The Cost of Smoking & Tobacco Use and Benefits of Quitting


Contributions by 6+ experts

Updated: October 3, 2024

Advertising & Editorial Disclosure

Using tobacco products is just as hard on your wallet as they are your health. Whether you chew or smoke cigarettes, pipes, cigars, hookahs or smokeless tobacco, you’re likely spending thousands of dollars a year and paving the way to severe health conditions, such as heart disease, lung damage and cancers.

Explore ways to quit smoking and tobacco use, quickly improve your health and turn a financial bad habit into a nest egg, investment fund or a new financial planning opportunity.

The High Cost of Tobacco Use on Your Health

 

Smoking or tobacco use is commonplace in the U.S. However, it has numerous negative repercussions on one’s health and can significantly reduce an average adult’s lifespan.

Financial Impact of Smoking - facts.png
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As of 2020, around 12.5% of American adults smoke cigarettes. That translates to 30.8 million people.

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Studies estimate a smoker’s lifespan to be 10 years shorter than a non-smoker's.

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68% of adult smokers say they want to quit. 95% have made at least one attempt.


Why Quit? The Financial Impact of Using Tobacco

The consequences of smoking and tobacco use aren't just limited to negative health impacts. It may also significantly affect an individual’s finances.

The National Cancer Institute puts the average cost of a cigarette pack at $6.28. Assuming that a person smokes one pack daily, that can quickly add up to $188 a month or $2,292 a year. If you’re a smoker, it can also hurt your finances in the long term. For example, monthly life insurance premiums for smokers are more than three times as expensive as for nonsmokers.

How Much Money Do Tobacco Users Spend?

About 10.82 million consumers smoke 10 to 19 cigarettes a day. Assuming that a pack costs $6.28, you could spend between $1,146 to $2,292 a year on cigarettes. Remember, the price of a cigarette pack varies between states — smokers in New York or Illinois spend more than $10, which means their expenses are even higher.

Understanding how much you spend on cigarettes or tobacco use can help you realize how much you can save by regulating your usage or stopping entirely.

How Much Is Smoking Costing You?

1
Determine how much you pay for a pack of cigarettes.

Although a pack costs $6.28 on average, prices vary between states. Smokers in Missouri may only pay $5.25, while those in New York spend $12.85.

2
Calculate the cost of one cigarette.

A pack typically contains 20 cigarettes. If you divide the price by 20, you can calculate the individual cost per cigarette. For example, $6.28 per pack is about $0.32 per cigarette.

3
Figure out how many cigarettes do you smoke a day.

Some smokers smoke three to five cigarettes a day, while others consume more than 20. Knowing how much you smoke allows you to compute your daily expenses.

4
Calculate your daily costs.

Multiply the price per cigarette by how many you smoke per day. It tells you how much you spend on smoking each day. It also allows you to calculate your spending over longer durations. For example, if you smoke 12 cigarettes a day and they cost $0.32 per cigarette, your daily consumption is $3.84.

5
Calculate your weekly and monthly costs.

Your daily expense may seem manageable, but it can quickly roll into a significant amount even if you don’t increase your consumption. Knowing how much you spend on cigarettes monthly allows you to compute your annual expense. For instance, if your daily expense is $3.84, your weekly estimate is $26.88 and monthly, it’s $115.20.

How Much Smokers Spend in a Year

Let’s plot a cost scenario using New York’s highest price point of $12.85 per pack of cigarettes. That means each cigarette costs about $0.64 ($12.85 divided by 20 cigarettes equals $0.64).

Assuming you smoke 15 cigarettes a day, that comes out to $9.60 daily. Multiply your daily cost by seven (number of days of the week) and 30 (days in a month) to get your weekly and monthly expenses. So you’re spending $62.70 per week and $288 with your current consumption.

Spending $288 a month on cigarettes translates to $3,456 annually.

An example of how much a person could spend in a year
Month
Monthly Cost
Total Cost

January

$288

$288

February

$288

$576

March

$288

$864

April

$288

$1,152

May

$288

$1,440

An illustration of a nurse attending to a patient who has used tobacco for years.

The High Medical Cost of Tobacco Use

Most people already find covering monthly essential expenses challenging, without having to factor in the high cost of smoking. Smoking is considered a discretionary expense, meaning it is an optional cost. However, if you're unaware of your tobacco expenses, it may add to your financial stress.

