HI A new Hope,
You've done a great thing by joining GamCare, shows that you're really determined to give it up this time round. Keep thinking about your dreams and how you want to achieve them. You may feel like you have not achieved anything in the last couple of years, and you can't get those two years back but giving up is the best thing you can do my friend. It's a perfect time to start your recovery and it will be good to keep a diary of everyday. Hope you have a good weekend mate!
Steve / Half-life / Krana - thanks so much for the messages of support, there is also some excellent advice in there that I'll definitely take on board!! One issue I know I am going to face is access to cash - for my job, I can suddenly have to travel 300 miles at the drop of a hat to a business meeting, and often without notice. If I don't have the cash available I'll not be able to put in the petrol for the trip, or eat/drink whilst out all day. I've started limiting the amount I carry, but I am worried I'll either carry too much (and have a temptation) or not enough and leave myself stuck 100 miles from home etc... Is anyone aware of a card which lets you make purchase but not cash withdrawals etc? Kind of like a credit card, but using my own money, not the credit?
Hi ANH
You ask about bank cards. You can get basic bank accounts with only a cash card, or you can get prepaid mastercards so you can only spend what you have added to the card, no more. you can also get budgeting accounts (also called Jamjar accounts) where the amount for your expenses is kept separate from the rest, leaving you with just the amount you choose to keep available for spending. You can find out more about these at the Money Advice Service: https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/managing-your-money-using-the-jam-jar-approach#opening-a-jam-jar-account
It might also help you to self exclude from as many bookies as you can. I know you travel a lot for work but even if you could concentrate on the locations you are in most often, this could help. You can do this without having to enter a bookies now, by phoning 0800 294 2060.
Finally, please do call GamCare if you haven't already. Our contact details are at the top of the page. We can help you with counselling, signpost you to Gamblers Anonymous support groups, and tell you about other practical steps you can take to make it easier to stop.
Don't be alone with this. Keep posting!
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