Ex smokers, what do you regret the most?

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shugavery96@reddit

I turned 30 last month and quit two months before that. Now on a vape. My major regret is all the money I wasted on it. Will still have a crafty fag when drinking though if I’m offered one can’t lie.

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Znipsel@reddit

Quit for 5 years missed the cigarette after meals every single day

Now I smoke a pack every 10-14 days and I think iam OK with that

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TalesofConrad@reddit

I can’t believe I did it as long as I did. The smell. Sometimes I jsut think about how I use to smell as a smoker and I want to die inside.

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BlackJackKetchum@reddit

The ritual, and getting that perfect nicotine hit - where the world just stops for a few heartbeats.

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Hampshire-UK@reddit

I miss smoking to be honest but glad I don’t stink anymore

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MarsupialDapper5006@reddit

Exactly the same here. Quit over 10 years ago and still want a smoke almost every day

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Really? Thats crazy to me. I quit probably 7 years ago. Vaped for probably another year and then chewing gums for 3 years. Been nicotine free completely for 3 years and honestly I couldn't imagine even smoking again.

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zestywesty6@reddit

It only smells nice if I've had a few beers but I know if I ever did it I would regret it instantly.

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MarsupialDapper5006@reddit

Weirdly it varies for me day by day. Some days it smells horrible, other days it smells amazing. Must be due to my mood each day. But same on I will instantly regret it.

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FilmFanatic1066@reddit

Same, I don’t think I’ll ever relapse but I did enjoy smoking, also it gained me a lot of face time with senior managers

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bonjajr@reddit

Same. If smoking had no bad effects I’d be doing that shit all the time

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steveakacrush@reddit

Yep same here.

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Lopsided_Snower@reddit

and me, friend, may as well be honest. I bloody loved it... approaching 11 months on this attempt

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curryandbeans@reddit

Vaping instead of quitting outright. I enjoy vaping and for good reason I still want to quit. But my vape is within arms reach all day and it’s a much harder habit to break than my old five minute smoke break every 1-2 hours.

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neatcleaver@reddit

Vaping is hard to quit, I've been quitting for the last 2 years lol

I've done it the "right way" this time. Been tapering the strength for the last month and I'll be on 5mg and eventually 0 in the next few days

It helps a lot if you haven't tried it. Also try putting it in another room. I have mine in the bedroom so I have to walk over to get it, sometimes I go hours without touching the fucking thing which is great

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BeatsAndBeer@reddit

Vaping probably helped you to quit in the first place. I’ve just stopped vaping AGAIN. I reckon it’s harder to quit than the cigs cos it doesn’t taste/smell as bad. I think the sub is r/quitvaping if it helps

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neatcleaver@reddit

I don't miss my chest feeling like shit when I get up and coughing up phlegm every morning, I don't miss getting hot ash in my fecking eyes if a gust of wind picks up, I don't miss having stains on my clothes if some gets on a white shirt

Also the savings, obviously!

I'm vaping currently, with a plan to quit in the next week or two. Been tapering down on the nic and I'll be on 5mg tomorrow, probably 0 by Monday and I've got some gum just in case

It's weird, didn't feel any different going from 20-10mg so I reckon it should be fairly easy. I'm determined to kick it as well which always helps lol

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Ok_Chipmunk_7066@reddit

I miss the lovely taste of a fag to be honest. I miss it more than the whole smelling bad.

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looking4truffle@reddit

I have smokers lines around my lips like a cat's arsehole

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Anal-Scrubs-905@reddit

Why does a cats arsehole gave smoking lines?

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cappsy04@reddit

From smoking

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KSAW11@reddit

wat

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double-happiness@reddit

Meeting new folk in smoker's corner

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Specialist-Opening69@reddit

I do miss smoking it was class

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SnooHamsters5480@reddit

Not quitting sooner, the amount of times i stank, the amount of money i spent, how i impacted my health, i regret it all.
However, I loved smoking, and get a longing for a cigarette every single day at some point.

