Hello Fellow Modeler’s:
Ok - its been a week and I’m already going to get on my soap box. I quit smoking (2.5 pack/day habit). All the $ I used to use on cigs, now goes in my layout jar. After 1 week I have in excess of $89.11.
Needless to say, quiting smoking is going to do wonders to help offset the expensive aspect of the worlds greatest hobby. Not to mention - the quality of the air in the workshop is much better.
Anyway…somethign to think about for all you smokers out there. Oh yeah—it’s healther too…may get a few extra years of modeling in at the end of the line.
im 14, and the cost of this hobby is one of the main things thats kept me out of “trouble.” if you tell me that you model the steam era, im just giong to laugh. alot. [:o)]
GEARHEAD426
[8]
PJ,
Glad to hear it. I am also a smoker and spend quite a bit of cash on cigarettes. I smoke about a
pack and a half a day… or about five bucks a day. That would net me about $35 per week for the
trains if I were to quit. Kinda gives me some incentive.
Let’s see: $35 a week x 52 weeks = $1820 per year… wow! That’s a lot of train goodies! Good luck, Dave
I would imagine that smoking around a layout is not a good idea in the first place. I remember as a kid and working at a Buick dealership as a detailer/porter you could always tell when smokers brought their cars in just because of the yellow film on the windows. Nasty stuff. I have also seen the walls of homes where smokers had moved out and you could see where all the pictures were from the film the smoke left.
congrats on quiting on smokeing and on new money freed upf ro trains =)
I recetenly bought an Atlas FP7 that was owned by a smoker. Had a hell of time getting rid of the smoke smell. Its one of the worst. I just used soapy water on the shell with good results, but that did very little for the frame or truck sideframs. I found (well i guess refound is more corect) that 409 works wonders. I’m a lil afraid of trying it for shells, but for other stuff its the only thing i’ve found that cuts though the smoke smell and yellow gunk. I use it to clean a very thick layer of gunk off of some older cameras with great results. … but yeah randome babeling
~matt
I would bet that the modeling will help you through the fits. Just focus on the trains and get your mind off the smokes. Being in the train room might help your relationships also, until you get through the first couple of weeks. [;)]
I quit 11 years ago, thought it would save a lot of money, but then I had kids.
Congrats, PJ! Nothing but good things can come from this decision. [tup] Maybe Phillip Morris, et al, should promote model railroading as a kick-the-habit plan…
good for you. I don,t smoke but my wife quit almost 10 years ago. with the money she spent on cigs a month she was able to turn that into a new car payment. not only does she look, smell, and feel better but she has something to show for it . And heres the best part, She likes model railroading, camping, fishing, nascar, and she cooks good too.
glenn
Congratulations!!! I’m 70 and only had one puff in my life! I was 16 and driving my sister around the neighborhood to collect for the cancer fund! (she was 21). I told her, “You can’t go up to someone’s door smoking a cigarette and collecting for cancer!” She agreed and left it in the car. I took one puff and decided it wasn’t for me. I’m glad for my decision and yours too! I’m sure I have more rr stuff, because my money didn’t go up in smoke!
Once upon a time my father told me that he’d seen a couple of my fellow eighth-graders smoking behind a fence, then added, “I don’t want you to do that. Smoke here, in the living room, where I can see you.”
That took all the fun out of it!
Also, since I was already into model railroading and had recently discovered girls, I didn’t have the money, even at pennies a pack.
I never have smoked, which is why I expect to outlive my parents, who did. Both of them were over 90 when they passed on.
PJ,
You can do it, i’ve smoked for 35yrs, but today is week 6 with out. Its been tough but everyone has been helping me. Are you using anything? Iam using both the patch and the new lozenges 4mg, a few years ago I tryed used the patch and the gum, but these new lozenges have been working much better.
One piece of advice, done look at how much money your saving look at what its doing for you, your body. I am starting to smell like I haven’t in years, today I smelt a new rain and it was great, I had forgotten how good that use to smell. The other night my wife made a big beef roast and I could really taste it. The best part is I sleep the whole night now, I am not waking up after 3or 4 hours for a smoke.
If you want to talk I’m on here just about everyday, if someone complains this is off topic they can stick it and not look at it.
swdave
swdave:
Thanks for the kind words. It is definately difficult. 6 weeks is great though! Actually I didn’t quite b/c of the money. I quit becuase of how bad I was always feeling. I didn’t sleep as well either - due to congestion. I agree, smells & tastes are MUCH different.
I had a 4 pack a day habit for a number of years on the road. Some days approaching 6 packs of both Newports or Marlboros that I would keep extras on hand to trade off on the urban streets with people in exchange for truck security or even some lunch or something while in a dangerous area.
Pack of cigerettes in Tribal Stores out west was about 1.40 while North eastern cities were close to 4.00 back then. I think I spent something between 50-100 a week on cigerettes. It would be more than that with today’s smoke pricing.
The money I saved by quitting has helped my family greatly. I must not smoke ever again but always fight the urge by thinking do I want stinky cigerettes or model railroading? For me it’s a no brainer.
The health benefits is worth it. The first few months post quitting was the worst for me.
It’s funny now that I think about my crew at work, they smoke very bad generics constantly and I dont have a problem with it. I should but the last time I looked it was still a free country. But they really should quit. =)