This entry is not for the faint-hearted.

You may think that the act of foraging for cigarette butts is a desperate one, being perverse and extremely unhealthy. And you may well be right. But, there are many folk out there who find the act of Giving up Smoking even more desperate and when they are caught up in a financial drought, foraging for butts provides an effective short term solution.

Foraging Butts

Your wealthy friends have been and gone, leaving a well-stocked ashtray festering with 'delicious' butts. Now, the average smoker would simply pick out a reasonably intact butt and light it up there and then. Never do this. Think of all that extra tar. You could seriously damage your health. There is, however, a correct approach.

You will need the following items:

• Cigarette rolling papers
• A well-stocked ashtray
• A sieve
• Two bowls
• A good pair of scissors
• A lighter

Method

• Firstly, empty the contents of the ashtray into the sieve (preferably outside because it's not a pretty job). Shake the sieve around to your heart's content, removing all excess ash and scum.

• Next, using the scissors (or a fine scalpel blade), remove the crusty burnt bits from the end of each butt. Be ruthless here. Although you may think that you are losing a considerable amount of precious tobacco, these are the bits that will kill you. Put all removed waste into your designated waste bowl. Do not use the kitchen bin or you'll end up with horrible stuff all stuck to the floor.

• Right. Now, taking the trimmed butt, roll and squeeze it gently between your fingers so that the good second-hand tobacco drops out into your designated tobacco bowl.

• Repeat this process until you have exhausted the used butt collection.

• You will now have a bowl brimming with strange, chunky looking used tobacco. Mush it up with your hands a bit (pretend you're kneading dough) until it has a consistent texture. Having rinsed and dried the sieve, give your newly created tobacco a toss or two to get rid of any anomalies or unwanted bits of paper.

• Utilizing your fine rolling skills, make yourself a cigarette using your new secret blend, adding a filter or roach if you so desire. Now, light it up and taste that smooth Virginia flavour...

As you can see here, being poverty stricken is no excuse to risk death through careless butt foraging. Following the simple guidelines here will ensure you a healthier and marginally longer life than otherwise expected.

Happy foraging.