I'm averaging about 7 cigars a week, not once a day. I would say 5 of those are cigars that i know i like and they usually run in the $6 to $12 range. The other 2 usually fall in the $5 and under category.
My pattern is this. On a day when i'm traveling, which are generally day trips, i take 4 cigars. 2 that i've not tired yet (usually under $5) and 2 that i know i like (Tats, cabs and the like, usually above $6)
Times when i think i may not get to finish or when i'm doing something other than sitting and relaxing, i'll try something new or somehting i know to be "non premium" (under $5).
But as i've been building my colelction, i'm starting to only get the things i know i like. I'm not experiemtning as much as i was. I'm really getting a handle on what i like, so 75% of the time i smoke what i know i like.
Life's too short not to.
As for the $15 and over cigars, i only smoke those on special occassion. I smoked about 8 of them over the 4th of July holidays. I'll smoke 2 on my upcoming anniversary, July 28th. My birthday in Ocotober will get a good one. Our winter poker weekend at the cabin gets them, as does the fall camping trip. What qualifies for a special occassion for me is any time i get to check out of real life and not worry about a thing. During those occassions i make sure i'm only smoking things i like a whole lot. the best of my best.