Nicola and David gave up smoking at the Specialist Smokers' Clinic over 18 months ago. After quitting, they used the money they saved from not smoking to travel round the world for a year. Nicola and David from Enfield

We were informed of the NHS smoking clinic via our doctor. After, many years of failed attempts at quitting and both in our early 30's, we decided to give the clinic a go.

After our first session we came away with a mixture of feelings. I must admit, I was a little cynical that I would be able to quit smoking successfully.

Nevertheless, David and I kept an open mind and remained committed. With the enthusiasm of our course coordinator and with the encouragement from other members of the group, we continued to attend every week. We were both amazed at how successful and motivating the group sessions were. Having a "smoking buddy" to phone when the cravings reached breaking point were invaluable.

Nicotine replacement products certainly helped but the real motivation came from the group.

Our health has improved. We can now laugh without coughing. Our clothes, home and car no longer smell like an ashtray and we are no longer ashamed at having such a disgusting and debilitating habit.

David and I have remained non- smokers now for over 18 months. With the money we saved from one year as non-smokers, £1,500, we were able to buy a "round the world" airline ticket each and have not looked back since.

We left the UK with all our worldly possessions packed in a ruck-sack each and spent the next 12 months having a trip of a life time.

We journeyed through New Zealand, Australia, through to Asia, visiting countries such as Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam until finally heading through Nepal and India.

Our fitness has improved greatly since quitting and has been an investment in our future. Our new found fitness has enabled us to enjoy and experience trekking in New Zealand and the Himalayas, something which we would have never been able to do before.

This trip has certainly been a life changing experience, only made possible by the money we saved from giving up smoking. It's so hard now to comprehend all the money we wasted on cigarettes.

Quitting smoking has been the one most life-changing thing we could have done.

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