Mandatoryink - posted on 01/18/2013 ( 13 moms have responded )
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My husband and I have been living in poverty since we have been married. (A little over four years ago) I got pregnant with my son about 9 months into our marriage. Then, we relied on welfare to take care of him and still struggled greatly. And yes we were those filthy, despicable people that smoked and were on welfare. I'm sure you have read at least one of those lovely post about people spending money on booze, drugs, tattoos, and cigarettes and still relying on welfare to take care of their children. Yes, please group me in with the worthless, drug addicted, and alcoholic parents because I have an addiction to smoking cigarettes. Yes, I am aware of how much it costs over time. If I and my husband never started I probably would have never had lack of money issues and we would have never had to be on welfare. It is because of the smoking that we struggled so much. We are not on welfare any more. My husband has a great job. A job that enables us for the first time to pay are bills- almost always on time. But we barely have money for household expenses and absolutely nothing else.
I'm sure everyone's answer is quit smoking.... It's mine too. But its not that simple. I would love for it be that simple. We spend 80 dollars a WEEK on cigarettes.
But I know what it takes to be able to quit. You have to want to. And as most of myself wants too. The part that matters does not. I don't want the smell and the unfavorable health issues for my son or my husband and I. I would like to feel like I have my head above water financially for the first time in a decade. I would like the house to be cleaner and fresher as a result. But it all comes down to one thing. HIGH ANXIETY. I already have issues with that. If I quit smoking.... I think I might kill something. I don not want to be an uncontrollable, ranting, raving lunatic more than I already am.
I have been smoking since I was 17. I am almost 27. My husband started in his late 20s and is now in his mid 30s. I smoke about a pack a day and he nearly 2. That is nearly 15 dollars a DAY! And yes it is disgusting.
My mother thinks I shouldn't worry about smoking well I am under so much stress. Well- mothers are not always right. (She is also the one that bought me a carton of cigarettes after I quit when I was 20) Because ONE- I cant remember- not even as a child- not feeling stress. And TWO- If I (at least) quit- that would be 40 dollars a week and at least 160 a month. That would solve a LOT of financial problems. If we both quit- 320 dollars a month! would be saved. (At least!) The question is where to start. And I dont mean all those little "helpful websites and crap". I want a REAL answer. From a person who has done it under an incredible amount of stress. Because the stress is here to stay. I know that. I have NEVER been able to get rid of it.
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