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sock_cooker@reddit

Bernard: Well. To be honest. After years of smoking and drinking, you do sometimes look at yourself and think. Fran: Yep… Bernard: You know, just sometimes in between the first cigarette with coffee in the morning to that 400th glass of corner shop piss at 3am, you do sometimes look at yourself and think… Fran: Yeah… Bernard: “This is fantastic. I’m in heaven.”

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bill_end@reddit

Black books? Not seen it in years so I don't remember a fran, but that sounds like peak Bernard black

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sock_cooker@reddit

Yes, that's the one. Fran ran the posh tat shop next door

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bill_end@reddit

Ah, yes I remember. Very ditzy character, which was pretty common in comedies of that era.

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fluentindothraki@reddit

I wish I had never started. True, it does help with the AuDHD symptoms but it's such an insidious addiction. I didn't realise until I stopped how much it occupied my mind. The constant 'have I got enough fags? A lighter? Enough time for a smoke before my break is over / the train comes? Is there anywhere I can legally smoke around here? ' Pathetic

It's expensive, ruins your teeth and your health in general, mahes you look old and ugly, majes you stink, loads of people pity you or look down on you...

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ForeignLayer2499@reddit

I agree, the trauma of airports, especially long haul, it was terrifying. I appreciate the freedom but intend to start again if I make 75. I’m 59.

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MonsieurGump@reddit

None of it.

I smoked for years and it was the perfect accompaniment to a pint, method to shield myself if I felt awkward or way to bond with new friends and colleagues.

I gave up and lost that but in return I am healthier and have saved a ton of cash.

I don’t regret a single cigarette and I don’t regret quitting.

I might start again when I’m old as fuck and don’t have anything else to pass the time.

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ForeignLayer2499@reddit

Me too, I’m 59, ten years clean but if I’m make 75, bring on the Camel Blue

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HechicerosOrb@reddit

Glad to have given it up but I do miss it every now and again

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fickle_tartan@reddit

Starting in the first place

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Art3mis86@reddit

Same.

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MillyMcMophead@reddit

This is how I feel.

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bluetrainlinesss@reddit

That first one in the morning.

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Alpha_Turnip@reddit

Quitting.

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PopularBroccoli@reddit

People don’t talk enough about how smoking is well good. Relaxing, little energy boost, look cool doing it

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darcsend_eu@reddit

Waiting around outside for someone looks sketchy and weird...

If your smoking you look purposeful. Fact

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IrateSteelix@reddit

Us non-smokers certainly do NOT think you look cool smoking. We're actually wishing you would stop for your own sake and to also not come near us because smoke smells horrendous.

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Scared-Room-9962@reddit

I thought it looked cool but the stench is horrendous.

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BandicootTreeline@reddit

Quitting is for quitters

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TheJackoHype@reddit

I always think to myself I going to stop smoking, but then I remember, Momma didn’t raise no quitta

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Empty-Establishment9@reddit

I never smoked cigarettes, I thought they tasted horrible, but I smoked a pipe for a while. I do miss the process, it was quite meditative. It was also social too, passing around a tobacco pipe with my friends.

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VariousClassroom8056@reddit

All the money I spent when I was smoking. I vape now and spend £20 a month, when I was smoking cigarettes it was probably over £300 a month and that was back then, hate to think what it'd be now. Not smoked a cigarette in 2.5 years

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early_cruise@reddit

Damn £300? I currently smoke and spend £120 although that’s rollies, i imagine straights would probably be that much though

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gaspoweredcat@reddit

you can get there on rollies, i was killing up to 90g a week before i packed in so over £400 a month, if i collected up all the money i burn on my vices every month i could pay off my mortgage in like 3 years

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VariousClassroom8056@reddit

Sometimes a pack a day at £13 a pack or whatever it was back then. Anywhere between 10-20 a day anyway. Massive saving vaping. Tbh it didn't take me long to switch over, my health is much better, no snoring, chest feels much better, no coughing up phlegm in a morning etc

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INEKROMANTIKI@reddit

Gonna be back to several hundred when the new tax kicks in

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VariousClassroom8056@reddit

I think it'll essentially go to £80 (shortfill currently costs me £7-10 plus nic, I think they're saying an increase of £27) if I bought at the new rates, I go through a max of 200ml a month. I've got about a year's worth already so will definitely be stocking up then looking at the DIY route if I still want to vape after that runs out.

