QUITPLAN(R) Services Can Help Make Father's Day ...( Financial savings from quitting smok...),Health

Financial savings from quitting smoking add up to nice Father's Day gifts

MINNEAPOLIS, June 11 /PRNewswire/ -- As Father's Day approaches and many families look for the perfect gift for Dad, QUITPLAN(R) Services can help provide the gift of health by helping Dad quit smoking. Created by ClearWay Minnesota(SM), QUITPLAN Services provide free, professional counseling and a variety of help options for any Minnesotan looking to quit.

"We know that many Dads are trying to quit smoking and Father's Day may be the perfect motivation to give up tobacco for good," said David Willoughby, ClearWay Minnesota chief executive officer. "The health benefits to you and your family are worth the effort. And, with free help available from QUITPLAN Services to quit, it's always a good time to improve your health and save money."

In addition to improving the health of the smoker, the economic benefit to quitting smoking can really add up. Dad's cost savings if he chooses to quit could pay for some very nice Father's Day presents -- for himself. According to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, the average cost of a pack of cigarettes in Minnesota is $4.74. After quitting for one week, a pack-a-day smoker would save more than $33, enough to buy a new designer tie for Father's Day. In one month, the ex-smoker would save more than $146, or enough for a new charcoal grill and four ribeye steaks.

After six months, the ex-smoker would save more than $870, enough for a new set of graphite-shafted golf clubs. In one year, $1,740, enough for a flat-panel HDTV, and two years after quitting would save $3,480, enough for a zero-turn radius riding lawnmower. And, 35 years of being smoke-free would save more than $60,000, enough to buy a brand new 3.4 liter, 6-cylinder Porsche Boxster with navigation control and a six-speed manual transmission.

Aside from the cost to the smoker, tobacco use takes its toll on all Minnesotans. Each year, 5,600 Minnesotans die from
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