Quit smoking and save some cash

Northland smokers are being reminded they will be saving more than their lives if they kick the nicotine habit this year - they'll also be saving a sizeable amount of cash.
Quitting smoking is one of the most popular, and most broken, of New Year's resolutions and Northland's smokefree co-ordinator, Bridget Rowse, hoped a 10 per cent tobacco tax hike that kicked in on January 1 would help those wanting to give up.
The price of cheaper cigarette brands was expected to rise from about $14.60 for a packet of 25 to more than $16.
Ms Rowse, from Northland District Health Board, said it was getting more expensive to smoke but with people able to get subsidised medication, it's never been cheaper to quit.
Last Saturday the price of cigarettes and loose tobacco went up by another 10 per cent as the second of the Government's three scheduled tobacco tax increases took effect.
Ms Rowse is urging smokers to beat the price increase and consider quitting this summer.
"The cost of smoking is going up, but the cost of quitting hasn't changed. So if you give up now, you'll be saving money and you might just be saving your life as one in two smokers will die as a result of their smoking," she said.
Ms Rowse said for $3 smokers could get hold of an eight-week supply of nicotine gum, patches or lozenges from Quitline or any health professional.
"At $3 for a month's supply, the patches, gum and lozenges are among the cheapest in the world. They'll take the edge off your cravings and make you more likely to stay quit - you'll double your chances for less than a quarter the cost of a packet of smokes," she said.
"It's never been cheaper to quit. If you've been thinking of giving up, get hold of a prescription or quitcard and set a quit date. The gum, lozenges and patches are designed to take the edge off the cravings so you can focus on building new habits and routines."
To get help to stop smoking, talk to a health provider, Aukati Kai Paipa quit coach, call Quitline on 0800 778 778 or www.quit.org.nz.
People wanting quitting support by text message can sign up with the Txt2Quit service by texting "quit" to 3111 (it's free).
 
10 TIPS TO QUIT
- Believe you can quit smoking - and have a clear idea of why you want to quit
- Create a plan - how will you get through the times when you'd usually reach for a cigarette?
- Set a quit date
- Talk to your doctor and find out what resources are available
- Tell family and friends what you are doing so they will support you
- Start an exercise regime. It will give you something to focus on - and heavy smoking and exercise do not co-exist well
- Find someone else who is trying to quit and do it with them
- Know your triggers: Do you want to smoke when you are stressed or nervous?
- Don't think of it as forever if that's too hard: Don't smoke for one week, then another month, then another month
- Drink water - it will flush out the toxins and nicotine more quickly