Support Group Please Help

[joshhooper7]

Good morning FOH! I’m josh, and I need your help. 

I think all of us suffer from cigar acquisition disorder and boy does it get bad sometimes. Since April I’m in the hole for $3450, $1975 coming in May alone. 

Im married and I love my wife, if my CAD continues down this path I will probably remain married but my wife might yell at me and nobody likes being yelled at. I’d like to swear off cigar shopping until August, a deep plunge into the windows only but I think I can do it with some of your help!

Any of you guys ever blink and accidentally email Di 6 times in two weeks and somehow have more cigars arriving than are being smoked? I’d love to hear some stories!

Cheers,

Josh

 

edit: the only cigars I will buy if they ever make an appearance is the Upmann Propios*

[dragn270]

I hear you!! With all the great looking boxes coming through it's really been hard not to buy. But, for me, I've made a goal to get a couple stupid bills out of the way first. If I can do this following the schedule I've made then, and only then, will I reward myself with a box.

or two...

[CaptainQuintero]

  You're just suffering from RCPA (Recent Cigar Purchase Anxiety), if you keep at it eventually you will numb that traitorous little voice and associated symptoms and you will be able to continue purchasing without any harmful feelings of self-doubt or any latent RCPA manifesting 

[irratebass]

I'm gonna share something that is on another cigar site, and I look at it from time to time to remind myself to be a bit more responsible in my spending habits, so I do not take ownership of these helpful words:

 

This has been on my mind for quite some time and only write this with the most heartfelt intentions.

I have noticed something that is a little disturbing to me but really none of my business but as a friend to many, I thought it best to express my views. (especially with newer/younger BOTLs)

The problem? 

I've noticed many BOTLs who are over extended on their credit in the name of acquiring more cigars. I've heard some disturbing balances being maintained on their credit cards due to large number of purchases of cigars.

I believe that with the amount of discussions in the forums, pictures of collections being shown, crazy sales by retailers, that it is easy to get caught up in the "keeping with the Jones'" mentality but I would be remiss if I didn't express my concern.

PLEASE keep in mind that cigars are a hobby and should be BUDGETED for and is SOLELY based on disposable income. You SHOULD NOT be "investing" in cigars - they are a consumable that are susceptible to damage (fire, water, improper storage, beetles, theft, etc...). 

People talk about a "cigar budget" and we all laugh when we blow that budget. But like any other aspect of your life, you REALLY should have a "cigar budget" and stick that budget the same as you would for emergency savings (6+ months), vacation savings, retirement, etc...

The senseless act of carrying credit card debt just to amass a cigar collect is not fiscally responsible and you are doing yourself a disservice in the long run.

The one thing that I have learned over the nearly 2 decades of being into cigars is that it's is not about the cigars. The cigars are just a compliment to the commaradarie. Yeah, the cigars are good but meeting new people and developing longer term friendships has been the best part of the hobby to me. There are many people that I now consider friends (some stay at my home) and I wouldn't have met them otherwise. 

My point?

In the great scheme of the cigar community, cigar are meaningless and should not be coveted to the point where we throw away common sense and fiscal responsibility.

So please, take a step back and look at YOUR financial plan (if you don't have one, then make one!). It is your responsibility to take care of your financial security.

Happy smoking my friends.

 

And if that wasn't enough here's part 2:

 

Again, I'm not trying to tell anyone what to do with their money. We're all grown ups here and you know what's best for you. This is merely a suggestion for successful planning / buying as it relates to cigars.

Buying plan (for maintaining current smoking habit):

Set a Cigar budget; Before embarking on building a cigar collection you will help determine how much of you disposable income you have to allow for cigar purchases.

Determine how many cigars you smoke.

Example: If you smoke 1 per day
365 cigars per year (average)
15 boxes per year (average)
1.25 boxes per month (average)

The above example is just based on your yearly smoking habit and will determine how many boxes a year to purchase and help set your cigar budget.


If you are looking to continue to smoke as you do now AND expand your collection for aging, here is part 2; of the buying plan.


Buying plan (for building/aging):

*** This is the key part ***

Example (based on smoking 1 cigar a day):

Every time you open 1 box, immediately purchase another to replace the box you just opened (box #2). By the time you smoke through box #1 & box #2 - box #3 should be at least 3 years old (assuming you purchased the previous year's box code).

