BETTY Russell would easily have smoked a 25-pack of cigarettes a day.

But 12 years ago she kicked her 50-year smoking habit and put the money she once burned on cigarettes into renovating her home in country Victoria.

Her 1950s yellow, black and grey kitchen with a wood-fire stove became a modern galley with a dishwasher, at a cost of $21,000 - equivalent to almost 30,000 cigarettes.

She also coughed up $12,000 - saved by not consuming 16,901 smokes - to rewiring her Horsham house, and to fixing the plumbing.

The cake decorator decked the home out with new carpet, a flat-screen TV, a lounge suite, a new refrigerator, heater and more.

She hopes her story will inspire others to do the same: if not for the money, then for their health.

"Giving up smoking is one of the best things I've done in my life; health-wise and money-wise," she said.

Ms Russell, who celebrates her 79th birthday today, clearly remembers the day she quit.

"It was on the 23rd August, 2001," she said.

"The doctor said I had to give up smoking to have an operation. I told him to wash his mouth out with soap as there's no way I could do that. He suggested I go down the chemist and get some nicotine patches.

"I didn't think they would work, but I banged them on day after day and here I am now, still not smoking."

Ms Russell set up a special bank account to start saving what she would have spent as a pack-a-day smoker, even increasing the amount as the price of cigarettes went up.

"Every 13 weeks I'd go into Woolworths or Safeway to check the price, and as soon as they went up I would put more money away," she said.

"I started out putting $112.30 away, and then it went up to $116.90, then $119, then $120.40, $122.50, $123.20, $125.20, $129.10 and so it goes.

"I've put all of this money in the bank every fortnight without fail. I have it all recorded in a book.

"I just kept putting it in there, and I didn't know what I was going to do with it.

"When you think of how much you can put away, it's incredible."

Now Ms Russell squirrels away more than double her initial deposit.

On Thursday, $251 from her pension was put into the account, making her total savings, to date, more than $50,000.

"It goes to show just how much this filthy habit can cost you. It's a lot of money," she said.

"Just think of what you could buy with that. A new car. An exotic holiday. A deposit on a house. The list is endless."

With a packet of 25 cigarettes now costing an average $17, a pack-a-day smoker will watch $6205 a year from their income go up in smoke.

Ms Russell, whose home was built by her father in 1954 after he bought the block of land for £192, said the next room to be renovated was the laundry.

"Slowly but surely it is all coming together," she said.

Ms Russell's feat has inspired many of her family and friends to do the same.

"When I tell people they are always in awe and say 'Oh, I should do that'," she said.

Niece Cherie Hutchinson, 57, is proud of her aunt.

"She was a very heavy smoker, so it was a hard thing for her to do," she said. "She is proof that anyone can do it. She truly is an inspiration - she's so committed."

Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death in Victoria, despite public health campaigns and plain-packaging initiatives being introduced.

According to Quit Victoria, almost 4000 Victorians die from diseases caused by smoking each year.

Using this week’s price at Woolworths of a 25-pack of Winfield Green (Ms Russell’s preferred cigarette) of $17.75, we calculated just how many cigarettes went into some of Ms Russell’s renovations:

* $21,000 kitchen = 29,577 cigarettes

* $3000 bathroom = 4225 cigarettes

* $5000 new carpet = 7042 cigarettes

* $12,000 rewiring and plumbing = 16,901 cigarettes

* $4000 TV and lounge suite = 5633 cigarettes

10 TIPS TO QUIT SMOKING

PICK a 'quit date' and stick to it. Increase your chances of success by choosing a day on which you are not likely to be subject to lots of stress.

LIST your reasons for quitting. Knowing why you want to stop smoking will motivate you to keep going. You can refer to this list whenever you feel tempted to light up a cigarette.

DECIDE on your quitting strategy. Do you intend to go cold turkey, use nicotine replacement therapy or attend group courses?

ANALYSE what went wrong in previous attempts to quit. Plan how to avoid the same pitfalls this time.

ASK for professional help. Support is available from your doctor, a smoking cessation course or the Quitline telephone service.

USE the 4Ds method to cope with cigarette cravings. This means you delay lighting up and deep breathe, drink water and do something else until the urge passes.

GIVE yourself a pat on the back. Every time you resist the urge to smoke, you’re one step closer to breaking your nicotine habit for good.

REWARD yourself for not smoking. Put your cigarette money aside and spend it on treats such as a book, DVD or restaurant meal.

PLAN for tough situations. For example, you might decide to turn down social invitations for a few weeks if your cigarette cravings are stronger when you’re out drinking with friends.

TAKE it one day at a time. Focus on not smoking today and don’t be swayed into having ‘just one’ more.

Source: Better Health Channel

For advice on giving up, call Quitline on 137 848.