My Quitting Smoking Diary - yours too!

downnotout

Sue, my life is and has been very stressful I have had to take 12 months of Uni because my home life was deemed to be too stressful. However I have always been crap with cash, I have tended to "keep spending until I run out". What I am trying to do at the moment is to structure a realistic budget, not a fanciful one where I am set to fail. That is why I am using only £3.50 of my "smoking money" per day on my overdraft, and not the full £7.13 I normally spend. That way I hope to be able to see some financial gain as in having more left in my account, at the same time having the overdraft being paid off. My OH comes from a family that have never had to struggle, her parents bring in over 4k a month, and live in this really nice big house, with the whole trim, conservatory, expensive BBQ an Audi convertible and new mini on the front drive etc etc..... whereas we live in a run down, ex council 3 bed semi in a drab area around the corner from an industrial estate lol. On the flip side she doesn't really have anything that she spends money on, she doesn't like clothes shopping, hates shoes and doesn't really like to spend on nights out. Her ONLY vice is that she likes to spend a fortune on a hair cut every 6 weeks or so, and that costs about £70 a time. She does smoke too, but doesn't want to give up, its her choice but with a baby on the way she has cut right down.

whereas me? well I come from a debt ridden family, only now is my dad getting on top of things, he says its because he doesn't have to finance a house full of kids any more I spent my late teenage years living life to the max, for example, I got up on Monday morning fed up with working, so I booked a flight out to Chicago and stayed with some internet friends for a month came back to no job but a nice barclay card with a grand limit to tide me over :)the day before it was due i would go to the cash machine and draw out the minimum payment, to go in to the bank the next day and pay it, it wasn't real money
My biggest thing is this, I learnt my money lesson, I don't regret it because the memories are everything but now I am still paying for it. One day I will be debt free though and all will be well with the world. I might even get on to the property ladder yet!

Sue-UU

Ahhh, I'm with you now, downnotout.Still, no good looking back as you need to look ahead to a much brighter future which will come IF you always take care of those pennies. It may seem a heck of a long road ahead, but with patience and determination (much like quitting ) you will get there and be smiling.

It must be a bitter pill to swallow with your OH's parents (4k a month!!!), but so long as you're both relatively happy, the struggle will help definitely help strengthen you.

A shame your OH smokes too, but a least it's minimal, outside too I hope. £70 for a trim (!!!) every 6 weeks is huge, but buying clothes, shoes and the like would be more than that, I presume, though it depends on the lady. I cost my DH very little now I've quit.

Your Dad just about hit the nail squarely on the head with his words. Kiddies are costly critters I can vouch for that, but again we all need to 'cut our clothes according to the cloth', be firm and fair and never be over generous - they won't thank you for it!

Right, you've had your fun, it's now time to clear the debt and be proud and it'll happen as long as you're also firm with yourselves!!

In future, when you're about to buy yourself something - ask yourself "do I need it or do I just want it? If it's neither, leave it on the shelf, of it's the latter the same applies. If you're unsure - leave it until another day. What strikes us as good one day doesn't always do so the next. If you have any left-over luxuries (sorry, just in case) why not try to sell them.

Your last sentence is very true, keep looking to the future, but get the debts paid back asap.

Best wishes,

Sue xx Don't forget the Quitters Pledge above

SaLoGo

166million wrote: »

Has anyone had big, red raised patches on their skin after using nicotine patches? Mine are appalling. They are gradually fading over weeks

I get a red patch, but it's not really raised. They used to itch at forst, but now they don't. What is funny though is that the hair where I put them has gone!!!

Still going strong at 9 weeks 3 days or 2 months and 6 days... haven't decided which to use lol

Sue-UU

SaLoGo wrote: »

What is funny though is that the hair where I put them has gone!!!

Still going strong at 9 weeks 3 days or 2 months and 6 days... haven't decided which to use lol

Hi Sal, I see you're still doing remarkably well and counting each and every day of successful quitting. Really great work. :T BTW, did you download the Silk Quit meter to keep check on your savings, amount not smoked and life saved etc? If not, here's the link to do so, if you wish http://www.silkquit.org/sqmmiv/meter.aspx

Re the hair not growing back from where the patches have been: I can only presume that with some people it must do something to the hair follicles. Another one for your Pharmacist or D perhaps. I'm positive it's nothing to be at all concerned about, just puzzling to an inquiring mind. If you find out please let me know...also if they start to come back.

Keep up the great work, Sal. :T

Sue x

Keep staying strong everyone, this is all so very worth doing...so worth the temporary struggle for the huge long term benefits. It's not beyond anyone to quit and stay quit. So many of us here on MSE have achieved what we thought was the unthinkable - YOU can too!

Sue x

SaLoGo

Sue-UU wrote: »

Re the hair not growing back from where the patches have been: I can only presume that with some people it must do something to the hair follicles. Another one for your Pharmacist or D perhaps. I'm positive it's nothing to be at all concerned about, just puzzling to an inquiring mind. If you find out please let me know...also if they start to come back.

I'm not worried! It's all at the top of my legs, so it's was very fine hair to start with. I was thinking of using them all the way down my legs so I don't have to shave!

downnotout

"Today I promise not to smoke any cigarettes, tomorrow - if I wish - I may do."
Kids at school, and no Fag I must admit that the cravings are loud and proud this morning Still every 5 mins.

Sue-UU

SaLoGo wrote: »

I'm not worried! It's all at the top of my legs, so it's was very fine hair to start with. I was thinking of using them all the way down my legs so I don't have to shave!

Hi Sal, you should definitely do that...how about drawing little faces on each, with each smile getting wider the longer you go for??? :think:

Maybe not. Another non-smoking day on the go then! :j

Sue x

downnotout wrote: »

"Today I promise not to smoke any cigarettes, tomorrow - if I wish - I may do."
Kids at school, and no Fag I must admit that the cravings are loud and proud this morning Still every 5 mins.

Ohhhhh, GREAT news, downnotout!!!! You're doing yourself proud already as it's making that actual beginning that's the hardest part. You've started saving already!!!

I love the way you put the Quitters Pledge on, stick to it DNO.

Don't forget - sips of water, apples, oranges and ice pops/poles
Take deep breaths, and if necessary..go to your back door and stand and mimick smoking a fag, with the 2 fingers going to the mouth as though you were doing the dirty deed (yuk!). We had one successful quitter who was helped this way (Hi DD) in fact swore by it. It also helps fill the time, but you're only inhaling...sweet fresh air!

I know you said you were staying in, but do consider going for a walk, it really will help those cravings. Keep very busy whatever you do.

Have you downloaded the Silk Quit meter? If not the link is on my post to Sal yesterday

I'm wishing you so very, very much - be strong!

Sue xx

downnotout

Even had something to eat now, without a fag

Sue-UU

Brilliant DNO...you see...life really does still go on without those nasty, dirty little devils in our lives!

Don't forget the exercise to release those endorphins, any sort will do, it keeps you you and your brain active and does you the world of good. Has your wife got any exercise dvds? If so get yourself a workout, you'll be buzzing afterwards. Also, you want to have a good night's sleep so keep busy.

Be so proud of every hour that passes....it's a tenny bit more life snatched back for you.

Sue x

downnotout

Is it normal to have a heightened awareness dog those who have just had a smoke? I have been to the shop to get some milk and I could smell it a mile off.