In 12 months you will have 30 boxes that have a minimum of 1-2 years and some up to 3/4 years of age. If you open 1 of each, you should have purchased 45 boxes in 12 months; smoking through 15 of them leaving you with 30 at the end of 1 year.

In 24 months, you will be smoking boxes with a minimum of 2-3 years of age and some up to 4/5 years of age.

In 36 moths, you will be smoking boxes with a minimum of 3-4 years of age and some up to 5/6 years of age: you get the idea.

Make any sense?


Tips for reducing cost and increasing aged stock:
* Make a list of vitolas that are your go to smokes. Cigars you already know you like and smoke frequently. Then, stick to the list. (Just like grocery shopping, you tend to spend more without a list).

* If you want to try a different vitola, pick up a 5 er before rushing out and 
buying boxes. This will help you avoid flavor profiles that you don't like and thus, help prevent unneeded spending on stuff you won't smoke.

* Forget about special editions, regionals, limited editions. These should not be included in your buying plan but should be included in your cigar budget!

* Wait for sales (especially year end sales, multibox sales, etc.

Don't buy different vitolas just because they are on sale. With some of the crazy sales, it's REALLY easy to keep adding various boxes to your shopping cart just because they are a "good deal". This will kill you buying/aging plan & your cigar budget. Stick to what you want to know you like and what you want to age.

* Buy & aged stock (3 years old) or earlier and try to pick them up on sale for an added benefit.

I hope this helps and happy smoking!

[joshhooper7]

1 hour ago, CaptainQuintero said:

  You're just suffering from RCPA (Recent Cigar Purchase Anxiety), if you keep at it eventually you will numb that traitorous little voice and associated symptoms and you will be able to continue purchasing without any harmful feelings of self-doubt or any latent RCPA manifesting 

You’re totally right hahahaha 

 

@irratebass thank you for that! My problem is that I’m not in debt or carrying a balance to buy cigars and I do still contribute a lot to my 401k and my general savings, but 95% of my other disposable income goes to cigars. My wife doesn’t go without, nor my daughter, but my savings could be ridiculous with cigars. Alas, cigars only gain value as time goes on so I can add them to my net worth, but that requires actually wanting to sell them. 

[Bri Fi]

May I suggest a CA sub forum. Not that magazine that can’t get cigar ratings correct, but “cigars anonymous” where we can talk about our cigar addiction.

All joking aside, I’ve had to put cigar purchasing on hold due to buying a second house. I’ll prob have a couple mortgages for a few months and I need to make repairs on my current house until I can sell it. It’s important to keep this hobby on a leash or it can get away from us very fast. I’m not proud how much I’ve already spent ($8k plus in two years which is nothing compared to some of you) but it’s also not easy to stop when I see these 24:24 listings. I almost bought a box of the Monte esp 2 and I already have a box that has yet to be touched. Hell, I’ve never even smoked one before! Shame shame. 

[joshhooper7]

13 minutes ago, Bri Fi said:

May I suggest a CA sub forum. Not that magazine that can’t get cigar ratings correct, but “cigars anonymous” where we can talk about our cigar addiction.

All joking aside, I’ve had to put cigar purchasing on hold due to buying a second house. I’ll prob have a couple mortgages for a few months and I need to make repairs on my current house until I can sell it. It’s important to keep this hobby on a leash or it can get away from us very fast. I’m not proud how much I’ve already spent ($8k plus in two years which is nothing compared to some of you) but it’s also not easy to stop when I see these 24:24 listings. I almost bought a box of the Monte esp 2 and I already have a box that has yet to be touched. Hell, I’ve never even smoked one before! Shame shame. 

Buying boxes I’ve never smoked is a problem unique to 24:24, Rob and the team have done a wonderful job with that. If Jesus could turn water to wine I believe @El Presidente can turn cigars into crack. I certainly buy/smoke them that way at least. 

[cigcars]

    *There's a great cure for that: No Money   

[TBird55]

CampWinnepesaukee

Bohn007 posted a topic in Cigars Discussion Forum "the water hole"

...CampWinnepesaukee. This is the place where many of us will end up as our wives get tired of the waterfall of boxes that arrive as we catch the CC bug. Just like the cigar that I am smoking, the experience is sweet and creamy yet a little complex. We can all sit by the fire that @Hurltim will build...

