Up In Smoke 1 of 2, by Rachel Sanfordlyn Shreckengast

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So, you're a smoker. You don't need me to tell you that the most frugal option is to quit smoking. That's a given and you already know it anyways. Not only are cigarettes expensive and taxed beyond belief, but the cost that cigarettes place on your health is also expensive. We all know the damage that cigarettes cause, but it is not the intent of this article's author to preach to you as she realizes that smoking is an addiction, rather than a habit.

If you are thinking of quitting, I'll give you more frugal options to deal with the cost of smoking cessation. If you aren't thinking of quitting or are trying to save money while you try to quit, I'll give you more frugal options for both those options as well. In this article, I'd like to focus on more frugal options than traditional so that less of your money goes "up in smoke". You've likely been yelled at enough and hopefully I succeed in providing the information in a more balanced manner than most articles on the subject.

Thinking of Quitting?

Your first stop should be to a site called QuitSmokingSupport.com. It is an extensive site that provides information on nearly everything dealing with smoking cessation. I've included the resource here because it is so extensive and because, quite simply, it is one of the best sites of its type.

Perhaps, you've tried quitting on your own and found that you need more than determination and support. Don't beat yourself up over it, most people do. Usually, this is when smoking cessation products come into play. There are plenty of smoking cessation products on the market, including; herbal products, patches, gum and various other products (which can sometimes be quite strange and unusual) such as the LifeSucker.

One of the big problems with the smoking cessation products is their cost. The Zyban (a prescription cessation product) doctor site provides a handy little price comparison chart that compares the costs between the most popular smoking cessation products. Though the comparison chart is only on the doctor site, the consumer site contains some information on yearly cigarette costs, so I've included that as well. Of course, the focus of this article is to give you more frugal options, so lets get on with it.

One frugal option for smoking cessation products is to buy generics. That's right, generic smoking cessation products are on the market. The price difference isn't great, but you'll save quite a bit over the long run. Below is a comparison for various products. I'll link to the store I found the price at, the product itself and the generic equivalent and include as much information as I can for each product. These comparisons are not meant to show you the lowest price, but to compare how much you can save. Please note that the prices are correct as of April 2002 and prices may fluctuate as a result of sales, discounts, price increases or for other reasons.

Nicoderm CQ, 21 mg, Step 1 - 14 count - $38.99

Carrot Sticks

Celery Sticks

Mini Pretzels or pretzel sticks

Regular Chewing Gum

Straws (cut same size as cig and pretend)

Toothpicks

A few final tips in this section and I'll move on to the next section;

- Drink mainly water (it makes cigarettes taste worst)
- Don't stop trying if you slip up (keep trying)
- Take up a hobby that uses your hands (quilting, knitting, sewing, cross stitch, etc)
- Avoid alcohol and/or bars or clubs
- If possible, avoid other smokers (being around the smoke makes you want a cigarette)
- Stay/Get Active (helps you avoid the weight problem & keeps your mind off of cigarettes/smoking)

PAGE TWO: Cutting Costs of Smoking

Best Wishes,
Rachel Sanfordlyn Shreckengast
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