I have decided to QUIT SMOKING!!! I’ve been wanting to for some time now. I just returned from a vacation in Mexico where I purchased a carton (10 packs) of cigarettes to bring back to Calgary Alberta with me. The carton cost $19.00 USD plus $10.00 CDN taxes in Calgary – So for simplicity sake let’s just say $3.00 per pack Canadian. Cigarettes in Calgary purchased in a corner store cost at least $10.00 per package. I have noticed that I ALWAYS have money in my wallet ever since returning from vacation and smoking the cigarettes bought there.

I am lucky enough to work for an excellent Oil and Gas firm here in Calgary, who match upto 5% of my contributions to my RRSP. They also automatically deduct money (another 5%) from my paycheque which goes into a Spousal RRSP. (My husband makes much more money than I do). We also have around $150K invested in existing RRSP’s…

In deciding to quit smoking, I have also decided to drink the FREE coffee offered at work, (therefore I will require a FREE coffee mug – ha ha ha..) rather than spend $5.00 a day @ Starbucks et al… And, just because I know I can afford it, I’m topping up the $15.00 (cigarettes and coffee) to $20.00 a day resulting in $73,000.00 in a decade. Using the Time Value Calculator on the web site, I have a result of $459,418.00 in 20 years. I’m 42 now so that sounds about right…

I will be paying myself nearly 1/2 a million dollars to quit smoking!!! Now that’s what I call a motivator!!! And, I’ll be healthy enough to enjoy it. Loved you on Oprah!!!