Stories & experiences

If it was me I’d definitely throw them out. It makes the act of quitting seem more real, and then if you have a moment of weakness you at least have to get to a store and have that time to talk yourself out of it

You know yourself best. Some like to have them so they feel less panic, and in a way it makes sense because if you really want one you will find a way. This way it becomes a choice, YOUR choice not that your can't have one but that there is something you desire more.. After all we want it in our minds that we choose to be non-smokers and that we are giving up nothing. Should you decide to keep them keep your list of reasons why you are quitting with them, the picture of a loved one , a note that totals what you will spend on smokes for the next five years because we all know you won't stop at just one. For those who may have put inhalers away, keep an old cartridge with those smokes..........

You decide. You are here because you want to quit smoking and it is your CHOICE to have a better future or not.

Yes, thank you Trying TK. Thats the same reason I would not recommend having cigarettes nearby.
You might enjoy burning them. Like a little ceremony. Take pictures and and swear at those nasty tubes getting destroyed.
OR
Give them to an neighbour who would appreciate the free smokes.
Whatever you do Picses24 please dont open a can of worms by having just one last PUFF. We admire your commitment and your camaraderie with TK and all of your Quit buddies here.
Stay strong

Welcome back PuffNoMore!!! How's it going? We missed you. Are you ready for your own page now? Glad to see you back!

Hi Happiness.
Just dropped in recently out of curiosity.
Pleased to see that you have notched up well over a year!!!!
I cant see myself publishing my own page yet, I'm just happy to read other's trials and tribulations and successes.
Thank you for your endless contributions and C'mon Picses24, DAY 5 for you tomorrow.

We can always use another supporter PuffNoMore. Support and advice are always welcome, even if we don't see eye to eye on some things apparently...lol
Every quit is different just as we are as people. Looking forward to hearing more from you buddy.

Throw them out mate. Why tempt yourself. We all throw rubbish in the bin and thats what smokes are. Horrible little tubes of nastiness that belong in the bin. Hey PuffNoMore. Missed you big time mate. Stay in touch.

I'm going for throw out. Thanks everyone. I just wasn't sure whether to keep them and give them the finger when or if I wanted then or toss them. Tossing them gives me some control

Hi PuffNoMore.... I'm really loving your support. You're so helpful. Let's hang together on this journey. Fags are being tossed. I'm going to be a happy tosser tomorrow. It's a big day for me.... many days ahead. 1 day at a time

Hi PuffNoMore.... I'm really loving your support. You're so helpful. Let's hang together on this journey. Fags are being tossed. I'm going to be a happy tosser tomorrow. It's a big day for me.... many days ahead. 1 day at a time

Hi picses24, Just take it a day at a time. I like your approach. You have control.

Do, whatever makes it easier for you :) I kept, smokes, lighter, and ashtray, for the first 2 months, and the last, unopened pack, for a year :) For me, it was to enforce the idea of just not wanting one, rather than not having them. Keep going ! You will soon be at your first week, and so proud you did it :)

So Pisces, another day under your belt and best of all another decision made. You must be so proud of yourself.

It did not matter to me that i had cigarettes in a drawer out of sight. Hubby sat and smoked right beside me anyways for two weeks until he got loan of the Allen Carr Book from the library , read it and quit. He said he would quit before Christmas last year but he didn't wait and quit at the end of reading the book at the ned f November. We didn't look at quitting once the option was there and believed we could do it. It was an opportunity.


It took me months debating with myself whether to continue working part time or to retire and that felt like limbo to me. I can only imagine how it feels for those indecisive about quitting smoking. Once i made up my mind , i could enjoy retirement without regret. Working would be exercise and money in pocket. Smoking is the opposite. What real decision is there? As it turned out I got a few months to enjoy my time to myself but I have had to take time to take my Dad to appointments an hour away three times a week. I planned on being around for my parents and so it has started. So my decision worked out for all of us.

Don't you find life is easier once a decision has been made? We weighed the pros and cons and made a decision based on our needs and what we felt best for us. Has something changed? Go with your gut instinct....it is usually right .

Take this opportunity , seize the day and take back your future!

I suggest that you throw them away. It will make you feel strong in your resolve to never smoke again. Another thought is you wouldn't advise an alcoholic to keep 3/4 of a bottle of scotch would you. We were all addicted to nicotine so its the same thing. Be strong and free!!

