Looking for a way to save £1,000 to spend on luxuries like a two-week holiday?
Then those who smoke have got an instant cash fix…quit on No Smoking Day – Wednesday, March 10 – and that is how much a 10-a-day smoker could save over the course of just one year.
And that is not to mention the huge health benefits that come in to effect immediately after your last cigarette.
Health Challenge Carmarthenshire, run by Carmarthenshire County Council, has lots of support and advice for smokers looking to change their habits and live a healthier lifestyle.
One of its features is a smoke-free calculator which helps people realise how much they could be saving per week, month and year, if they quit, and gives examples of luxury items they could buy with their savings.
It also has information on quite smoking support groups, and has links to organisations such as Public Health Wales, which can support people who want to give up.
Health improvement policy co-ordinator, Anne Duff, said: “Many people are now making efforts to give up smoking, a habit which can be extremely hard to break, but which has such huge health benefits. Only 25 per cent of people now smoke, with thousands giving up over the years – helping not only themselves, but others around them.
“Everyone knows of the smoking-related diseases, such as lung cancer, heart disease and strokes, but we want to focus on the positive aspects of giving up.”
The benefits of stopping smoking are immediate. Within weeks you will have better breathing and cleaner clothes. Even better, the risk of serious disease starts going down immediately and continues going down for years as your body recovers.
Cllr Pat Jones, executive board member for health and social care, said: “I’d encourage any smokers to have a serious think about giving up. There are plenty of incentives, including financial, but you cannot put a price on good health – that is invaluable.
“There is plenty of support available, so people don’t feel like they have to go through it on their own, and the first point of call should be Health Challenge Carmarthenshire which has all the local information you need to get started.”
For further information, visit www.healthchallengecarmarthenshire.org.uk or call Stop Smoking Wales on 0800 085 22 19 for support and advice.
