How to quit smoking (or vaping) for good

Feeling ready to break your smoking habit? We’re not going to lie: quitting can be hard work, but it also comes with a number of rewards – including (usually) lower insurance premiums.

Did you know that smokers’ premiums can be up to double that of non-smokers of the same age?

By quitting smoking, you can significantly reduce the cost of your health or life insurance. And it’s not just cigarettes. Most insurance providers treat all tobacco products the same, including cigars, nicotine patches, and e-cigs. So even if you’re vaping and don’t see yourself as ‘a smoker’, smoker premiums still apply (and failing to inform your provider is likely to be considered non-disclosure).

Here are some tips from expert sources to help you quit for good.

Understand why you smoke

Whether this is your first time trying to quit or you’ve tried before but without success, the first step is always the same: identifying your smoking triggers. According to HealthNavigator.org.nz, here are some questions to start with:

• What do you like about smoking?
• What triggers cause you to want to smoke?
• What stops you from quitting smoking?
• What could you do instead when you want to smoke?
• Who could help you to stop smoking?

Once you’ve identified the triggers, it’s time to rewire your response to them: Use this checklist for inspiration.

Know what smoking does to your body

The harmful effects of tobacco are well documented, but as many smokers will attest, smoking isn’t rational behaviour. It can be deeply emotional and addiction-based.

Having said that, health experts have come up with interactive tools to help smokers better understand how smoking affects their body. If you need some extra motivation, why not give it a try?

Think about the financial benefits of quitting

If the promise of better health hasn’t gotten you to stop smoking, there are plenty of financial benefits to focus on. Over the past decade, annual tax-based price increases have seen the cost of tobacco skyrocket, but price hikes alone may not be enough of a deterrent for everyone. Once again, it may be just a case of looking at things from a different perspective.

Think about quitting as giving yourself a pay rise, for example – use this calculator to estimate your possible savings, and start pondering what you could do with that money. A weekend away with the family? A deposit on a new car? Or maybe investing?

Once you’ve started on your quit journey, there’s nothing like seeing your progress in real time to keep your motivation up. Consider setting up a regular transfer to a separate account, saving the amount you would have spent on cigarettes each week or month. How you’ll spend that little nest egg is entirely up to you.

How to manage cravings

Besides the emotional attachment to cigarettes, you may also need to learn how to deal with cravings.

According to smokefree.org.nz, nicotine withdrawal symptoms can include headaches, insomnia, nausea, difficulty concentrating, anxiety and depressed moods. Not a walk in the park, but hang in there: cravings too shall pass, and each one will get you one step closer to your goal. Smokefree.org.nz recommends sticking to the four Ds: Delay acting on the urge to smoke, Deep breath, Drink Water, Do something else.

Different quit methods

If you find that willpower isn’t enough for you, there are other methods you can try, including:

• Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT)
• Join the Quitline’s blog community and Facebook page, or contact a Quitline adviser via phone (0800 778 778) or text (4006)
• Visit QuitStrong.nz and get a free Quit Coach
• Find a free Stop Smoking Service provider in your region.

We cheer for you!

Keep us in the loop – we look forward to hearing about your progress. Quitting smoking is another way of taking control of your finances, and you may find that the savings you can make (including qualifying for non-smoker premiums) are bigger than you think.

Disclaimer: Please note that the content provided in this article is intended as an overview and as general information only. While care is taken to ensure accuracy and reliability, the information provided is subject to continuous change and may not reflect current development or address your situation. Before making any decisions based on the information provided in this article, please use your discretion and seek independent guidance.

Cura Advisers Limited holds a Full licence (Class 2) issued by the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) to provide financial advice. You can view our our disclosure information here. If you have any questions regarding this, please let us know.