The Stoptober 2014 Challenge - How much will you save? 22 September 2014 at 1:04PM edited 20 October 2014 at 9:10AM in Health & Beauty MoneySaving 306 replies 28.3K views

Former_MSE_Megan

This morning (Wed 1 October) we ran a celebrity twitter Q&A with Lee Nelson, a Stoptober ambassador on the hashtag #AskLeeNelson from our @MSE_Forum twitter account. Thank you to everyone who joined in

MSE Megan also visited one of the Stoptober Roadshows. She's blogged on both and you can read it here: Stoptober blog

Hi everyone,

Next month marks the start of Stoptober, the 28 day, stop smoking challenge. As cigarettes are getting increasingly pricier, Stoptober is a great opportunity to see how much you're really spending over the course of a month.

So here at MSE Towers we want to know if you're taking part in Stoptober and how much money you'll save.

The Challenge

• Vote in the poll above with how much you think you spend on cigarettes a month and we'll run another one at the end of October to see how much you really saved.

• From the 1st of October until the 28th of October, keep track of your progress in your signatures, eg. "My Stoptober savings so far: £55". Hopefully it'll help keep you on track if you have a reminder of your savings each time you post!

• Use our Demotivator tool for those moments when you're in need of some support. Put your details in and it'll tell you how many weeks you'll work just to fund your smoking habit. It also works for those daily lattes or magazines, reminding you that it all adds up over time!

We'll also be cheering you on over on our Twitter account, MSE_Forum so send us a quick tweet if you're in need of some support.

Seeing as this is a forum challenge it wouldn't be right if MSE Badger wasn't involved. A new badge 'Stoptober Survivor' has been introduced, especially for this challenge.

All you have to do to get it is make it through Stoptober and track how much you save on this thread!


The Info

Here are some important links where you can find out more about Stoptober and how you can get involved. There's a free Stoptober starter pack to sign up for on their website which will help keep you on track

• The MoneySavingExpert's No-butts Money Saving Guide
• The MoneySavingExpert's Demotivator - Stop spending when you can't afford it
• Stoptober - Free Support pack on sign up
• Stoptober Youtube channel
• NHS - Smoke Free
  

There's a week until it begins so you've got time to vote on our poll and to mentally prepare yourself if you're taking part!

Let me know if you're taking part and I'll add your name to the list below...

Stoptober 2014 Participants

1. Saver88
2. lysz
3. youth leader
4. bella165
5. sunshineyday
6. OutofDebt-NOT-OutofDanger
7. so very confused
8. HPoirot
9. monz
10. Fergie42
11.kittykat17
12. Mystikia
13. piglet25
14. Baileysonice
15. Rosieinthesnow
16. Mullhon2
17. thriftylynny
18. jac53
19. Dreaming_of_Kubera
20. money maker
21. Woodster76
22. grandmasam
23. CoffeeQueen
24. crayola88
25. Dondons
26. Laurajo
27. mandi
28. Flutterby83
29. merzal
30. redfragglebiker
31. jayjay21
32. missmilly
33. Bonfire Bride
34. Annie6
35. funkyfreks
36. cydney65
37. penny411
38. Donnylover

Good luck Money Savers!




If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply!

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Saver88

Count me in please

Kiwisaver_2

I'll just be a cheerleader having given up myself more than three and a half years ago with help, encouragement and support from lovely people on MSE.

I am sure I never would have done it on my own and owe a debt of gratitude to all the folks on here that contributed to my journey to freedom from smoking. The power is within us to want to stop but it really does make it so much easier to cope when you can check in with your online buddies and they understand exactly what you're going through.

My advice for now would be to start thinking about a strategy and what weapons you're going to choose to fight your addiction to Nasty Old Nick o'tine. Check out the links, talk to your doctor or pharmacy about what what's available to you, be it patches, gum or otherwise. There is a lot of help available and you don't need to feel like you're alone in the battle.

If I can do it, really anyone can !! :T

Good luck everyone!!

lysz

Count me in too please. I just signed up on the Stoptober website.

Former_MSE_Megan

KiwiSaver wrote: »

I'll just be a cheerleader having given up myself more than three and a half years ago with help, encouragement and support from lovely people on MSE.

I am sure I never would have done it on my own and owe a debt of gratitude to all the folks on here that contributed to my journey to freedom from smoking. The power is within us to want to stop but it really does make it so much easier to cope when you can check in with your online buddies and they understand exactly what you're going through.

My advice for now would be to start thinking about a strategy and what weapons you're going to choose to fight your addiction to Nasty Old Nick o'tine. Check out the links, talk to your doctor or pharmacy about what what's available to you, be it patches, gum or otherwise. There is a lot of help available and you don't need to feel like you're alone in the battle.

If I can do it, really anyone can !! :T

Good luck everyone!!

Well done for stopping Kiwisaver That's great to hear the forum helped you as well, we're hoping it'll do the same for everyone signing up to stop this year!

Those are some great tips on fighting the addiction - I've heard that air-popped popcorn is a great way to replace cigarettes and occupy your hands. And no oil is used, so it's incredibly low in fat.


Anyone else have any good tips or distractions?

youth_leader

I'd like to be included too please. I think good tips for keeping off them is to imagine you are in the hygienists chair at the dentists - after 40 years my gums are shot and having them cleaned is agony. Why am I doing it to myself!!

MrJester

Good luck to everyone taking part in Stoptober. I did last October, and have been smoke free since.

Look after your body, and everything else will fall into place

Tropez

Haven't had a cigarette in almost two years now.

Alas, I did just move to e-cigarettes....

bella165

Count me in ive been smoking 27 years and ive invested in a vape ecig i gave up drinking 2 and ahalf years ago and feel if i can do that i can do this but i deffo will need some support so maybe we can all help each other well heres hoping

Pleut

There's no 'I don't smoke' option in the poll =(

I quit around a year ago and yay

Former_MSE_Megan

Added everyone to the post so far! Well done you lot saying you've already quit - you're proof that you can really do it I suspect you'll be the best people to speak to throughout the month for some tips and support.