I was a pack a day smoker for 30+ years. I started seriously smoking when I was 18, after having trying cigarettes from the age of 15 and increasing in amount to the point that when I was 18 I knew I was hooked. Over the years I tried many ways to kick this horrible habit – cold turkey, the patch, nicorette gum, Zyban and Champix. By the time I was 52 I was desperate to quit, yet everything had failed. I stumbled upon the e-cig in late October when a friend in the U.S. mentioned it. I stayed up all night researching anything I could find. I ordered my first kit the next day and received it November 5, 2010. That’s the last time I ever touched a cigarette. I originally started with a much higher dosage of nicotine in my e-liquid – 3.6 mg. I have gradually reduced it to 12 mg and I am very happy at that level. I have tried many e-cig models and presently use a VV/VW Mod, which has long lasting battery life. I have noticed that my use of the e-cig has declined from when I was a newbie – I don’t use it nearly as much and often leave the house without one, however I really enjoy vaping and expect it to remain part of my life. I am so grateful that I was able to quit cigarettes and I credit this solely to the e-cig. I feel much better, eat better, have more energy and just generally feel as though I got a big monkey off my back by quitting smoking. The money savings are not small either – I spent $350/month on cigarettes (a pack at day at $12.37 CDN.) Now, I spend about $40.00 per month on liquid, with the occasional new atomizer, or battery. I have a Quitometer on my Facebook and it records that I have NOT smoked over $18,000 cigarettes and have saved over $11,000. That in itself is amazing, not even considering the overall lifestyle change benefits from switching to an e-cig. I am living proof that the e-cig does exactly what it was intended to do and that is to provide an alternative to long terms smokers who have, for whatever reason, been unable to quit smoking using traditional methods. I will always be grateful for this amazing invention and what is has done for me. I always highly recommend this product to anyone who expresses an interest in quitting smoking – I have complete faith in its ability to make a huge difference – after all I am proof that a hardcore, long term smoker CAN be successful in kicking cigarettes to the curb – and it was painless, stress free and I have absolutely no desire to ever smoke again.