Life insurance for smokers is typically more expensive, which increases your expenses further. It may also result in more costs associated with medical bills.

1. Increased Health Insurance Premium

Insurers consider several factors when setting health insurance rates. These include your age, where you live and plan category, among other things. One factor that may drive your health coverage up is being a smoker.

Health insurance companies charge smokers up to 50% more in premiums because of the Affordable Care Act. It's because they’re more likely to develop health concerns, such as cancer, emphysema and lung diseases, which makes them riskier to insure.

2. Higher Premium for Life Insurance

Tobacco use is also a factor insurance providers consider when setting premiums for life insurance policies. The difference between smokers and nonsmokers can be significant since the latter has a shorter life expectancy.

For example, a 30-year-old male nonsmoker spends anywhere between $13.33 to $27.74, on average, for a 10-year term life policy with $500,000 coverage. In comparison, the range for smokers increases from $49.88 to $105.88 for a similar policy.

3. Additional Medical Expenses

You’re more likely to develop illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases and diabetes when you smoke. It also increases your risk for conditions such as tuberculosis and rheumatoid arthritis. All these, when treated, add to your medical bills.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than $225 billion is spent annually on direct medical care for adults.

4. Increase in Dental Costs

Even if you don’t contract severe health conditions, it doesn’t mean you won’t experience side effects. You may notice your gums and teeth darken the longer you smoke. You’re three times as likely to lose your teeth and dental implants can set you back anywhere from $3,000 to $4,500.

5. Decrease in Your Car’s Resale Value

According to Kelley Blue Book, it's difficult to remove the smell of cigarette smoke and may affect your car's overall value. Contaminants may bond with the car's material, making the odor problematic to erase. It may also cause discoloration to some areas of your vehicle. These may lower your car's value if you’re trading or selling it.

6. Decrease in Property Value

Unless another smoker tours your house, most prospective buyers won’t appreciate the smell of smoke. It may even cause people with delicate dispositions to experience physical symptoms. These may include shortness of breath, headaches or sore throats, making them think twice about putting in an offer.

Attempting to remove the toxins causing the smell of cigarette smoke can be costly, and not all buyers are willing to take on that expense. Your home’s selling price may decrease by 30% if you smoke inside.

Additional Harms of Tobacco Use

The harmful effects of smoking reach far beyond your finances. Besides having higher health insurance premiums, most people are aware of the numerous consequences to our physical health. However, smoking also impacts various areas of our well-being.

Tobacco use can change your physical appearance, whether it’s damaged teeth and gums or poor skin tone. You may also experience social stigma if you’re a smoker. Smoking is also closely associated with increased anxiety levels and a higher propensity for depression.

  • Dangers of social smoking: Some people only smoke during gatherings, which means they don’t smoke regularly. However, it doesn’t mean that there aren't any consequences. Social smokers tend to smoke in groups, which exposes them and others to secondhand smoke. Alcohol is often present in these situations because it’s an activity connected to smoking.
  • Deterioration of physical appearance: Your skin doesn’t get enough oxygen and nutrients when you smoke, resulting in poor skin tone. The chemical in tobacco also destroys collagen and elastin, causing your skin to sag prematurely.
  • Increased complications during pregnancy: According to the CDC, female smokers are more likely to experience an ectopic pregnancy. If it’s continued during the pregnancy, it may cause the baby to have low birth weight, even when delivered at full term. They’re also more likely to have children with cleft lips.
  • Addiction: A primary chemical found in tobacco is nicotine, which causes changes in the brain. When you don’t get your supply, you experience withdrawal symptoms. This process promotes the continued use of tobacco and may eventually lead to addiction.
  • Higher levels of stress: People feel an instant sense of relaxation when they smoke, which leads them to believe that smoking helps them de-stress. However, this feeling is temporary. When you lose it, you may end up craving it more. It also triggers withdrawal symptoms, which cause more tension and anxiety.
An illustration of a woman taking in all the healthy benefits of quitting smoking.

Benefits of Quitting Smoking and Tobacco

As you would expect, several benefits come with quitting smoking. You can break out of the addiction cycle that encourages you to continue the habit, increasing your mental well-being. Other health benefits include better vision, clear skin, lower cholesterol and an improved immune system.

