Extra $600/month??

[Dgodus]

Rough go of quitting smoking. Figured it to cost me nearly 600 a month. So maybe getting some suggestions on what could be done with that extra money would provide some useful incentive. That's probably not a lot to most of you, and it's not really significant to me either, but it is easily my second largest expense per month after pooning.

We'll skip the obvious answer of an extra 2hr session every month. I could probably also use some new attire. Any kind of electronics is really out as I live in a camp (hooray living expenses are free!!) and have no real use for that stuff (outside of my computer).

As well any helpful advice/tips from people who've quit smoking would be appreciative (except nicotine replacements therapy, not interested, and I have reactions to drugs like champix so basically this is cold turkey). I've found quitting smoking boards, but they're pay sites??? wtf

Cheers

 

[Dgodus]

Bizarre thought. Save it?

Which is what more than likely what will happen.... But that doesn't really give any instant gratification thoughts when I'm sitting there really craving to go out and get some smokes now does it?

Just having money doesn't drive me. The thoughts on what can be done with it does.

 

[blazejowski]

Wire me the money, and I will poon for you out here....

 

[kso_wiz]

See the world. Have you been to Machu Picchu? Seen the pyramids? Cruised the Med? Safari in Africa? Instead of smoking, save the money for an annual trip to an exotic location you wouldn't otherwise have visited.

I really feel sorry for smokers. $600 a month? Incredible. How many packs a day does that work out to?

 

[Dgodus]

Put it into seeing 2 SP's a month...

Reading comprehension just fails you doesn't it?

Too many headshots during your hockey days.... Donkey....

How many packs a day does that work out to?

I smoke about 4 packs over 3 days, at 14-16 per, yup nearly 600.

 

[Big Dog Striker]

Add it to my regular donations to my favorite political party and charities. :nod:

 

[sensualsixty]

Buy shares in your favourite tobacco company

Back when I quit (finally) many years ago I put the price of a pack in a piggy bank each day. When I felt I had finally kicked the habit, I would put the month's accumulation in a bank account, and then, periodically I puchased shares of Imasco, the manufacturer of my brand Pall Mall. The savings plus dividends sure added up. I took a big hit when British American took over Imasco and had to pay tax (a high rate back then) on my capital gains. Tobacco companies are still considered a good, if unethical, investment today.

A change in circunstances caused me to drop my scheme, but if I had continued my guess is the assets would be worth over $250,000, which would come in handy for my longer life expectancy.

 

[Karl Blues]

When I quit smoking cigs cost around 3.50 per pack. There was no internet, or downloading etc., and I am a music nut, so I put the extra $ (for the first year) into buying cd's every week. This was a short-term gratification and something to look forward to every week, giving me incentive to stay away from smoking.

After the first year, I didn't need the weekly incentive so I put the $ into a separate fund. Over the years, I saved enough for a couple of great vacations, and down payment on a car.

Hope you stick with it. For me, it was the best thing I did, mostly for my health, but also for my wallet.

 

[PlayfulAlex]

Put it in the market...do it for the dividends...

http://www.google.ca/finance?client=ob&q=NYSE:PHK

PS Ex-smoker here too...quitting is worth every penny!

 

[Pillowtalk]

Travel. A friend of mine set aside the money she used to use on cigarettes into a vacation fund. Took some pretty nice trips every year. Your budget for smokes is a bit higher than hers, so you should be able to take more trips lol.

 

[nickcan]

I smoke about 4 packs over 3 days, at 14-16 per, yup nearly 600.

That works out to 40 packs a month.
Is a pack of cigarettes close to $15? I remember them to be about $8/pack but that was a while ago.

 

[wilde]

Rough go of quitting smoking. Figured it to cost me nearly 600 a month. So maybe getting some suggestions on what could be done with that extra money would provide some useful incentive. That's probably not a lot to most of you, and it's not really significant to me either, but it is easily my second largest expense per month after pooning.

We'll skip the obvious answer of an extra 2hr session every month. I could probably also use some new attire. Any kind of electronics is really out as I live in a camp (hooray living expenses are free!!) and have no real use for that stuff (outside of my computer).

