Roll Your Own Cigarettes for Only $1 a Pack

Smoking is expensive, especially in this challenging economy. In the United States, cigarettes are about $5 a pack. Residents of Canada pay about $9 a pack. So, in the United States, a one-pack-a-day habit costs $150 per month, or $1,800 per year. This is quite a chunk of money to throw away. If you roll your own, this same one-pack-a-day habit costs only $30 per month, and $360 per year. Once you see how simple and cost effective it is, you can do the math for your own situation to determine your personal savings. Any way you figure it, an 80% decrease in your cost will feel good.

The tobacco and filtered tubes can be purchased in a variety of stores, including large discount chains, convenience stores and specialty tobacco shops. You can also shop around online if you wish. The products are readily available in any manner you wish to purchase. The tobacco is available in multiple strengths corresponding to those available in retail cigarettes. You can get ultra light, light, or regular strength. Menthol is also available if that is your preference. The filtered rolling tubes also come in a variety of strengths, so you can combine your tobacco selection with the tubes of your choice. My choice is ultra light tobacco with light filtered tubes. My cost is a little less than $2 for the tubes, and a little over $7 for the 6oz bag of tobacco. There are 200 filtered tubes per box, and the right amount of tobacco in a 6oz bag to use them all. So for just under $10, I get ten packs of cigarettes.

Several brands of both the tobacco and filtered tubes are available, depending on where you shop. There are even Turkish blends, if that is your preference. Specialty tobacco shops have a more varied selection if you do not mind paying a bit more for the premium blends. I prefer the Gambler brand of tobacco and tubes simply because of the ease of locating the product in my area. I live in Michigan, and several smaller local stores as well as department store chains carry it. You will need to look around your own area once you decide what brand and flavor you are going to stick with. Once you start shopping around, you will see that many of the stores you frequent carry some kind of selection.

There are many types of rolling machines on the market, from $5 on up. The first one I tried cost $6 at the time. I did not care for it at all, but a friend of mine is still using it with success. The one that I settled on (in the picture) cost $40, and was well worth the initial investment. Tobacco shops will have the best assortment of rollers, and will be able to answer any questions you may have about them. Now I can roll an entire pack in less than 5 minutes. You may need a little practice to get the hang of it, but it is an easy thing to learn. The tubes can be packed as loosely or as tightly as you like, within reason. The tighter you pack the slower the cigarette burns. The choice is yours as to how you like to smoke.

Check out the two links provided to see some of the tobacco and rollers available.

Do yourself a favor and go look around. If you want to save about 80% on every pack of smokes you can accomplish this in just one day. Experiment with the different tobaccos and tubes. You will find something that suits your tastes. It took me a couple months to settle on the blend that worked for me, so just be patient and you will find yours.