And to be honest, it has been easier than I thought/feared it would be. Today marks a week without smoking after smoking for the past 18 years...one and half to 2 packs a day for the past 10 years. I'm 2 weeks shy of my 32nd birthday, and I guess I really just had it with smoking. I've tried the gum, the patch, Welbutrin, Chantix...all to no avail. This time, I smoked my last pack and was just done with it.

Although preserving my health is a motivating factor, preserving my wallet is right up there. To sit down and calculate my smoking expenses literally made me feel ill...$12-16 daily, and for what?

I know it's early, but I am ecstatic...and completely surprised at how easy it has been so far. After a week of not smoking, I can't see it becoming any more difficult, but I need to stay on my toes and make sure I don't become lazy or complacent. Maybe quitting drinking and other stuff before has helped make it a more familiar routine this time, who knows...just glad to not be smoking.