Financially, you’ll be able to get lower insurance premiums when you stop smoking. After 12 months of not smoking, you can qualify for nonsmoker rates.

How Quitting Smoking and Using Tobacco Affects Your Health

One of the most significant benefits of quitting smoking is how it can enhance your overall health condition. Whether you realize it or not, changes in your body begin in minutes. For example, your blood pressure lowers and your heart rate drops. That's just 20 minutes after your last cigarette. Imagine how much improvement you can expect after several months or even years.

  • Eight hours after quitting: Your blood’s carbon monoxide levels begin to decrease while the amount of oxygen in your bloodstream increases. Since the body needs the oxygen to create energy, having more of it translates to better performance from our mind and body.
  • One day after quitting: You're less likely to have a heart attack. The continuous increase of oxygen in your blood reduces the constriction of veins and arteries. The nicotine in your system begins to decrease.
  • Two days after quitting: You’ll begin to notice the improvement in senses that dulled when you were smoking. These may include your vision, hearing or taste. Any nerve endings that were damaged begin to regrow at this point.
  • Three days after quitting: You’ll notice increased lung capacity, which means you can fill your lungs with more air. The bronchial tubes are also beginning to relax and open up, making it easier for you to breathe.
  • One week after quitting: Seven days after your last cigarette is a milestone. Smokers who reach this point are more likely to kick the habit permanently.
  • Two weeks after quitting: Your lungs perform 30% better. Improvement in your health isn’t limited to your breathing. You’ll notice that you’re not as exhausted as before when you walk.
  • One month after quitting: Fibers that allow for healthy lungs begin to regrow. You have more energy and do more physical activities without experiencing shortness of breath.
  • Three months after quitting: Women are at lower risk for having complications during pregnancy. It reduces the probability of premature births.
  • Six months after quitting: You’ll notice the urge to smoke isn’t as strong even when you find yourself in stressful situations. Your airways are less inflamed since they haven’t been exposed to the chemicals in cigarettes for a while, so you don’t cough up that much phlegm.
  • One year after quitting: Your breathing isn’t labored even if you’re exerting yourself. You also cough less compared to when you were still smoking. The risk that you’ll get a heart attack reduces significantly.
  • Five years after quitting: You're less likely to have a stroke. There's only half a chance of getting cancer in your mouth, throat and larynx.
  • 10 years after quitting: Precancerous cells have been replaced by healthy ones, reducing your risk of developing lung cancer in half. You’re also less likely to have smoking-related illnesses.
  • 15 years after quitting: The risk that you’ll develop coronary heart disease reduces — it’s now close to that of a nonsmoker.
  • 20 years after quitting: You’re as likely to get mouth, throat, larynx and pancreatic cancer as someone who never smoked. Women’s risk of cervical cancer is reduced by half.

The Impact of Quitting Tobacco on Finances

When you quit using tobacco products, you can use the money you used to spend on cigarettes elsewhere. At the very least, you’ll have extra income to play around with in your household budget. Or, you can invest the additional funds. It’s an effective way to put your money to work — by adding it to a savings account, it will earn interest over time.

  • More savings: On average, a pack of cigarettes costs $6.28. Assuming you’re a one-pack-a-day smoker, you’ll spend $188.40 a month. Multiply that by 12, and you get $2,260.80. Now, if you stop smoking, where does that money go? Back in your pocket (or your savings account)!
  • Lower healthcare expenses: You're more likely to develop more severe health problems when you smoke, such as heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cancer. When you stop smoking, the likelihood of you developing these reduces. Although it’s ideal to have an annual check-up, you can avoid additional expenses from specialists and treatments.
  • More affordable insurance premiums: Insurers cannot deny smokers coverage, but they can charge more for premiums. The Affordable Care Act allows providers to increase insurance rates by 50% for smokers. Quitting smoking can help you lower costs since you can qualify for nonsmoker rates 12 months after your last cigarette.
  • Less cleaning costs: Smoking doesn’t just damage your health — it may also ruin your home or car. Cigarette smoke sticks to soft materials, so if you have carpets or curtains, they may start smelling like smoke if you light a cigarette indoors. Having them cleaned adds expenses you can avoid if you stop smoking.