 

[MD Puffer]

1. Pay my employees

2. Pay my overhead (insurance, malpractice, mortgage and 1/360th balloon), power, internet, software client, office supplies, payroll taxes, licensure, continuing education, and the list goes on. 

3. Pay household expenses (mortgage, cable, utilities, homeowners and riders, auto insurance, HOA fee, umbrella insurance, and others)

4. Max out 529 and Roth IRA for my son

5. Fund my pension and profit sharing plans.

6. Deduct 40% of what remains for taxes.

And what’s left is mine to spend as I see fit. But I pay myself last.  And I don’t carry consumer debt.  That’s what works for me.  May not be a good fit for others.  My cigar purchasing varies.  Currently, I’ve only bought a few boxes of Regios and the other odd box here and there, but nothing like my Cohiba run last year.  I’m currently in the mood for a new toy, something German and turbocharged.  So I’m piling up my discretionary income until I can buy outright the exact car I want (or truck, honestly I’m struggling with how it’s going to feel driving to close to the ground and I can’t make up my mind.)

 

[TBird55]

19 minutes ago, MD Puffer said:

1. Pay my employees

2. Pay my overhead (insurance, malpractice, mortgage and 1/360th balloon), power, internet, software client, office supplies, payroll taxes, licensure, continuing education, and the list goes on. 

3. Pay household expenses (mortgage, cable, utilities, homeowners and riders, auto insurance, HOA fee, umbrella insurance, and others)

4. Max out 529 and Roth IRA for my son

5. Fund my pension and profit sharing plans.

6. Deduct 40% of what remains for taxes.

And what’s left is mine to spend as I see fit. But I pay myself last.  And I don’t carry consumer debt.  That’s what works for me.  May not be a good fit for others.  My cigar purchasing varies.  Currently, I’ve only bought a few boxes of Regios and the other odd box here and there, but nothing like my Cohiba run last year.  I’m currently in the mood for a new toy, something German and turbocharged.  So I’m piling up my discretionary income until I can buy outright the exact car I want (or truck, honestly I’m struggling with how it’s going to feel driving to close to the ground and I can’t make up my mind.)

 

One thing my father taught me, never borrow money for consumer goods. If you can't pay for it, you don't need it. If you do have to borrow money, pay it back as soon as possible.

[ac031898]

I find that the key to managing my fairly new entry to CCs (and building to sustainable semi-aged stockpile) is managing to intercept the mail deliveries often enough that my wife doesn’t start asking questions about all these packages! And slowly & incrementally increasing my tupperdor sizes so that it’s not overtly noticeable....

...my name is Andy and I’m a 24:24 addict...


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[joshhooper7]

47 minutes ago, ac031898 said:

...my name is Andy and I’m a 24:24 addict...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

*as a group* hi Andy!

I get the mail before my wife sees it too luckily. I actually have a 150qt cooler hidden in our second guest room closet, the guest room our daughter uses as a play room. In October I’m placing an order for a custom avallo that’s going to sit next to my computer desk in our loft. 40 inches wide by 72 inches tall. No more hiding ?

[Duxnutz]

5 hours ago, TBird55 said:

One thing my father taught me, never borrow money for consumer goods. If you can't pay for it, you don't need it. If you do have to borrow money, pay it back as soon as possible.

Have to disagree on a case by case basis. If you have a need to buy several items (i.e. moving or fitting out a house) Interest free with fixed payments over a period is a no brainer. 

[ac031898]

*as a group* hi Andy!
I get the mail before my wife sees it too luckily. I actually have a 150qt cooler hidden in our second guest room closet, the guest room our daughter uses as a play room. In October I’m placing an order for a custom avallo that’s going to sit next to my computer desk in our loft. 40 inches wide by 72 inches tall. No more hiding

Hahaha...you know you’re gonna keep that cooler around ‘just in case’ though


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[joshhooper7]

13 minutes ago, ac031898 said:

 

Hahaha...you know you’re gonna keep that cooler around ‘just in case’ though

 

 

Well of course, the Avallo only holds 75-100 boxes since I’ll be utilizing the top shelves for display purposes, the cigars for long term aging will stay in the cooler ?

