Don't jump on the first kit you see.
There are plenty of reputable sellers in this forum in the SUPPLIER HYPE section. Vapers, feel free to add comments to this thread, but suppliers please keep your ads someplace else.
Post a bunch of supplier ads, hype and crap in this thread, and I'll pounce on it. Get it?
????
Good.
Rocket |
Word.
This should be a Sticky.
And as far as pouncing, count me in...
__________________
Do you mind if I STEAM?
Can't tell the players without a scorecard! | |
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07-23-2010, 08:42 PM
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#10 | | Legendary Vaper Join Date: May 2009 Location: Treasure Coast
Posts: 241
| Yes.
When I first started out I went through mucho denero vaping up anything I could get my hands on. After about 6 months or so I setteled in on a few devices/juices that I really got satisfaction from.
Now I spend about $40-60 a month "treating" myself to new juices, cartos, etc. I could spend less...
Much better that $150 a month analog habit.
__________________ Cigarette free since May 4, 2009, and hoping to vape longer than I smoked 
Note: This message was created entirely of recycled electrons, manufactured before 1899 in an effort to prevent global de-electrification. | |
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07-24-2010, 08:26 PM
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#11 | | TO SERVE AND PROTECT :) Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Louisiana
Posts: 5,780
| BTW, saved enough money vaping to buy a really nice meter
and a digital storage scope,
and a frequency counter,
and still saving money vaping
__________________
A good e-juice, fresh carto, and 3.7 volts from a REALLY REALLY BIG battery works for me. YMMV
Last edited by Rocketman; 07-26-2010 at 07:28 PM..
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07-24-2010, 10:46 PM
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#12 | | Home of Vaper Research Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Leftern Mass
Posts: 1,503
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Rocketman BTW, saved enough money vaping to buy a really nice meter | BAH!
Maybe if I save enough, I can buy a really nice soldering iron!
__________________
Do you mind if I STEAM?
Can't tell the players without a scorecard! | |
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07-26-2010, 07:14 PM
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#13 | | TO SERVE AND PROTECT :) Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Louisiana
Posts: 5,780
| Except for those collecting MODs as a hobby,
IT IS REALLY HARD NOT TO SAVE MONEY VAPING.
I'll give an example. If I vape less than 5ml of juice a day (usually less), I can easily buy 2 days worth, 10ml for $5 (at 50 cents a ml),
If I can make a $2 carto go 2 whole days without burning out or clogging up (usually last me several days)
and recharge a $5 18650 Big Red and use it over and over for 2 days before it craps out (usually last me months),
then the $12 above for two day's supplies is about $6 a day in recurring costs.
A lot cheaper than smoking 2 packs of cigarettes a day.
Once you get past the start up costs:
How can vaping not save you money?
If you don't keep track of the savings, you might not know just how much you are saving.
What if you mixed down your own juice for about 20 cents a ml, got 7 days from a cartomizer ($1.50), and the BigRed (less than $5 BTW) lasted 3 months. Could you save money then?
__________________
A good e-juice, fresh carto, and 3.7 volts from a REALLY REALLY BIG battery works for me. YMMV
Last edited by Rocketman; 07-26-2010 at 07:33 PM..
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07-26-2010, 09:25 PM
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#14 | | Home of Vaper Research Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Leftern Mass
Posts: 1,503
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Rocketman What if you mixed down your own juice for about 20 cents a ml, got 7 days from a cartomizer ($1.50), and the BigRed (less than $5 BTW) lasted 3 months. Could you save money then? | About $0.86 a day. Cheaper than when I rolled my own cigs...
__________________
Do you mind if I STEAM?
Can't tell the players without a scorecard! | |
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07-26-2010, 09:33 PM
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#15 | | TO SERVE AND PROTECT :) Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Louisiana
Posts: 5,780
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Hachiroku About $0.86 a day. Cheaper than when I rolled my own cigs... | See, really hard not to save money vaping
__________________
A good e-juice, fresh carto, and 3.7 volts from a REALLY REALLY BIG battery works for me. YMMV | |
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08-05-2010, 02:48 AM
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#16 | | Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: U.K.
Posts: 4
| At the starting stage you will find it expensive but once you will find right juice and nicotine strength, you will find vaping cheaper than smoking because you won't be searching for different model and you will be knowing what is right for you. | |
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08-29-2010, 07:50 PM
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#17 | | Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: NYS
Posts: 16
| And a dirty little secret about vaping no one wants to admit or tell you right away..
your new addiction could also turn in to a HOBBY! | |
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08-29-2010, 08:27 PM
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#18 | | Home of Vaper Research Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Leftern Mass
Posts: 1,503
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Indievisible And a dirty little secret about vaping no one wants to admit or tell you right away..
your new addiction could also turn in to a HOBBY! | Someday I'll post pics of the different mods I have (or have tried) to make!
__________________
Do you mind if I STEAM?
Can't tell the players without a scorecard! | |
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08-29-2010, 09:57 PM
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#19 | | I Want YOU!... To Vape! Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Sunny Florida! U.S.A.
Posts: 626
| Saltwater Bait each week.... $20
Gas for Boat each week... $25
Price of the pack of Kool Cigarettes buddy loses overboard in Tampa Bay... $6
Price of the pack of Kool Cigarettes buddy loses later in water of bait well... $6
Price of the pack of Kool Cigarettes buddy loses that afternoon in the ice water cooler... $6
Cigarette Lighter that slips overboard later that day... ...PRICELESS!
( So sad to see a grown man cry.)
( NEVER keep E-Cigs in your top pocket when fishing!... Bait Well, Cooler & Bay -VS- E-Cigs = .00 ...I was lucky the water was shallow!)
__________________
"Life is tough .... It's even tougher if you're stupid." -- John Wayne
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08-31-2010, 06:10 PM
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#20 | | Home of Vaper Research Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Leftern Mass
Posts: 1,503
| At Mass cig prices, a pack a day would cost me $2920 a year.
Using cartomizers at an average of one in the car for 4 days, and one at home over 4 days, the price of cartomizers comes to $292 a year.
A bit of a savings...
__________________
Do you mind if I STEAM?
Can't tell the players without a scorecard! | |
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08-31-2010, 06:14 PM
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#21 | | TO SERVE AND PROTECT :) Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Louisiana
Posts: 5,780
| With that kind of savings you could buy a used car just to use as a passthru
Not drive it or nothin, just use it to vape in.
__________________
A good e-juice, fresh carto, and 3.7 volts from a REALLY REALLY BIG battery works for me. YMMV | |
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08-31-2010, 06:52 PM
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#22 | | Home of Vaper Research Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Leftern Mass
Posts: 1,503
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Rocketman With that kind of savings you could buy a used car just to use as a passthru
Not drive it or nothin, just use it to vape in. | 12V vaping at it's best!
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Do you mind if I STEAM?
Can't tell the players without a scorecard! | |
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08-31-2010, 07:32 PM
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#23 | | Home of Vaper Research Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Leftern Mass
Posts: 1,503
| I'll have to get one of these...
I want to vape in style Lexus LFA 2012
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Can't tell the players without a scorecard! | |
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08-31-2010, 07:50 PM
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#24 | | TO SERVE AND PROTECT :) Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Louisiana
Posts: 5,780
| Then you better do something about atty life.
Can't keep buying attys AND a bling passthru.
__________________
A good e-juice, fresh carto, and 3.7 volts from a REALLY REALLY BIG battery works for me. YMMV | |
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08-31-2010, 09:57 PM
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#25 | | Home of Vaper Research Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Leftern Mass
Posts: 1,503
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Do you mind if I STEAM?
Can't tell the players without a scorecard! | |
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