How Much Money Can You Save If You Stop Smoking?

On average, a pack of cigarettes costs $6.28. That’s how much you’ll save daily, assuming you break the habit of smoking one pack a day. You can have as much as $188.40 monthly. You can use that for other items in your household budget or invest it.

Investing may seem risky, especially if you’re new to it. You can choose a safer option, but it opens you up to opportunity cost. Investing can be rewarding, especially when your money begins to earn.

For example, you can put your $188 into an investment with a 10% return rate that compounds monthly. Adding the same amount at the start of each month can earn you an additional $145.70 in interest.

If You Invest Your Savings, Here's How Much You'd Have
Month
Savings (Accumulated)
Investment Profit

January

$188

N/A

February

$376

$3.13

March

$564

$7.83

April

$752

$14.19

May

$940

$22.14

An illustration of a woman taking advice from experts.

Tips & Expert Advice on How to Successfully Quit

Despite the many benefits of quitting smoking, it’s easier said than done. The CDC says less than one in 10 adults successfully stop smoking each year. Many smokers encounter challenges in the process.

Nicotine withdrawal manifests itself in symptoms that make people more uncomfortable and ill. It leads them to think that the act of quitting has adverse effects. High-stress situations and bad moods may trigger cravings, even after you’ve stopped for a while.

1
Have a clear purpose

It’s best to understand why you’re trying to quit smoking. Do you want a healthier lifestyle? Is it a way to cut down on costs? Are you role modeling for your children? Having a well-defined purpose acts as an anchor when you run into challenges.

2
Find support from your loved ones

Quitting is challenging, so you need all the support you can get. Tell your friends and family what you’re doing and your reasons allow them to help you — whether it means not smoking when you’re around them or being on the receiving end of a call when you have cravings.

3
Develop a new healthy habit

You’ll have extra time now that you don’t take smoking breaks. Being idle may trigger your cravings. Try taking up a new hobby and even better if it’s a healthy one. For example, do some stretches in the morning instead of trying to wake yourself up with a cigarette.

4
Manage your stress

Identify your triggers and avoid them if it’s possible. These can be places or people that make you want to light up. You can also explore relaxation techniques such as meditation, diaphragmatic breathing or progressive muscle relaxation.

5
Consult with your doctor

Talk to your physician about how to cope with withdrawal symptoms. Your doctor may even prescribe medication or recommend some nicotine withdrawal therapies. These may include using nicotine gum, lozenges and patches.

6
Undergo counseling

If worse comes to worst, speak with professionals. There are smoking cessation programs you can join. Sometimes all it takes is a call to the National Cancer Institute’s support line.

Experts Weigh In on Quitting

MoneyGeek reached out to several experts to provide more information about tobacco cessation. They shared their thoughts about successfully quitting smoking.

  1. What would you consider as the most difficult challenge smokers encounter when they’re trying to quit?
  2. Among the various cessation strategies smokers can apply, which one would you say is most effective?
Maria A. McDowell
Maria A. McDowellFounder of EasySearchPeople.com
Lukas Berhe
Lukas BerheFounder of StopNicotineAddiction.com

Cessation Apps That Can Help You Quit

Smoking cessation can be challenging, but JAMA's study found that using smartphone applications can help. These offer multiple benefits, such as connecting you with a community that can provide support. You can also learn to identify your triggers and develop new coping mechanisms. It’s best to choose an app that allows you to engage with its content since it results in a higher cessation probability.

  • QuitNow: This app offers various goals to help you quit. You can find support through their chatbot to find answers that aren’t in their FAQs. Most importantly, it connects you to a community of individuals who can offer encouragement.
  • Smoke Free: Best for smokers who want to track how much time has passed since their last cigarette. The app connects this with how much your health has improved and how much money you’ve saved. You can also identify contributory patterns to your cravings to better manage them.
  • Easy Quit: This app shows you how different areas of your health improve as you continue to resist smoking. You can use their slow mode if you want to stop slowly. It also has a memory game that serves as a good distraction when you’re craving.

Finding Support: Services and Support Programs

You don’t have to go through smoking cessation on your own. Although some individuals can cope with the use of apps and the support of their friends and families, others need additional assistance.

