In the beginning was The Plan...

[quiregrrl]

When I decided to quit smoking last Thursday, I was smoking anywhere between half a pack and a full pack a day, depending on what I was doing/stress levels etc. But at minimum half a pack, I decided that 13 cigarettes/day would be my baseline for starting to reduce, and so from last Friday phase one of The Plan - to smoke no more than 10 cigarettes a day - was implemented. So far so good. Last night I finally got around to nutting out the entire 10 week "Become A Non-Smoker" plan so I'm writing it down here for reference, and posterity.

Weekly cost of being a smoker: $54.60 (based on 13/day at average 60c/cigarette)

Week One: Oct 1 - Oct 7
Max. 10/day.
Savings: $12.60

Week Two: Oct 8 - Oct 14
Max. 8/day.
Savings: $21

Week Three: Oct 15 - Oct 21
Max. 6/day.
Savings: $29.40

Week Four: Oct 22 - Oct 28
Max. 5/day
Savings: $33.60

Week Five: Oct 29 - Nov 4
Max. 4/day
Savings: $37.80

Week Six: Nov 5 - Nov 11
Max. 3/day
Savings: $42.00

Week Seven: Nov 12 - Nov 18
Max. 2/day
Savings: $46.20

Week Eight: Nov 19 - Nov 25
Max. 1/day
Savings: $50:40

Week Nine: Nov 26 - Dec 2
Max. 3/week
Savings: $52.80

Week 10: Dec 3 - Dec 9
Max. 2/week
Savings: $53.40

From December 10 I will be a non-smoker, and if I put the money I am not spending on cigarettes in the money box for the 10 week weaning process, by the end of it I will have $378. I am going to try and do this, because I like the idea of having a bonus $378 right before Christmas :)


THE RULES:
1. Cigarettes cannot be saved up and/or carried over - any unsmoked cigarettes from each days allotment are deducted from the next days total.
2. I will not carry more than the days allowance with me, if someone bums a smoke from me that is one less for me.
         2.1 I mayn't allow this to turn me into a stingy bitch, normal generosity rules must remain in place.
3. I may not bum smokes from anyone else, even if it's within my allowance. **
4. I must track my progress on the wall chart (which I will draw up tonight).
5. I may not replace cigarettes with food of any kind. I am allowed to occassionally have a chupachup as a treat and to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and appease my oral fixation when I am really struggling.
6. I may not EVER bitch, moan, whine, discourage, preach at, harrass, criticise or otherwise annoy my friends who smoke. If I do, they have my full permission to tell me to pull my head in and/or fuck off.
7. I cannot smoke indoors.
8. I cannot buy a new pack until the old pack is completely gone.


** I didn't have any smokes at home yesterday morning, so I bummed a couple off Shane before eventually going to the shops and buying my own pack. I included them in my days limit of 10, but it was that situation that inspired this rule. If I don't have any of my own, I don't have any.

Comments

[razorsharpblade.livejournal.com]

Good plan and good rules. When I stopped I also had a defined date beyond which that would be it (it was associated with surgery which was BIG motivation for me!). The 'no bumming off others' is definitely a good one. I like the saving amount attached to each week ... just think how much ink and other fun stuff that could work out to!

Kia kaha (power to you!)

[quiregrrl.livejournal.com]

Thanks Blade :) I know if I don't have a plan and rules then I will never succeed, and I am absolutely determined to be a non-smoker. I am definitely planning on rewarding myself at the end of all this with some new ink :)