I think cold turkey should be tried before any drugs/patches, simply because your mind has to handle the pressure of not smoking, I went cold turkey for about 8 weeks this year and I was lovin it. Then stress started to hit me up and I am now back on the bastards.
I will quit again after the new year, the biggest hurdle is replacing the time you spend smoking, I suggest you try and get fit/healthy because when you start to faulter, which you will, without a doubt, your ****ing up hours/weeks/months of healthy eating/exercise.
The extra money is cool, you should spend that on some exercise equipment and start using it for a few hours a day, once a craving comes along, wreck yourself to exhaustion on the bike, boxing bag, weights whatever and your lungs and body will be begging you not to smoke. I would quit again today, but with all the shit coming up this month, its pointless to put myself through all that at this time.
Its a hard road, you probably already know that, I have seen people quit for a year then just relapse, even some people that have quit still smoke when I am around them then hit the patches, ****ing crazy addiction..
Oh yeh another thing, your smell and taste come back, that is a major bonus and kinda cool, as come food is like eating it all over again for the first time.