The "buddy system" has helped many people quit. Stopping with a friend offers you a person who knows what you're going through while you're going through it and can offer encouragement and sometimes even a spirit of competition to help you get through.

"My wife was expecting our first child."
"The last time I quit smoking it was quite simple. My wife was expecting our first child. When she found out she was expecting she realized she had to quit smoking and I told her I would do so as well. We both quit at that time — some 16 plus years ago." — John H.

"My reason was to join with my dad. His reason was to join with his son."
"My dad was told he should stop smoking. The next day he said it would be nice if I joined him. My reason to join was my dad. His reason was to join with his son. So simple, so easy, yet permanent! He and I stopped and neither ever started again nor ever mentioned smoking. It was gone from our lives." — Louis J.

"I bet that if she could do it, so could I."
"I went from three packs-a-day to none many years ago. I was able to do so because a neighbor, who was also a chain-smoker, announced that she was quitting cold. I bet that if she could do it, so could I. It became a contest and we both won." — Marshall D.

"My husband quit and I told him that if he didn't go back to them in a month, I would quit too."
"My husband quit and I told him that if he didn't go back to them in a month, I would quit too. I was on zoloft at the time and I think that helped keep me calm… I think because my husband was doing the same thing at the same time helped both of us to stay away from the smoking." — Lois C.

"We are both competitive people, so neither of us would give in."
My husband and I quit at the same time. We were both ready, we talked about it before and agreed when. We are both competitive people, so neither of us would give in. The first three months were definitely the hardest hurdle to get over! Yes, we are married and happier together today than when we first started." — Monica P.