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INEKROMANTIKI@reddit

Tax will apply to everything sold as DIY too.. 100 ml = £20 tax.. 10 ml nicotine = £2 tax.. I go through roughly 110 ml (including nicotine) a week.. currently stocking up to try avoid the increase as much as possible

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VariousClassroom8056@reddit

I think there are going to be a lot of loop holes but we'll have to see how it plays out. My 72mg nic isn't sold as being intended for vaping. VG and PG can't have this applied to it, or at least it would be very easy to avoid as it has other uses. Maybe they'll try to clamp down on some of it though.

But definitely the simplest option is just to stock up now with your favourite flavours, I bet a lot of the smaller brands will close as it'll not be worth the hassle.

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gaspoweredcat@reddit

i still miss it dearly, i dont have a reason to take breaks at work anymore, no point just going to sit in a room and pass time

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chuckles5454@reddit

Havinf to give up smoking.

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PaulaDeen21@reddit

I don’t miss cigarettes, but I really miss smoking.

Honestly don’t regret it at all.

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Sashaflick@reddit

It’s not the physical act of smoking that I miss. It’s more having the easy out of any social situation I was in that I wasn’t enjoying. “Just going to pop out for quick fag” basically translated to “I don’t have the capacity for this any more and I’m invoking my right to leave without question”

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TheRealKezC@reddit

Starting, full stop.

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Intrepid_Bearz@reddit

No regrets for me. I stopped when I was ready to stop, 9 years ago. No point in regretting the years I smoked for, it won’t change anything.

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matbur81@reddit

Not stopping even sooner

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Morrtyy@reddit

I don’t regret it.

I miss it a lot. On an evening, nipping away for a smoke was a welcome bit of me time and in a morning a coffee and a fag out the flat window was just heavenly.

Do I smell better? Aye. If I wasn’t with my current partner would I go out and buy a 50g pouch of Amber Leaf in a heartbeat? Also aye.

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Gullible_fool_99@reddit

I regret stopping. I really used to enjoy smoking and didn't really want to stop. It is now about 15 years since I stopped. Everyday I am still tempted to go and buy a pack of fags and spark one up.

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zestywesty6@reddit

Well good news it really is that easy just to go to the shop lol

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hhfugrr3@reddit

Lots of people saying they regret giving up or they gave up so they won't get sick from it. Just for anybody who hasn't taken up smoking, let me just take this opportunity to tell you not to do that... and not to take it up again if you've already given it up. My dad was a smoker when I was little. He must have given it up when he was about 40ish. He still got lung disease and while he lived to 79, he spent the last decade of his life with decreased physical health that gave way into years long coughing fits and breathlessness. Ultimately, he spent his last few years on constant oxygen and by the time he died in hospital he couldn't even get up because he needed all the oxygen the hospital could provide and it still wasn't enough for him to catch his breath while laying down. It was not a pleasant way to go. Don't smoke kids.

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Geezer-McGeezer@reddit

All the money I spent ! And the damage to my health. Amazing that we poisioned our own bodies for so long.

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VanishingPint@reddit

I certainly don’t regret it, what is hard (and Allen Carr’s book mentioned this - recommended for quitters) is being an ex smoker- not being someone who ruins relationships with people who still smoke - I don’t want to be around cigarette smoke and obviously don’t want to be a condescending arse.

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BandicootTreeline@reddit

Ex smokers are the worst. Waving hands around while ten yards away and that pathetic fake cough seeking approval from people who have gone their whole lives not smoking. Especially knowing they’d 100% chain smoke a 20 deck if they were three beers into it

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ExternalNo3586@reddit

Ever picking it up to begin with.

