Stoptober 2015 Hub - Join the challenges and more

kindofagilr

How is everyone getting on, day 11 for me, I've only just finished my first 10ml bottle of e-liquid, I'm amazed, £4.49 spent instead of £88 ish!! Xx

Former_MSE_Andrea

Day 12!

Are you still with us after the weekend?

The good old Stoptober kit says you should be getting your sense of taste back now and rediscovering flavours you've been missing out on.

Former_MSE_Andrea

Day 13

Are you struggling?

Do you need some distraction techniques?

• Start comping over on Competitions Time
• Start your own Debt Diary or join in with a Debt Free Wannabe Challenge
• Use your stop smoking savings to pay off your mortgage with other Mortgage Free Wannabes
• Get ready for Christmas over on our Christmas and Crafting boards
• Join our Old Style MoneySavers

And lots more...

Fran

Hi Smokey Folks!

I thought I would never give up as I smoked for many years, but I did nearly 3 years ago now!

The cost doesn't matter if you're an addict and I never counted how many. I just heard of yet another person I knew ill with a smoking-related disease and it was enough to stop me for a few hours. I read the website' whyquit.com' which has loads of info compiled by an ex smoker, including info about all the excuses we give ourselves and how smoking does not do the things you think it does. Also it's got a chart showing how things progress.

One of the most helpful things I read was to think of yourself as a 'smoke-aholic'. People seem to have some understanding of an 'alcoholic' and how a recovering alcoholic often can't touch a drink, well smoking is the same if you're addicted.

I didn't bother with e-fags, I mean, do we even know what's in them? Also what's the point in swapping one addiction for another form. All that fiddling around with fags, lighters, matches, e-fags or patches, what a waste of brain power! That's the main thing I'm so pleased about. I don't need to know the nearest place to buy tobacco or figure out who the smokers are in case I run out any more. I don't have to get anxious in long meetings because I am compelled to go and smoke.

The times I thought would be most difficult are not a problem at all, for instance outside bars or other places where I might have a drink. I thought I enjoyed being part of the outside gang but in fact people inside (in the warm) are also good to talk to and I don't miss it at all. It was all part of the con of addiction. As a smoke-aholic I hope I never smoke again.

So, however you do it, give up the whole thing. Good Luck!

:A

Former_MSE_Andrea

Wow, well done Fran!

It's obviously about health more than wealth but have you totted up your savings over the three years?

Former_MSE_Andrea

Day 14

If you've given up for two weeks(!) according to Stoptober you should be noticing fewer stains on your fingers now.

Show them off - you deserve to

Fran

I hadn't even thought of the saving before as I was glad to have stopped smoking, but a very conservative estimate of smoking rolling tobacco bought in cheapest supermarkets is about £5 to £10 per week, which is an amazing £780 to £1,560 for the 3 years. Add to that the occasional lighters/matches and maybe petrol for a trip or two to a garage/shop to buy tobacco and it's more than that!

Because of my current situation however I haven't felt the benefit of this extra money as the cost of everything has rocketed.

Put another way though, if I hadn't given up I would now be in serious financial trouble, even though that wasn't the reason I gave up!

Former_MSE_Andrea

Great that it helped so much then even though you didn't know it would at the time

kindofagilr

Day 16 for me here I'm not missing ciggies at all, so the vape is doing its job here, I've moved from 12mg to 6mg nicotine a few days ago as well, will prob use that for a while then plan to move to 0mg then no vape at all xx

Fran

"Not missing ciggies at all"..... great, keep going!