Banishing Those Nasty Habits

Spruce up your lifestyle

Change isn't easy at any age. But it's never too late to ditch unhealthy habits, like smoking or drinking too much alcohol. You'll protect your well-being and save money in the process.

Giving up smoking, for example, can reduce your risk of cancer, heart disease and lung disease, says the National Institute on Aging. It will also improve your blood circulation and breathing, as well as your sense of taste and smell. Living a smoke-free lifestyle also sets a good example for your kids and grandkids.

If you need help quitting, free support groups and services are widely available. Or ask your doctor if you might benefit from nicotine replacement lozenges or patches.

Drinking too much can also be a problem, especially if you take medications that can interact negatively with alcohol. Giving up alcohol, or only drinking in moderation, can help prevent liver problems, heart disease and even some types of cancer.

Most experts recommend limiting alcohol intake to one drink per day for women and two per day for men. If you find it difficult to stick to that amount or quit altogether, talk to your doctor.

Healthier and Wealthier

Giving up drinking and smoking benefits your pocketbook almost as much as it does your body. Just do the math:

• If you smoke a pack of cigarettes a day, at an average cost of $6 per pack, quitting would save you $42 a week or $2,190 a year.
• If you drink two $10 bottles of wine a week, giving up drinking entirely would save you $1,040 a year. Cutting the amount you drink in half, to be a more moderate drinker, would still save you $520 a year.

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