[wineguy]

6 hours ago, MD Puffer said:

Max out 529 and Roth IRA for my son

I haven't though about funding IRAs for my kids but I love the idea. I need to dig into that more.... Thank you. 

[MD Puffer]

Yep. He’s a “corporate model”. Not much else a 2 year old can do (other than make a mess).

[awkwardPause]

Take this fwiw, but sometimes you just have to get out of the game for a while to truly enjoy what you have. By that, I mean the stock you already have in your possession, of course, but more importantly family and other interests (assuming those exist outside of cigars, lol). I personally took a break from purchasing cigars for a few months and pursued other interests (finally spending some real time learning blues guitar) and made an effort to free up obligations in order to spend more time with my daughter. Personally, “out of sight, out of mind” worked pretty well for me and I’ve enjoyed this hobby more since coming back with more reasonable expectations and a few ground rules for myself. I think you just have to ask yourself what’s the end game and when does it stop. For me, I couldn’t see the light at the other end so had to make some changes after I amassed hundreds of boxes in a short period of time. Now, my budget *mostly* allowed for that, but I really got to pondering how I could be redirecting that for other future goals, projects/investments, etc. Now I’m working through my collection and enjoying the goods even more for whatever reason and don’t feel any buyers remorse when just purchasing a box or two per month. Just my take on your predicament. 

Now, off to peruse the weekend sale ?

[Fuzz]

4 hours ago, wineguy said:

I haven't though about funding IRAs for my kids but I love the idea. I need to dig into that more.... Thank you. 

IRAs?  Irish Republican Armies?

4 hours ago, Duxnutz said:

Have to disagree on a case by case basis. If you have a need to buy several items (i.e. moving or fitting out a house) Interest free with fixed payments over a period is a no brainer. 

Only if the monthly account keeping fees are not ridiculous. GO Money (used by Harvey Norman/Domayne, Good Guys, etc) charges you monthly account keeping fees, plus a per payment transaction fee. Not many people realise that.

[wineguy]

1 hour ago, Fuzz said:

IRAs?  Irish Republican Armies?

Exactly!!   Sorry about that US term.  Individual Retirement Account.  Funded personally usually with some tax advantages up to a certain income threshold.  But it is a great idea for the kids since they would be under the threshold and the money would grow for decades... 

[TBird55]

9 hours ago, Duxnutz said:

Have to disagree on a case by case basis. If you have a need to buy several items (i.e. moving or fitting out a house) Interest free with fixed payments over a period is a no brainer. 

Is anything really interest free? For myself, I just don't want to owe anyone, sleep better at night. Sometimes people get confused on the difference between what they need, and what they want. If you truely "need" it, by all means borrow, then pay it back ASAP. That's just me, not saying it's the best way, but it works for me.

[joeypots]

Good cigars are expensive, duh. I don't smoke anything like one a day and estimates for what one needs to bu to establish a collection, for me at least, are  too high given my consumption. I smoke about two or three a week. That works out to just over 5 boxes a year, 2.5 X 52=130. When i started to buy more than I smoked about 18 years ago I probably bought a box to age for every two I smoked. over time I bought more eventually I was buying something like one box to smoke and one box to put away. I had a pretty good stash in about 5 years, 

On another subject,

10 hours ago, wineguy said:

I haven't though about funding IRAs for my kids but I love the idea. I need to dig into that more.... Thank you. 

My father in law funded an IRA for my wife starting when she a teenager and could earn enough to qualify to contribute. He was not by any means a wealthy man but he understood the value of dollar cost averaging over time. It's true that the money invested was worth more then and one must, if contributions are made for a teenager, wait a very, very long time for that money. More than 40 years. That said, you wouldn't !@#$% believe it.

[Fuzz]

1 hour ago, wineguy said:

Exactly!!   Sorry about that US term.  Individual Retirement Account.  Funded personally usually with some tax advantages up to a certain income threshold.  But it is a great idea for the kids since they would be under the threshold and the money would grow for decades... 

Oh right, like superannuation we have here in Aus.

[MD Puffer]

1 hour ago, Fuzz said:

Oh right, like superannuation we have here in Aus.

And because I pay him on a 1099 just under the amount required to file, it’s a deductible/operating expense for me and he doesn’t have to file a return.