Exactly one month ago, I extinguished my last cigarette. The stubbing out of that horrible little Marlboro brought to an end almost 8 years of smoking. I didn’t actually know it was going to be my last cigarette which, in the end, I’ve found actually helped me.

Previous attempts to quit were always melodramatic Oscar-worthy scenarios. ‘And with this fiiiiiiinal drag, I declare myself a smoker no more,’ – come on, be serious. That stuff never works.

Instead, with a little help last year from Allen Carr’s Easyway book and the realisation this year that I was fed up paying through the nose for such a disgusting habit, I simply had enough. And one month in, I am beginning to feel like I can trust myself never to have even a puff ever again.

Initially, the cravings were horrendous. It’s like a gnawing hunger from deep within that can’t be sated with lollipops or ben and jerry’s. But after a while, those pangs cease – to the point where you forget you ever used to smoke while waiting for the bus or in between stories at work. It is, I have to say, quite empowering.

Yesterday I read a story in the Metro written by a woman who has smoked for 20 years but decided to quit by attending an Allen Carr Easyway clinic – at a cost of about €320. She went, thought it was great, felt all moralistic for about a day – then went back on the cigarettes.

I can’t help but feel a little smug when I think of how I quit for free. I wonder how long it will take people to realise that it is possible, no matter how long you’ve been smoking for? I can think of many things I’d rather spend €320 on.