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A $300 Conversation: Out and About with Quitters Unite

by Erin  |  October 6, 2011 - 10:54am

The Smokefree video shoot was a blast, and the people on the streets of BC couldn’t wait to get in front of the camera and tell the world what they’d do with the money that would otherwise be wasted on smoking. I’m Erin, the girl you may have seen in the recent Smoke-free Lifestyle video.

If you’ve been chatting with us on Twitter or Facebook, then we’ve already met! Last week I got to go wander around, talking to people about the money that is wasted every month on cigarettes, and the personalities that I got to meet were incredible.

We talked to smokers and non-smokers, guys and girls, a student with a broken phone, travellers who needed money for a hostel, and a guy who had a long list of things that included chocolate sauce, whipped cream, and some less than PG items (I don’t think that he made the final cut).

I spent a lot of my day laughing along with the people who were sharing their ideas with us. BC is filled with such talented, creative people. The whole day wasn’t filled with smiles though – we met a few people who had been impacted by the negative effects of smoking, and their stories really touched the team.

Even the people who had experienced tragedy were able to find a positive spin on things, though, and they ended up with some of my favorite ideas. One in particular was an insanely talented guitarist who was strumming on the steps of Victory Square. You could see the expression on her face change as a wave of realization washed over her. At that moment it seemed that a light went off and for the first time she was thinking about the things that she was sacrificing to be able to smoke every day.

What was incredible was that nearly everyone seemed to have something right on the tips of their tongues that they’d do with the money. I guess that shouldn't surprise me, but what is pretty shocking is how much money smokers spend on such an unhealthy habit when they have so many other things they would rather spend that moola on. I guess it just goes to show you how hard it is to quit once you start.

Shooting the video also got me thinking about what I would do with an extra $300 and like most people, it came to me surprisingly quickly. Towards the end of the contest when all you beauties have submitted your entries I'll tell you what I would do with my $300.

I challenge you to take 5 minutes and spend it brainstorming ways you could spend $300. Then find a picture, visit the Quitters Unite website or Facebook page and enter the My Smoke-free Lifestyle Contest today! Get creative and speak from your heart because you might win a $300 day out on us and an iPad 2.

The contest is open to smokers and non-smokers over the age of 19. Enter today! Good luck!