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Simple Reward Ideas????

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Simple Reward Ideas????

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1843

Jo, so sorry to hear all that life has thrown your way the past 1.5 months. The good thing is that you are still a non-smoker! So many times a stressful life experience happens, and we revert to our old ways. I think your new puppy is an awesome reward! I see you're a week away from reaching the 100 day mark! You'll have somebody to lick your feet while you are lounging on the beach! We are all so proud of you! P.S. I am referring to your new puppy licking your feet! Not the cabana boy! LOL!
My Milage:

My Quit Date: 8/20/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 160
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 6,400
Amount Saved: $1,280.00
Life Gained:
Days: 23 Hrs: 23 Mins: 25 Seconds: 40

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 955

Gogy wog,

So sorry to hear about the recent events in your life.

Enjoy your new puppy, you deserve it! A getaway sounds like a wonderful idea as well.

Please keep us posted and let us know how you are doing, we are here for you.

Sarah, Health Educator

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16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 925

Gogy Wog, I'm so sorry to hear about your Mom and your dog. You can honour your Mom's memory and your new puppy will bring a lot of love into your life. Enjoy your time with your daughter and try to stay relaxed.

Dave, Congratulations on your decision to quit!

Rewards are really important for most of us. We "rewarded" ourselves many times a day when we smoked so I think it's important to keep our brains happy until we've re-trained them. In the beginning of my quit I rewarded myself often, sometimes several times a day. I bought dollar store items to keep my hands busy and my mind occupied. Puzzles, candles, books, bath beads, lots of little goodies I kept in a basket and pulled out whatever looked good whenever I thought about smoking. I rewarded myself in structured ways too, like after every meal with a cup of herbal tea and a red licorice. No cost rewards are good too, a hot bath, a tv show instead of doing the dishes...whatever makes you feel good whenever you want it.

I found rewards were even more important for me after the "newness" of my quit wore off, say between 3 and 6 months. Planning rewards can be just as much fun as doing them! Plan a vacation trip, a special party or research something you really want to buy like a new car or a boat. Our brains getting as much pleasure as they can with rewards will make a quit that much easier. There's a thread about no cost or low cost rewards...I'll search for it and bump it up for you. Keep up the great quit!

Pat

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 1/28/2007
Smoke-Free Days: 730
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 29,200
Amount Saved: $14,600.00
Life Gained:
Days: 95 Hrs: 19 Mins: 44 Seconds: 52

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$129,657.60

Amount Saved
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Days: 871 Hours: 9

Minutes: 47 Seconds: 14

Life Gained
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6753

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324,144

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16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 355

Oh my Jo. You really have been through some rough times. My heart goes out to you and I hope that this finds you well. You should be very proud of remaining smoke free. Please enjoy your trip and try to take care of yourself. Enjoy that Westie!

Karren - I'm so impressed that you have had the self-discipline to actually put that cigarette money back for other things. That's impressive!

Angie

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 12/30/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 28
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 336
Amount Saved: $147.84
Life Gained:
Days: 2 Hrs: 13 Mins: 26 Seconds: 32

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 67

Hi everyone....I have not been around much for the past 1 1/2 months as it's been a real hard go. My Mom passed away on Jan. 6 (still having a problem with this one), my dog of 15 years had to be put to sleep, I spent 3 days in the hospital which turned out to be stress and anxiety, and I was in a small car accident. Having said all of this, I am proud to say that I have not had one puff N.O.P.E. I am beginning to see just how strong I really am. Anyway, you were talking about rewards and for me that is usually a little "retail therapy"......but I have the biggest reward of all coming on the weekend....a new puppy! I am so excited. I am getting a little Westie which is being shipped from way down south and my daughter & I are going to drive to Duluth Mn. to pick him up at the airport. My sweet husband thought it would do my daughter & I good to get away for a couple of days so here we go.

Welcome to all of the new members and congrats to all that have had milestones. It feels good to be back. Jo

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 10/26/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 93
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 1,860
Amount Saved: $334.80
Life Gained:
Days: 12 Hrs: 10 Mins: 22 Seconds: 46

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 51

I'm not the best at rewarding myself daily or weekly. But what I have done is made a calendar and for each day I stay smoke free, I place a star or a dot on that day. That way I can see it each day. Also I told myself that I would put the money I would have spent on a pack that day in a jar, but that one I have not followed through. It's a good idea though....LOL.
My Milage:

My Quit Date: 1/5/2009
Smoke-Free Days: 22
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 330
Amount Saved: $60.72
Life Gained:
Days: 2 Hrs: 4 Mins: 49 Seconds: 21

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 823

Lots of great ideas Members!

So what will it be Dave? Make it a good one - you most definitely deserve it!

Faryal, Health Educator

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1080

I bought lots of rewards Dave with the money I saved from my smoking. My best one was a Dell laptop-I think you need to reward yourself Dave, it is an achievement, a huge achievement and it should be recognised with a reward.

I still save my smokes money religiously every week, I would have spent it on smoking without thinking and so I try and carry on at least for this first year- just to see how much would have literally gone up in smoke!

Let us know what you decide to do for your reward.

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 5/10/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 262
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 6,550
Amount Saved: $3,930.00
Life Gained:
Days: 30 Hrs: 22 Mins: 40 Seconds: 6

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 901

dave

actually those were big rewards and i kind of over did it. but for 1 week , 2 weeks , 3 weeks etc., i would maybe go tp the state park with my wife and talk to her about how nice it was to take hikes without smoking. we went to dinner a lot to celebrate , etc.

and your biggest reward will be just knowing they you are kicking that habit right in the teeth.

mike/astrofan

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 3/12/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 321
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 9,630
Amount Saved: $2,889.00
Life Gained:
Days: 54 Hrs: 10 Mins: 9 Seconds: 15

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 901

well i have to admit , i have rewarded myself often .

1st 3 months new springfield armory xd .45 acp tactical pistol

6 months , cobra 18 degree hybrid , callaway 3 metal fairway wood

9 months , taurus pt111 9mm pistol

1 year , {i rewarded myself 2 months early} cleveland cg gold irons .

remember folks , i'm from texas , we don't freak out about guns down here.

mike/astrofan

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 3/12/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 321
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 9,630
Amount Saved: $2,889.00
Life Gained:
Days: 54 Hrs: 10 Mins: 6 Seconds: 28

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Simple Reward Ideas????