As well any helpful advice/tips from people who've quit smoking would be appreciative (except nicotine replacements therapy, not interested, and I have reactions to drugs like champix so basically this is cold turkey). I've found quitting smoking boards, but they're pay sites??? wtf

Cheers

Try a buddy system, it has been shown in some studies to increase success.

Set up small milestones and reward yourself. For example, 10 days without a cig, treat yourself to a meal at your favourite restaurant.

Physical exercise increase your chances.

The hardest thing is to find something else to do when you are bored or stressed, which is when most people light up (other than after a meal or the 1st one in the morning).

If you relapse, it's not the end of the world. Don't let that be your excuse to quit quitting. Most people experience a few relapses before they quit for good. A few say they still miss it even after many years have passed.

I am in the same boat (although I have cut down to about 4-5 cigs a day if I don't go drinking), good luck man...

 

[blazejowski]

All kidding aside, good for you, man - I've always thought smoking was a pointless, disgusting habit, and I never understood the appeal...

 

[skiguru]

As well any helpful advice/tips from people who've quit smoking would be appreciative (except nicotine replacements therapy, not interested, and I have reactions to drugs like champix so basically this is cold turkey). I've found quitting smoking boards, but they're pay sites??? wtf


How about Prozac, cause you're going to be one grumpy dude. The first time I quit 20 years ago, my wife at the time went out and bought me a pack of smokes after 2 weeks, came home and threw them in my lap and said "here, now cheer the fuck up".

The last time I quit was pretty easy for some reason, although I was on vacation and maybe the lack of stress and new surroundings helped - it was easier to think and feel like a non-smoker.

I started again a while ago. I told myself it was just a hobby to keep me occupied while I was getting divorced and I'd quit when the papers are signed. At the rate it's going, I figure I'll be about 120 years old before I can quit. I think it's time for another vacation.

 

[Dgodus]

I am in the same boat (although I have cut down to about 4-5 cigs a day if I don't go drinking), good luck man...

Good luck to you too, and good job!

It's somehow easier while I'm at work and can keep myself busy (other than lunch + breaks which is really only an hour a day of gritting the teeth)

It's getting off work and trying to kill from 7pm till 9:30 when I can get into the gym that is murder and I collapse. That's what I figure I'd make the "spend money on this instead...." list for, as I can only play so much Civilization lol.

I did manage to stop for a few months before, but I was smoking pot everyday lol, guess that's like being on vacation! (not doing that again though, I like being able to speak coherent sentences)

I helped my first husband quit smoking by offering to give him a BJ every time he craved a cigarette.

...

...

It worked.

maybe I could find a woman who's quitting too, and when she craves I can provide her something else to orally fixate on:high5:

 

[COLONEL ANGUS]

I helped my first husband quit smoking by offering to give him a BJ every time he craved a cigarette.

...

...

...

...

It worked.

Was he a chain smoker ?:angel:

 

[Dgodus]

You might tuck that strategy away for that first really nasty craving, though if you are a Camel smoker you're plain out of luck unless you can find yourself a pack of Russian smokes.

Heh I've smoke cigars like cigarettes with hardly a cough, I dont think there's much that'll bother me lol

Did you have the reaction to Chantix that gave you "vivid or disturbing dreams"?

Dont I wish! Only time I've ever had those are the first few weeks after quitting drugs. No the pills cause pea sized hard lumps to swell up where you really dont want them (lets just say later that night it involved me hugging a bottle of CC sobbing that I didn't want them to be cut off - yea those pills got tossed pretty quickly.)

 

[Dgodus]

Think about what you would not like the taste of, but do not buy it ahead of time. Try to avoid the purchase for as long as possible so you have a true sense of personal shame for having to cave and so you don't cave too early. The greater the shock to your system that one smoke is, the better. Tossing out the remnants also lets you symbolically toss the habit, say good bye & quit again with fresh resolve.

Hmmm looks like I need to head to the states and find a 3 month old pack of Export green.

Knew someone who stopped smoking by still buying them and "rubbing" the tobacco out of each smoke every time he wanted one (instead of smoking) defeats the purpose for me as the main reason I wanna stop is money!

I'm laughing, is it at your expense? Maybe.

I wouldn't admit it if I didn't laugh at it now myself:thumb: