Yeah, the final straw that lead to me quitting was financial too. When the "Affordable Care Act" was passed and it allowed health insurance companies to discriminate against, err, I mean, charge extra premiums for, tobacco users, that was when I got serious about quitting.
I was spending a couple of grand a year on tobacco, and then the ACA allowed my employer to charge me another couple of grand a year extra in health care insurance premiums if I chose to keep smoking. I figured I could find something better to do with close to 4 grand a year.
So I took them up on the offer of free nicotine gum for 6 months (I actually ended up chewing the stuff for a full year) to quit.
That's been over 9 years ago now. As much as I resented it at the time, I don't regret quitting now. Ditching tobacco was a good thing for me.

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Send lawyers, guns & money...

My complete cessation of all tobacco products happened in '04 when I blew out a few arteries.

I still use a pipe on occasion.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

At the risk of posting something from the competition -

IMG_0635.jpg

I like JR and CI, never had an issue with either one. And I usually buy the basics, anything more than about $2.00 each (by the bundle) I have to think about.

I do splurge once in a while and buy from Cigar Terminal. Takes a while for them to get here but if they don't get here they'll reship.

My 1st cigar was in 1974. I still smoke one every walk home from work. Usually up and over California St in SF puffing away. Great exercise.

Just curious, but how many of you guys inhale your cigars or pipes?
FWIW, I always inhaled it all - didn't see much point in smoking and not inhaling....

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Send lawyers, guns & money...

Inhale? Never! Inhaling pipe tobacco would rip me lungs out!, although i've occasionally seen it done by some "braver man than I am, Gunga Din" type.

I preferred smoking indoors, or at least in an enclosed space as I could savor the aroma. The old smoke does stink up the house, though, so I tended to smoke more often in warm weather when I could keep the windows open. (Being single probably helped, too.)

All this reminded me that I still have some pipes and the remnant of a tin of Gawith "Squadron Leader". I re-hydrated it early last summer and liit up for the first time in years. But haven't been inclined to since.

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"I drank WHAT?" (Socrates)

People who inhale cigars are nicotine addicts, not cigar smokers.
However, retrohaling is the only way to get the true flavors in the tobacco.

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Dave Ramsey Cultist

Expanding on my post from above, last night being "cigar night" for me and my best bud I got some interior shots of his Cigar Lounge. He's still waiting on his counter top to come in to finish the bar and liquor display cabinets. Humidity is set at 69 because we mainly smoke Cubans.
When he's finished the ceiling will be "coffered" and the walls will be paneled "waynes coated" in the same gray.
Enjoy, we certainly will be! lol

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Dave Ramsey Cultist

I've been smoking cigars since I was 10 and pipes since I was a teenager. I've never inhaled either.
Emphasima is bad thing.

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SWCA #3356, SWHF#611