Great post, healingme4me. I quit 3 years ago after smoking a pack a day for about 35 years. One of the most amazing things I noticed is that my sense of smell was heightened! I used to think that when I smoked, all I had to do was chew a mint or piece of gum & no one would know I smoked. What a joke! It doesn't bother me, & I'm not self-righteous about it, but I'm amazed that I can smell a smoker from seveeal feet away. I used to teach HS & would go out for a cig at lunchtime. The kids would ask if I smoked, but I never told them "yes." I know now that they knew damned well I smoked! I could relate to the money thing, too, but I'll end my post here. Good luck!

Continued: I checked & didn't realize your post was on the other page! I didn't realize the thread was so spammed up by Mr. Know-It-All.