Abbey: Give up smoking for a financial boost

Regular smokers spend around £170 on the habit each month, new analysis from Abbey has shown.According to the firm, giving up cigarettes can therefore be of significant benefit to personal finances - as well as to health.By quitting, around £2,000 can be generated in a top-rated savings account after just 12 months, Abbey claimed.The research found that a 20-per day smoker can also derive benefits by putting the money previously spent on cigarettes into overpaying his or her mortgage.In this way, the loan term of a typical £130,000 mortgage can be reduced by eight years - with a total of £50,000 extra paid.Commenting on the figures, director of savings and investments at Abbey Reza Attar-Zadeh said: "It goes without saying that giving up smoking is not only great for your health but also for your bank balance. Using the saving wisely could knock years off your mortgage."Abbey released the figures in the run-up to the one year anniversary of the nationwide ban on smoking indoors in public places, which was implemented on July 1st 2007.