Likely we all spend differently depending upon each's situation. However, I think a lot of us who have recently joined this endeavor to sustain the culture? will spend more in the beginning as they accumulate experience.
I think pipe smoking has helped keep me alive because it has provided a relief from stress in so many ways.
When I bought my first cob, I had no idea, I had only recently returned to tobacco smoking, and that was ryo and after about yet another 5 yr quit. Once again...stress caught up with me.
In desperation, I smoked a cigarette. It seemed to help. I was rolling from an old batch of Drum or OHM that i'd kept hanging around. When I could get those papers that came with Drum, I was ok, but I was still not happy inhaling burnt paper.
I decided to go get a cob at the drugstore and within a month I found this forum and learned so much!
Nowadays I buy tobacco only, and only once or twice a year typically, in bulk, and about $200 at a time.
I live on a fixed income, within my means, and that too helps with stress relief.
View attachment 78014