The Student Finance Blog

For this post I will be speaking about my personal experience from the early days of my University life.  It was the first time I had really been away from home for an extensive period of time so it was pretty cool that you could do whatever you wanted without any parents nagging or shouting in your ear.  I had always been a moderate smoker, or what most people would call a casual smoker, but a couple of weeks into Uni I started smoking much more and eventually during the day until I got addicted.  I quit after around a year but it wasn’t easy but I’m so glad I managed to pull it off, especially after analyzing not only the obvious health risks, but the massive financial impact smoking has on a student’s finances.

Reasons to Quit Smoking

• The obvious health risks and effects.  Short, medium and long term.

• It’s disgusting.  Lets face it, smoking tastes horrible, it leaves a disgusting smell all over you and wherever you go.  Most people don’t want to sit or stand next to a smoker.
• Finances.  It’s a very expensive habit, this is explored in more detail below.
• Having to stand outside the pub getting soaked just for your nicotine hit.
• It’s not nice being dependant on something.

The Financial Impact
Most smokers try to ignore this aspect of smoking, as they are often surprised by how much they could save if they gave smoking the boot, after all it’s an addiction so people see it as a necessary expense.  They average smoker is on around 10 cigarettes a day, these days that adds up to at least £2.60 a day.  In a week the average smoker will have wasted £18.20, these figures are getting pretty scary, especially when you consider that’s over £72 per month.  I’ll leave the annual figure up to yourselves, it’s not nice!  20 a day smokers will be spending double this amount which can have a serious financial impact on any individual, let alone students.  The pretty sad thing is that it was these financial implications was the main motivation for me when I decided to quit smoking.

Quiting Advice

• See a doctor, they can offer so much useful advice.
• Set a quit date and stick to it, remove all signs of smoking and temptations on this day, this includes smoke drenched clothing.
• Keep a diary.  A diary can be useful tool for motivation and noting how you deal with good and bad days.
• Will power, this is needed at all times, even if you are using some of the mentioned techniques below.
• Inhalators are extremely useful for people who like the hand-to-mouth action, it also gives you a nicotine hit.
• Patches provide a steady stream of nicotine to help relieve your cravings.
• Nicotine gums are successful as they give you a steady hit.
• Don’t give in to peer pressure.  Just because your friends still smoke, don’t let this be a temptation.

Overall you will feel so much better and healthier after kicking the habit, so whatever you reasons for doing so, take the plunge and quit!

We would love it if you could share your tips and experiences in the comments box below.

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