Smoke-Free Debt

Have you been thinking about quitting smoking? Then there’s no better time to do it than when you are in debt.

Reducing or quitting smoking is not only something that will add years to your life. It also will add dollars to your wallet. A person who smokes a pack per day will save an estimated $2,000 per year if they quit smoking. Quitting is both a money and life saver.

Of course, quitting smoking is easier said in an article than done in reality. Advice is easy to find, but hard to implement and harder still to sustain. Nevertheless, there are ways to go about it that can prove successful. 

If you want to go on this mission, one federal program offers the following tips: set a date to quit; toss the tobacco from your home, car and work; tell your family, friends and coworkers; anticipate the challenges; and talk to your doctor about the help he or she can provide. As you may know, there are medicines available that might help you along. These include the nicotine patch, nicotine gum or lozenge, nicotine nasal spray, nicotine inhaler, the antidepressant bupropion, and a medicine called varenicline.

Once you have started, there are things that you can do when the urges hit. Keep substitutes nearby – carrots, pickles, sunflower seeds, apples, celery, raisins, or sugar-free gum. Learn to relax by breathing deeply. Wash your hands, wash the dishes, or take a shower. Light incense or a candle. If the place you are at brings to mind a cigarette, go elsewhere. These are easy steps that you can take to help avoid a relapse. If you do relapse, keep in mind that it’s not unusual – many former smokers have done the same and still managed to quit. Keep at it. 

A complicating factor for a smoker in debt is the stress that comes with money problems. Stress often causes the desire for a cigarette. Debt also can be a time for down emotions, depression and anxiety, all of which make it harder to quit. If you are trying to quit, remember that smoking only masks the problem, and quitting actually decreases stress.

The health benefits are obvious – lessening the risk of heart disease, stroke, emphysema, chronic bronchitis and at least 13 kinds of cancer. You likely will have fewer days of illness, your cough can stop, and your sense of smell and taste can improve. Quitting smoking can bring about not only good health but strong financial health, as well.