I’m in my late forties and up until 18 months ago, I had been smoking since my early teens. Mum smoked, dad didn’t, older brother smoked and in the late ’70s early ’80s it seemed everyone that was cool did too. I remember the first time I tried was at the local pool and my brother told me I looked like an idiot because I pig sucked. Like a red rag to a bull, I decided to learn how to do it properly. I coughed up a lung during practice but I eventually got it. I could do the draw back and eventually learned how to blow smoke rings. Yippee I said to myself. I did all the typical teen things to get access to a smoke initially, I botted, I stole from my mumƒ??s pack and I used my pocket money to buy them. By the time I was 17 I was working and bought my own. Mum had given up pleading with me to stop before I became addicted and I smoked at home and at my work. In fact I smoked everywhere, weddings, pubs, restaurants and even non smokers homes. It was just accepted. During my late teens and early 20ƒ??s I was smoking about 20-25 cigs a day. I canƒ??t remember how much they were to buy at the time but I remember my first quit attempt was when they were going to reach $5.00 for a pack of 25. The years ahead saw targets of $7.50, $10.00, $12.50, $15.00 and I ended up quitting just before they reached $20.00. I married a non smoker and even pregnant, I still smoked, not all day every day but about 10 a week. Basically I hid it from everyone except one of my best smoking buddies. The minute the babies were born I was back to a pack a day. In my mid thirties, I started to notice my health was deteriorating. I had a constant cough and couldn’t shake colds for months, I started using an asthma puffer. When I was 41 I suffered a bout of pneumonia. I still smoked. In fact, I found that the only way to stop the coughing was to light up a durrie. By this time I was smoking between 30 and 35 cigs per day. I wasted alot of them because of the where and when I could get my fix. By the time I was in my mid 40ƒ??s I was smoking closer to 45 cigs per day. The cost was really hitting hard. I was spending between $150.00 and $200.00 per week on smokes and I was feeling so unwell. I got to the stage that I never had a restful sleep because of the coughing. Every morning I would cough for ages to the point I would vomit. The spending on smokes was seriously affecting my ability to support of my children. They never went without but I certainly had to be budget conscious and we ate accordingly. During the more than 32 years I smoked, I spent endless amounts of money on patches, gums, hypnotherapy, acupuncture, champix, zyban and the regulation calls to Quit etc. The hypnotherapy and Alan Carr method both promised money back guarantees but you had to go back for more sessions. Basically I knew it wasn’t going to work for me so I never went back nor claimed the money back guarantee. I guess they see me as a success story. In fact I was a failure and that is exactly why I did;t go back. In September 2013 I purchased my first starter kit online (there were virtually no B & M’s in Australia). I had never purchased anything online before and even this was scary. I got my starter kit and dual used for about 3 days. The eliquids were Dekang, the clearos were CE4ƒ??s and the batteries were 600mah. Thankfully though, they sold me two of everything and a range of nicotine containing eliquids. All up with about 20 sample size eliquids it cost me $110.00. On the third day I really thought to myself, I think I can do this. I’m starting to enjoy vaping more than smoking. So the morning of the fourth day I had 3 cigs left. I smoked them one after another and decided not to buy another packet. Turned out it wasnƒ??t even a difficult decision and nor has it been difficult to be smoke free. In the first six months I spent about $1500.00 chasing the perfect eliquid and hardware as well as stockpiling some necessary supplies because nicotine is illegal in my country. Iƒ??m really happy now with my hardware, eliquids and backup supplies. I have saved well over $12,000.00 on todayƒ??s ciggy prices and I feel physically so much better. Mentally I feel joy when I can spoil my kids because I have the extra money in my wallet to do so. My starter kit is honestly the best money I have ever spent. I would say it was an investment that has truly paid enormous dividends. I truly believe the reason vaping works is because it is not a one size fits all solution. I can tailor the hardware and eliquid flavours and nic strength and it is all in my control, not somebody else’s. Mentally I no longer feel like a smelly social outcast. Vaping has truly saved my life and I feel so proud of myself. Thanks for reading.