How to Vape on the Cheap
A lot of us were told that taking up vaping would be cheaper in the long run over cigarettes. While that may be true for some, most of us quickly discovered that it’s very easy to outspend your former smoking budget.
30 days into vaping, I had already spent about four months worth of cigarettes. Sure, spending levels out over time for most people. But the initial discovery of what kind of vaping gear and e-liquid you prefer can be an expensive journey.
Here are several ways to help keep your spending under wraps:
Deal sites
Be sure to bookmark sites like Vapor Joe’s and Vapeals. These sites are updated frequently with awesome deals and coupon codes that will save you money.
Deal sites have RSS feeds and email lists that you should subscribe to in order to keep up to date on what’s out there.
Follow your favorite vendors
If you find yourself ordering from the same places, be sure to cyberstalk them. Subscribe to their newsletters and updates. Follow them on social media, so you can be informed of any sales they have going on.
Sometimes you can get a free coupon just for liking a vendor’s Facebook page or following them on Twitter.
Referral programs
Many vendors offer referral programs to gain new customers. If you refer a new customer, they give you store credit! Just be sure that whoever you are referring uses your link or referral code so that you can cash in.
Referrals are a great way to help a friend stop smoking and put a little coin in your pocket at the same time.
Drop suppliers a line
Send an email to a vendor and let them know they’re doing a great job, or better yet, write a testimonial or customer review.
Suppliers eat this stuff up, and will often thank you by sending a coupon or discount code your way.
Co-ops and group buys
One of the most effective ways to get a good deal is to buy in bulk. There are several Facebook groups dedicated to vaping group buys that allow you to purchase items at wholesale prices.
Be sure to check out the e-Cig sub on Reddit and your favorite vaping forum for a dedicated section for group buys.
Create a budget
Sometimes the simplest way to save money is to have your spending habit laid out right in front of you. It’s easy to lose track of how much we’re spending when there’s no actual tracking.
Keep your receipts and create a spreadsheet Excel or OneNote. Even a simple paper notebook or ledger is better than nothing. Create a budget and stick to it!
Switch to rebuildable coils
Clearomizer tanks can be expensive, checking in at $30-$40 each. Add to that the expense of replacing coils at least once per month, and they quickly become a money pit.
Don’t let all the talk of ohms and fear mongering of batteries blowing up intimidate you out of rebuilding your own coils. Yes, there is a learning curve, and safety needs to be a top priority. But DIY is far cheaper in the long run.
Make your own e-liquid
There is a huge retail markup on e-liquid, but you can DIY for mere pennies per milliliter. The retail cost of most e-liquid is about $0.30-$0.50 per ml. Some premium brands are closer to $1.00 per ml.
The most effective way to reduce your vape spending is to make your own e-liquid
You can make your own juice for less than $0.10 per ml. That’s an enormous savings. Yes, there is an initial cash outlay for DIY equipment, but it’s not bad. Some vendors sell DIY starter kits for about $50.
Just like with rebuilding your own coils, making your own juice has a learning curve, and a lot of vapers simply don’t want to mess with it.
If making your own e-liquid doesn’t appeal to you, then try to order your e-liquid in bulk. Buy bigger bottles to reduce your cost per ml as much as possible. Most vendors are also willing to offer discounts for larger purchases.
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