Waking up to DAY 5..
Who would've thought that I, me would be a non smoker. The more the days pass the more that thought is a reality. It's still a struggle but it's not so impossible now. It feels possible.
I'm going to throw that old packet out cut them in half first but take a photo of them.
I was afraid to be without them. I'm not afraid now.
Hey! Look at me. This time last week I was smoking. Look how farnive come.
Thank you all for your understanding and real heartfelt kindness and support.
I would never give these cigarettes to anyone else.... I'd feel too bad. I want to encourage and motivate others to be strong. Thanks all

Thanks Happiness. I am proud of myself. Every Day is my victory. Every cigarette not smoked is an awesome achievement.
I'm doing different things to make me feel good about myself.
Walking along the waterfront, swim and spa, and going to go on the walking machine and exercise bike. Don't think for a minute I'm into hard work exercise I'm not. I'll have a go and if I start slow I know I'll get faster and better. It's something different good and positive. I'm going to have a go. Be nice to me!

I scored them up and put them in the bin. Felt good to be that strong

Screwed and squashed them and took a photo

That's GREAT ! Go you,, Another day done :)
I do agree. I would not give my last pack to anyone, or give anyone money for cigarettes. For my 1 year celebration, I did pull one and have a few puffs, just for pure meanness. To me, just a reminder that I had let that little thing run my life for so long.. Then I cremated them :) That is the pack, burning, as my avatar image.. :) Thanks to 3 years of cigarette money, I have a little collection of handguns, and my new hobby is RC / FPV drone flying. It's a lot more fun than smoking.. :) You got this. Don't even think of going back..

OH, and FreshAirOK, Yes, if I was struggling with alcohol, I would keep a bottle, and would recommend it to others. The idea is not to remove it, but to learn to not want it, or learn to leave it alone. It's like putting something out of reach of a child, or teaching the child to leave it alone. Simply a different approach :)

I guess it comes down to knowing yourself. You proved both points i think Pisces, you kept them for the hardest few days until you gained belief in yourself. Yet you had to trust yourself that you wanted to be a non-smoker more than you wanted to continue smoking. I think you have already learned a lot on the course of this journey and your dopamine is keeping you on a high. You keep going girl. You've got this!

Thank you you Happiness. You've got me figured out. It is exactly how I felt. Pretty powerful scrunching up those fags. In the bin. I do believe in myself now like never before. Why couldn't I love myself more for last 50 years????why did I not care????I'm sad about that. BUT...It's wher e you are on this day and what is ahead for me...my son is joining me. He's so proud of me. I'm so proud of me. I'm worth it. I went to optometrist today and he asked me had anything changed. I was do pleased to say I've given up smoking! Yeah!!!! Go me and thanks Happiness and Red-67 and lots of others you're helping getting me there

You make my day :)

You make mine. You get me there. You're such a good caring friend. I thank you. I wouldn't be 5 days if it wasn't for you or others. I need to remember that when I am one year free like you and always help others. No one other than a smoker can understand the struggle and worthless feelings you have other than another smoker....It's so black and white for them.
I'm noticing evening is a low time for me. Strong feelings then. Once I ditch t the patch before bedtime I know I'll get to the next day...Thank you Happiness for your dedication and time helping others.

Hi. I agree with Red-67. 4 1/2 years ago I stopped cold turkey. To this day I have 1/2 a carton of Dunhill Blue and half a pack of Davidoff Duty free cigarettes, lighters and even rolly cigarette stuff, somewhere. Then there are my beloved Zippo lighters. One purchased in Hawaii in 1982 and the list goes on. Just because I have kept them doesn't mean I will cave in and use them. I make the choice. These objects don't. Then there is the designer glass ash tray. Makes a good lolly dish these days. I am the one choosing not to smoke. These objects do not think for me. I wonder if I can put the Dunhill on eBay for $120+. Don't think I would actually sell them to a smoker. May eventually donate them to a museum...

My suggestion is to throw them out if you are easily triggered to have a smoke. I have a packet at home but I look at it and make sure I keep walking. It seems to empower me doing that, like "oh look at me, walking away from the packet I'm so good" not in an egotistical way, more of a proud good on me way.

My suggestion is to throw them out if you are easily triggered to have a smoke. I have a packet at home but I look at it and make sure I keep walking. It seems to empower me doing that, like "oh look at me, walking away from the packet I'm so good" not in an egotistical way, more of a proud good on me way.

Hi! Everyone.
I kept them close by because I guess it was me not really believing I could do this.
Me throwing them in the bin was my personal turning point where I did BELIEVE I could do this. They were my security blanket. Sure I could go buy a packet but I won't. Th growing them was all the proof I needed to MYSELF!
Keeping them is like," I COULD have one but I don't WANT" one.
Whatever works for you do it!
Many different roads don't h e same destination. As long as we all get there. Good luck to you all and have a wonderful powerful smoke free day.

The direct route or the zig zag. All the same mileage wise as long as there are no detours! Time doesn't matter either as long as the products are not misused. Nicotine is nicotine and just as addictive in any form.

I say throw them out, you are going to burn them anyway. If you have the mental stamina to throw them in the bin, it says allot to yourself about your commitment. Personally I told everyone I was quitting as well, because then you feel a commitment.