What do you mean by affordable - by the box?

[RevSmoke]

I have noticed a couple time people asking for advice as to affordable cigars with specific flavor profiles. However, when I think of affordable, some of the suggsted cigars would NEVER be what I consider affordable.

Now, I'm going to narrow this down a bit, I am talking about buying in quantity. While we may splurge to buy that one time stick for more than we normally would when we find one at the B&M, I am speaking about normal purchases of boxes and/or bundles.

Now, while buying a box prices can vary a bit. What I mean is, that $100 for a box of 20 is not the same as $100 for a box of 25, and certainly a far cry from $100 for a box of 50.

So, when you think of affordable - and like I said, I mean when buying a box or bundle - what do you consider an affordable price per stick?

At my home, cigars come out of what I call "disposable income." This is money that isn't part of the regular budget, could be gifts or honorariums, but it isn't normal budgeted $$.

As that is the case, I personally like to keep my cigar price under $5.00 a cigar. And I really prefer $3.50 per stick and less. If I watch the deals, I can usually manage that.

So, how about you?

[Blueface]

Affordable:
What I can get away with paying off without the wife knowing or screaming at me about it.
Affordable.

[Volt]

Good question Todd. For me as you say, the daily smoke, I my range is in the $4 - $7 area. Sometimes a touch more or a bit less if I'm on Cbid, but this range keeps me in just enough to smoke and bomb out (must always have ammo ). Typically ammo is more than I can bring myself to smoke. But as we all have have different budgets I would imagine "affordable" has a lot of room for interpretation.

I don't smoke every day, so for me my budget can go a bit higher. I usually go for sticks in the 8-10 dollar range and smoke 3-5 per week.

[Skywalker]

Great thread Rev! You're keeping it real!!!

I love a good bargain, but I look for "value" more than cheap, if that makes sense. If I can find what I like at $2.00 or $2.50 a stick (per box/bundle) then that is what I going to purchase without question.

Is this a part of my regular household budget??? No!

I tried budgeting and doesn't work for me. I find something and spend my budget... then another deal comes up and I can't resist... then I feel guilty because I'm over my allowance!

Am I going into debt (credit) to pay? No! I go without other luxuries or entertainment!

This year I hope I do better! I have my daughter's wedding to pay for, and who knows where this economy is going to take us!

[md4958]

When I first started smoking nothing over $5 was "affordable". Now, because I smoke much less often, I prefer a nicer smoke, and I'd say $10-$12 would be "affordable". Maybe because Im smoking less than half as much as I used to.

[captain53]

I try to keep my "everyday" smokes (even though I do not smoke everyday) at around $3-3.50 maximum but I shop very hard on the specials to get good stuff for this price range. I keep 50-75 "sort of special smokes" in the humi that range from $5-10 mostly but again I buy them on the best of specials and they usually represent $10-20 retails. I keep a few (maybe 5 or 6) true "top shelf" stix in there at around $20-25 but rare for me to smoke more than 1 or 2 of these a year. (I only buy NC's)

I have found if you really watch the Monster, CI and Cigar.com you can get some super stix for $2.50-3.50.

[Whynot]

I generally try to stay under 4 for a regular smoke. Diesel, samplers, Famous, and RP have made that fairly easy. I smoke 1 or 2 a day. I have found Cohiba(ReD Dot obviously) Pequenos to be fairly good and cheap smokes when I am trying to squeeze 1 in at lunch or something.

[14holestogie]

The cheaper, the better. What was a range of $2-$4 a year ago has grown to $4-$8 these days. I suppose as my palate continues to morph, that could go higher, but I don't see myself spending $250 or more on a box of cigars in the future.

[captain53]

I forgot to mention that by the box I only buy two smokes, LFD's and LGC's unless there is a super box special or something unusual I want only sold by the box. These two are usually in the $150-175 range by box.

[pmwz]

affordable for me is up to 5€/stick. i dont like paying much more for a cigar. i dont really have a budget but if i buy pricier sticks i usually add a couple of RyJ mille fleurs or JLP petit cazadores to come down to a lower average stick price.

Most of the cigars I really like enough to keep re-buying a box of are between $5 and $10. Even cigars that go for $12 or so can be found on sale for less.
I think Bluface's definition above fits perfectly.

[68TriShield]

I will rarely spend more than 140 to 150 per box.Usually it's closer to 80 to 100 dollar boxes.

[htown]

If I am buying just a few cigars I will sometimes buy in the $10-$17 range, but when buying boxes I usually stay in the $4-$6 range.

[roughrider]

$6-10 sticks for me.

[kcmontie]

I really try and stay on budget but if I see something I must have I find a way to buy it..

[Bax]

For me it's all about enjoyment of the stick. I rather enjoy 25 of a great 8 dollar stick then 50 of a so-so stick at 4 bucks a stick. That means I smoke alot less but that's OK for me. Price top outs at between 200-250 a box usually but a box might last me 10 months to a year.

[CasaDooley]

Originally Posted by 68TriShield

I will rarely spend more than 140 to 150 per box.Usually it's closer to 80 to 100 dollar boxes.

Me too! I like my box prices to average out between 2.50/5.00 per stick on boxes of 25 or 50.

[RevSmoke]

Thanks for the comments guys.

I think life is too short to smoke cigars I don't enjoy. I try things, and may pay more than I'd normal to try them. Then, I watch for those same sticks to come into my "comfortable pricing" range.

[bobarian]

Actual price is not as relevant to me as value. I try to keep things under $200 a box and for the most part I am closer to $150. But I no longer buy NC's so does this mean I can double my price range and budget??? I've already exceeded by 2010 budget, but that was not the question!