So, you want to stop smoking and you are on a budget.  What will it take?  Will it be nicotine patches, lozenges, and inhalers or will you opt for prescription medications to help you overcome those nicotine cravings? Whatever you choose, there will be a cost involved, but, if you think of how much you will save in not buying cigarettes, your budget should look healthier, whatever your choice of stop smoking aids! Not only will your budget look healthier, but your body will too!  Even if you decide to jump in at the deep end and just quit, without relying on any aids, once you have got past the withdrawal stages, the health benefits that you will undergo when you stop smoking will soon be evident.

Is there a Right way?

Once you decide to stop smoking, the first thing to realize is that there is no right way to stop and what works for one person may not work for another.  It is also important to remember that very few people are able to give up smoking the first time around, in fact, it may take several attempts before you taste, the sweet, fresh taste of success! If you are relying on an aid to help you through and you don't succeed, be prepared to try something else or give the aid a second chance.  It may well work the second time around.

Economic influences

An interesting fact is that every time the price of cigarettes goes up, more people are motivated to stop smoking, so perhaps the state of the global budget and not your budget, will be the thing that influences you to stop.

"Even though (tobacco) is a highly addictive drug," says Thomas Brandon, a professor of psychology and oncology services at the University of South Florida, "its purchase is influenced by economic factors. More and more smokers represent the lower socioeconomic groups in our society."

For people on a budget, it would be good to check with your medical insurance company to see whether they have coverage for any ‘stop smoking therapies'.  Some insurance companies have ‘help' schemes in place to enable those wishing to quit affording the help they need, whether it is in the form of stop smoking aids, or psychological therapies.

Nicotine Replacement

Prices of smoking aids are from around $20 for 10 patches, $21 for 40 pieces of nicotine gum or $12 for 36 nicotine lozenges. These are the most popular forms of nicotine replacement and do not require a prescription, unlike the nicotine nasal spray or inhaler or the prescription medicines used to treat nicotine addiction and help you to stop smoking.

For nicotine replacement to be successful, it is a good idea to begin immediately after you have disposed of the last cigarette. This form of therapy is about 20 to 25% successful and takes about six months to work.  It is also a good idea to continue the replacement therapy for some months even when you don't feel the need for a cigarette.

Alternative Therapies

There are also alternative therapies to help you stop smoking, like hypnosis or acupuncture, although there is little documented evidence to show that these therapies are completely effective. Cost can be prohibitive in this kind of therapy, with the cost of one session being anything from $50 to $125.

Another therapy that makes claims of success in helping people to stop smoking is laser therapy.  One session could cost hundreds of dollars and more than one session could be required.

Success Tips

There are several basic tips you can use to help yourself in a practical way to stop smoking.  First, keep busy.  That means, particularly, your hands and your mouth.  Chew gum, take notes when watching a documentary on TV, keep some ‘worry beads' in your pocket to take out when you feel that you need a cigarette in your hand, go for a walk or chat to a friend. (But don't talk about smoking!) If you are smitten by craving, try breathing deeply and counting to 10, keeping your eyes closed.