I actually started smoking when I was about 13. I got my first job washing dishes and doing food preparation at an Italian restaurant in my hometown. I don't think I've ever smoked more than maybe 10 cigarettes a day at my worst. I think I'm just lucky. I use everything else under the sun in a totally compulsive manner, but for some reason, I never became a 2-pack a day guy.
These days, it's a little gross, but I just go an buy a black and mild cigar from the bodega. With that, I spend about a dollar and this cigar can last me 2 days. I'm not the first to imply that cigarettes are in fact designed and engineered to addict users. You have a single cigarette, you're likely to smoke that whole thing. Some people save halves, but it's a little gross and nobody wants to smell like stale cigarettes. So, people smoke an entire cigarette just by definition.
When I started my cigar technique, I found that I actually only wanted a few puffs and I was good. I'll take a few, put it out and leave it on my window sill outside. This satisfied the act of "taking a break", the "oral fixation" and naturally, the small amount of nicotine works great. Just like anything, if you can use in moderation and less frequently, you'll find that that smoke break is a lot more meaningful and refreshing.
These are my tips on life and how to end the dreaded cycle of life and death.