There are several support services and programs for smokers trying to quit and these come in various channels. More than the traditional cessation programs, you can also find assistance through chat, phone and text.

  • Freedom from Smoking: This cessation program of the American Lung Association (ALA) is more than three decades old. It provides a systematic approach to quitting through multiple modalities. You can find support online, via phone, through self-help resources or in-person.
  • Nicotine Anonymous: NicA has a 12-step program to help you live a nicotine-free life. It can be an additional source of support for those undergoing a smoking cessation program and using withdrawal aids.
  • LiveHelp: The National Cancer Institute (NCI) provides a chat line that connects you with a specialist. However, it does not offer medical advice since you are still encouraged to see a health professional if you’re experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
  • Smokefree Text Messaging Programs: You can get encouragement, advice and tips as you go through your cessation journey. The NCI offers multiple programs, so you choose which fits you best. It’s a free service that you can sign up for and opt out of it anytime.
An illustration of a woman counting the days she has quit smoking.

Staying Tobacco-Free

You can still experience urges and cravings even if you’ve stopped smoking for a while. Staying smoke-free can be a challenge because it’s easy to slip back into old habits. MoneyGeek offers various strategies to help you cope, from finding chewing substitutes to rewarding yourself.

It’s crucial to note that switching to e-cigarettes isn't part of our list. The UC San Diego Health's study found that these don’t help you quit. E-cigarettes still contain nicotine, which is what leads to tobacco addiction.

1
Switch up your routine

Smoking, like most behaviors, used to exist within a routine. For example, if you always smoke with your morning coffee and now associate it with smoking, switch to tea, water or juice in the morning instead. Identifying similar patterns makes it easier to break them.

2
Chewing substitutes

It’s best to keep your mouth busy to avoid cravings. You can chew gum, hard candy or crunchy vegetables for a healthier alternative.

3
Delay

This strategy is more psychological but can be effective. When you feel the urge to light a cigarette, tell yourself to wait for 10 minutes. It’s typically enough time for the craving to pass.

4
Practice deep breathing

When you’re feeling stressed, start taking deep breaths. The reason why smoking helps you feel relaxed is that it makes you inhale deeply. This strategy mimics the act but without the smoke and chemicals.

5
Reduce your stress

Learning how to manage your stress can help you keep the cravings at bay. You can try avoiding situations that make you tense or anxious, but it’s usually better to find alternative ways to cope. Exercise, meditation, listening to music and journaling are options to consider.

6
Celebrate small wins

Smoking cravings can make things challenging for you, so don’t forget to reward yourself when you get through a difficult day. It’s also one way of ensuring you use the money you didn’t spend on cigarettes for something that promotes self-care, like a nice meal, a yoga class or a massage.

Success Story From Former Smokers on Staying Smoke-Free

No one can speak better about smoking cessation than those who have successfully done it. We’ve reached out to some former smokers and asked them to share their experiences and insights.

  1. How long were you a smoker and what finally made you quit?
  2. How did you overcome the cravings and stay smoke free?
  3. What life changes did you experience after you stopped smoking?
Ronald Williams
Ronald WilliamsFounder of BestPeopleFinder & Volunteer for the American Lung Association
Erin Wilson
Erin WilsonCo-owner of ChaChingQueen.com

Debunking 5 Myths About Smokeless Tobacco and Quitting

There are a lot of beliefs about smoking and tobacco use that have been passed down through generations, but some of them may not be accurate. Understanding the truth behind some myths can help you make better health choices. MoneyGeek explores some of these beliefs and provides the real deal behind each.

The Myth
The Truth

You can stop smoking by switching to
smokeless tobacco.

Smokeless tobacco is just as addictive as
smoking cigarettes, so it doesn’t encourage
you to stop. Thirty minutes of dip use is
equivalent to smoking three cigarettes.

Smoking is a choice.

It can start that way, but nicotine addiction
happens quickly. Most people think that
smoking is simply a choice or a habit, so it
should be easy to stop. However, most
individuals who smoke regularly are already
addicted.

Smokeless tobacco doesn’t have the same
unfavorable effects as cigarettes on my
mouth.

Smoking cigarettes often lead to bad breath
and stained teeth. Smokeless tobacco
produces the same result. Both can also
cause your teeth to fall out.

I only smoke occasionally, so I’m not in
danger.