Been 5 years and I still cant have a beer without my stupid monkey brain thinking about ciggies.

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S3F_83@reddit

That’s probably the hardest one to boot tbh. I failed my first attempt after a few beers on a Friday night. After that the rest was a piece of piss for me. 7 years without a fag now. Sober since Christmas too. Yeah, I’m just a masochist.

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fearlessfannyflutter@reddit

Same ! I've only stopped for 6 months and I don't think I'll ever get over that match made in heaven.

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S3F_83@reddit

I regret barely going abroad since I quit. Could have made a couple of quid flogging baccy.

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Reddit__user_@reddit

Ever doing it in the first place.

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Scared-Room-9962@reddit

The money I wasted

The way I smelled for over a decade

The damage I did to myself

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LesPaulSteve@reddit

Honestly, not quitting sooner is my only regret.

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hunsnet457@reddit

Not that much. Maybe the sheer amount of money I spent during a time in my life where I definitely needed it or would have reaped the benefits of saving early.

Glad I don’t stink, have grey skin and wake up every morning feeling like someone ran a hoover in my mouth anyway, but not really a regret.

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WastelandOfConfusion@reddit

No regrets. I quit a long time ago, but now 10 years after, the relationship is totally different, I have slim ones with a crushy-ball in the filter, as and when I feel like it, like when I’m on holiday abroad or something. It’s really nice when I do have one.

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Embarrassed_Park2212@reddit

I did enjoy a smoke, I regret not being able to roll my own. I just couldn't get the coordination going. I did try before I went on to vaping because a pack of cigarettes went up to £10. I had a little rolling machine that I got from the pound shop.

Now I spend maybe £100 a year, I like the 88 vape Juice. Only £1 a bottle.

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erezawmas@reddit

Smoking

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PsychologySpecific16@reddit

Except some of the damage I may have done. Nothing really.

I really enjoyed smoking and if it wasn't for the sweet vaping flavours ruining the taste of tobacco for me, i'd still be doing it.

There was something incredibly satisfying about smoking a cigar and just reading a book in the sun.

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GhostRiders@reddit

That I quit

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VolcanicBear@reddit

It's pretty easy to pick it up again tbh.

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The_Blip@reddit

The most annoying thing was when I quit, a year or so on I got a very strong craving again and decided I wanted just a few smokes to tide me over. Fuckers banned 10 packs, so I was locked into smoking 20 cigs.

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doctorbiffgood@reddit

The vague nicotine stains on my teeth. Well that’s the most visible regret.

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Dissidant@reddit

Sensitive palate took some getting used to.
Like salt is in almost everything we eat but I've not added it to my food since I stopped (vinegar I'm ok with)
Even the fishfingers I chucked on when we had young family visiting the other day tasted salty as arseholes

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perhapsflorence@reddit

The dental damage I could've avoided if I'd never smoked to begin with. Still paying the price for it.

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BandicootTreeline@reddit

No longer looking cool. A pack of chewing gum just doesn’t look as good.

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mokujin42@reddit

Not going to uni since you need a degree to work at mcdonalds these days

Smoking i dont really care, it got me through a tough part of my life and now Ive stopped, it served its purpose

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continentaldreams@reddit

Quitting! I quit three months ago and it sucks.

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terryjuicelawson@reddit

Mostly starting I guess. It is such a nagging addiction but your body tells you that you genuinely enjoy it, all the excuses people can make are remarkable really. But I don't feel I have negative health now even after doing it for years. I wasnt broke because of it. It was a time when everyone smoked and you could do it in the pub. But I am so glad I don't do it any more, it is horrible.

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tvthrowaway366@reddit

I don’t regret smoking. I enjoyed it for the most part and I stopped early enough that I am (probably) not going to die prematurely.

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VxDeva80@reddit

My brother smoked for a long time and worked out that he'd spent over 60K on cigarettes.

Quit five years ago.

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emmayse@reddit

All the money spent on something that was so obviously shit for my health.

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