Hi all, been a long time lurker as have tried to stop gambling on and off for 4 or 5 years.
Blackjack on the Fixed Odds Betting Terminals is my poison with my highest win being £1500 recently but i reckon i have spent in excess of £15,000. I am on sickness benefits due to having Schizophrenia and for 3 years i was piling all my money into these machines and not paying phone bills/credit card bills etc. I racked up £4500 debt on 3 cards and a £400 phone debt. Now a few years on i am thankfully paying my bills when i receive money every fortnight(and my debt reduced to £1k), however the urge to spend the remaining money has never left.
After paying my bills yesterday i was left with £60 to last 2 weeks(i have some petrol, food, gas, electric) and found myself heading into the Bookies "to try and double up" and lost the lot. Now i am left with £25 on a credit card(that i forgot about or i would have spent that as well)
I tried GA and didnt think it was for me, i tried self excluding myself from Local bookies but living a stonesthrow from a major city you can always find one round the corner.
Anyway, just wanted to say I am determined this is the last time i will feel like this and DAY 1 of my gamble free life will start today 6/11/14. Good Luck everyone
EGFR
Hi Egfr
You have come to the right place for help and support. Don't dwell on what you have lost. Take one small step a day at a time. Use the money you have left on the credit card for food. Use this site as much as you can for support. Be strong, you can get through this.
mo
Thanks for the reply Mo. I still have food and my £20, so far i have only spent £5 on petrol and i am now 4 days gamble free more importantly!
Hi Emily82, thanks for the words of encouragement. I bet a MacD's has never tasted so good!
Fortunately my cards were defaulted resulting in me paying off the balances without having use of them anymore - with the 1 card i have in use back to its £510 limit which i have "borrowed" from countless times to fund my habit. I face a big test this week, last time i "won big" a friend borrowed £100 and he is paying me back tomorrow, i have a trip to Belfast booked next month to see a good friend so Im giving the hundred straight to my mum who will keep it until i go away or need more food/petrol whatever comes first!
Good Luck with your own battle
EGFR
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