Deteriorating health conditions aren’t limited
to people who smoke regularly or long-time
users. Although the effects of smoking are
seen in a full-time smoker faster, it doesn’t
mean that you’re out of the woods.

Every cigarette you smoke causes damage to
your heart and lungs and can get you
addicted. Smoking a few cigarettes a week
can increase your risk of a heart attack.

Using a filter makes smoking safer.

There’s no such thing as safe smoking. Filters
make smoking particles smaller, making it
easier for your body to absorb the nicotine.
As a result, it increases addiction.

Tobacco has more than 7,000 chemicals, 250
of which are toxic.

Expert Insight on Smoking and Its Consequences

Smoking, its consequences and the benefits of cessation is a broad topic. MoneyGeek sought the insights of several experts to further explore the subject.

  1. What do most people underestimate the most about trying to quit smoking?
  2. Does smoking make it more challenging to manage your personal finances? What made you say that?
  3. What’s the best advice you can give smokers who are trying to give up the habit?
Jeff Zhou
Jeff ZhouCEO & Co-Founder of Fig Loans
John M. O'Brien
John M. O'BrienExecutive Wellness Coach & Adjunct Faculty Member at the University of Maine at Augusta
Dana Stone
Dana StoneLife Mastery Consultant & Independent Contractor for Tobacco Free Florida

Resources for Smoking and Cessation

There are multiple resources online that can help you in your smoking journey. Some calculators can help you understand your potential savings or risk level. Should you want to explore investing, you can try using apps designed especially for beginners. You’ll also find tools to help you when you’re ready to stop the habit.

Calculators for Smokers

  • Smoking Risk Calculator: Smoking decreases one’s lifespan. Use this calculator to determine how many days you’ve lost based on the number of cigarettes you’ve smoked.
  • How Much Will You Save?: The NCI’s calculator can help you determine how much money you can save in a day, a week, a month and a year. You can personalize it by putting in the exact amount you pay per pack and the number of cigarettes you smoke each day.
  • Compound Interest Calculator: Put the money you’ve saved into good use. The compound interest calculator can give you an idea of how much your money will earn over a period of time.
  • Investment Calculator: If you’re wondering whether investing is worth getting into or not, this calculator may help you with your decision. It shows you how much you can earn based on the return rate and compounding frequency.
  • Pack-Year Calculator: You can know your smoking exposure by calculating your “pack-years.” It tells you how many cigarettes you’ve smoked in your lifetime — you may be surprised at what the figure you get!

Investment Apps for Beginners

  • Acorns: Those new to investing can start with Acorns. More than proving an investing platform, it also shares money tips and techniques. Expanding your knowledge allows you to grow your money more effectively.
  • Stash: An app that helps you in various financial areas, from budgeting to saving for retirement. Their services are customized based on your answers to initial questions about your financial goals. You can also get personalized advice on investing and budgeting.
  • Invstr: You can practice your investment skills through Fantasy Finance, where you manage a virtual portfolio worth $1 million, risk free. When you’re ready for the real thing, you choose from US-listed stocks and invest in fractional shares as low as $5.

Smoking Cessation Tools

  • Quit Genius: A free app that uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help you stop smoking. You have control over your cessation goals, so it doesn’t force you to quit immediately. Rewards are shown as the amount you’ve saved and the number of years you’ve regained.
  • Kwit: An app that also utilizes CBT practices but also uses other tools. You’ll have a personalized dashboard to help you track your progress and a diary for your cravings. Kwit also provides instant motivation cards, which gives extra encouragement.
  • National Cancer Institute’s Quit Plan: Having a roadmap when you’re trying to quit smoking can help you stay on course until you’ve reached your objective. The NCI’s Quit Plan walks you through six steps to personalize your smoking cessation journey.
  • The CAGE Questionnaire: Most people think of smoking as a habit, not an addiction. This questionnaire has four questions that can tell you whether or not you’re addicted to smoking.

About Nathan Paulus


Nathan Paulus headshot

Nathan Paulus is the Head of Content Marketing at MoneyGeek, with nearly 10 years of experience researching and creating content related to personal finance and financial literacy.

Paulus has a bachelor's degree in English from the University of St. Thomas, Houston. He enjoys helping people from all walks of life build stronger financial foundations.


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