I was 18 when I first started smoking, and I smoked around 20 a day. I wanted to quit mainly because my partner was smoking as well, and we were spending a lot of money on smoking. We were wage-to-wage and were having to borrow money the week before pay day. I just feel, now that I am in my late thirties, I should have more in the bank. So, I really wanted to quit for money, for health, and also for the kids. I remember when I was a kid, my sense of smell was affected by my dad’s smoking, and I didn’t want to do the same thing to my kids.
I heard of the service through the chemist. I had tried to stop smoking before, which lasted for 6 months, and that was through the chemist – so when I went back, I was asked to use your service. For NRT products, I used patches and a vape, but I stopped using the patches after a while. I went down in strengths with the patches, then I forgot to put one on one day by accident – I struggled, but I managed. But then I kept forgetting to put the patches on, and I realised I had went two days without them – so I just stopped.
In terms of cravings I had, the hardest part of quitting for me was the routine cigarettes. When it came to after eating food, waking up or going to bed, I would smoke. This time [quitting for the second time], I said to myself I was ready. I said: “It was not the nicotine that I missed, it was the activity”- and once you figure that out, it sort of fixes your brain.
“For 16 years, I had a cigarette to my mouth… but now there is no going back for me”.
Recently, I have went through a really hard time – but I didn’t even think about smoking. It was the anniversary of my son’s death – and I was in a bad state, crying, and having brain fog at work. I went through the hardest thing I could go through – but I didn’t even think about smoking.
That was because this time, I was ready. I told my brain ‘I’m done’. You have to do it at a time that is right for you, and this time, it was right for me.
After quitting, I started saving money left right and centre. I haven’t been borrowing money before payday, and I have money left in the bank every month. I realised I had been spending £800 a month on cigs. The first time I had pay after quitting, I used the money saved to buy a passport, then next month I bought my kids’, and then I got my wife one! We have just booked a holiday abroad to Spain with the money saved from quitting.
I also bought a bike, so that I could start cycling to work, and get exercise. This summer, we went to Blackpool and did loads of activities like the pleasure beach – where the kids could go on rides and have ice-creams. None of those activities would have happened before, because we would have spent that money on tabs.
The part of the service that helped me the most was Simon [my advisor]. Just knowing you were getting that phone call in a week, or two weeks, made the difference. Simon helped so much – knowing how proud he was [of my journey] and like he couldn’t wait to hear the next part of my story, and all my successes. Having someone being so happy for you can make you happy for yourself.
I would recommend the service, I told the guys at Men’s Pie Club about how great the service is, and about getting a free vape – I even accidentally ran into Simon there while I was talking about it! If I could say anything to someone wanting to quit, it would be to phone Simon! Or give them the number to the service. But I’d also tell someone, make sure you are ready, and know you are done. Also, don’t be scared to change NRT products if they are not working; be honest on the phone about your cravings. Overall, I am happy the service was available.