Are you a smoker looking to save money?
Giving up or reducing the amount you are smoking is a great way to do this, and it will benefit your health.
Whether you’re making a reduction or stopping smoking all together, it at all adds up. Not only could you save money but there are endless health benefits not only for you, but potentially others around you.
Help Me Quit is a free NHS service that supports people to quit smoking.
They have provided the table below that shows the financial cost of smoking cigarettes.
Use the table to find out how much you could save by stopping smoking. What could you put that money towards?
**Based on ONS data January 2023 – average price for pack of 20 cigarettes £12.84**
If you’re trying to change your smoking habits or are struggling with cravings, Help Me Quit has some great tips to help:
- Delay acting on the urge to smoke – see how you feel in 10 minutes.
- Distraction techniques – take your mind off the craving by doing something else: puzzles, arts and crafts activities, go for a walk, put some music on. These can all help focus your mind away from smoking and can also be good for your mental and physical wellbeing.
- Be aware of your drinking habits – sometimes people associate certain drinks with having a cigarette e.g, coffee, tea, alcohol. Being aware of that habit can help you plan ahead and make a change.
- Deep breaths – sit down and relax your body. Take five or ten deep breaths, holding the breath and then slowly exhaling each time.
- Reframe the thought of “I really need a need a cigarette!” to “What is the benefit of me smoking? What’s the positives of being a smoker?”
- Visualise success – each time you get a craving, think about the reason that is motivating you to stop smoking and imagine how it will feel when you achieve that goal.
- Nicotine replacement therapy products can also help with cravings and increase chances of successful quit attempts.
For more information and support, visit: www.helpmequit.wales or free phone 0800 085 2219 or text HMQ to 80818.
