The Quit for New Year’s Top Ten Quit list

ASH Media Release

21 December 2006

For immediate release

The Quit for New Year’s Top Ten Quit list: Your resolution solution
- Save and earn a real holiday

Imagine the Christmas holiday you’ve always dreamed of, but never got around to saving for it. Beat your craving and try saving the money you spend on cigarettes each year. You’ll be amazed how much money you can save!

“If you smoke 20 cigarettes a day you will on average save $ 3200 a year. Imagine what you could do with that money. Added to that is the health benefit of quitting smoking,” says Sneha Paul, ASH spokesperson.

Take a note pad: Write down how many cigarettes you smoke per day? Then write down how much you spend on these cigarettes each day? Multiply them. Now multiply that number by 365 (days). That is the amount you spend on cigarettes every year.

If you’ve made your New Year’s resolution to quit smoking, congratulations! You’ve just made the best decision for your finances and health! One of the keys to successful quitting is good preparation - getting yourself ready mentally and physically so that you'll be able to meet the challenge.

Here are some more tips that might help.

1. You need to want to quit. This is the single most important factor that will help you give up smoking. You need to believe in yourself. Think of all the smokers you’ve known who have successfully quit. If they can do it, you can do it too.

2. If you need to, use nicotine replacement therapy. If you smoke cigarettes every day, you’re probably addicted to nicotine. Cigarettes are loaded with nicotine, which is highly addictive. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) can help you manage your cravings, increasing your chances of successfully quitting. Call the Quitline on 0800 778 778 or talk to your GP or pharmacist for information on NRT. There are many different types of nicotine replacement therapy including patches, gum and nasal spray.

3. Quitting means never having another smoke, not even one puff. As nicotine is highly addictive, having another puff is flirting with danger and could leave you smoking again. Remind yourself how far you've come - think about what it would be like to have to go through that again.

4. Get some moral support. Quit with a friend you’ll have support or call (0800-778-778) the Quitline has and talk to one of their counselors.

5. Consider all of the options. Quitting is different for everybody as people smoke different amounts in different ways at different times. Check out the range of quit smoking options now available.

6. Think of any withdrawal symptoms you may experience as recovery signals. It’s a positive thing. Your body is dumping the chemicals from cigarettes and becoming healthier.

7. The urge to smoke will pass! It may help to know that cravings last no more than a few minutes, and they go away on their own. Most relapses (starting again after stopping) happen in the first week of quitting. If you relapse at any time, don't consider your efforts a failure; you have learned from it. Use your new knowledge and continue on.

8. Think about the money! If you smoked around 20 a day, you’ve been handing the tobacco industry and the tax department about $3200 of your money every year. This financial arrangement has now ended. Permanently. You can reward yourself with the $3200 you’ve saved this time next New Year’s.

9. Practice the 4Ds: Do something else to take your mind off it. Delay acting on the urge to smoke, it will pass. Deep breathe. Take a long breath in and slowly let it out again. Do this three times. Drink Water. Sipping water gives you something to do with your hands and helps flush tobacco chemicals from your body.

10. Don’t give up on your plan to quit!

ENDS

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