I want my life back

Hi izzy. ..and welcome...you will get loads of support here from people who know exactly how you feel...my first bit of advice would be to call the phone line ...they will give you information that will help you...they won't judge you..theve heard it all before. ...read diarys on here...take a look at mine if you like...it may well help...come here often....in the begining it all seems so overwhelming...take one step/day at a time...good luck x

Hi Izzy, well done for taking the step of posting and seeking support for this! and as loxxie says keep on coming back and speak to the helpline about your situation. I know exactly what you mean (and I'm sure a lot of others will) about how did playing 'bingo and slot machines has come to this'. I often ask myself a similar question, how i got into this position without being able to exert self control that I would have normally when it comes to other money matters.... I hope the helpline have good advice, stay strong and take care Jazz

Thank you for all your support happy to say I have'nt gambled since thursday afternoon so on my 3rd day today the relief feels really good, but the huge debts are still there I have been in touch with payplan on behalf of my partner as they were his credit cards i was using they have suggested an iva arrangement and are phoning me back monday to discuss it further I just wondered if anybody has done this and does it help, I have read into but don't fully understand it, by the way our main aim is to keep our house and we only have 6 years left on the morgage any help/advice on iva would be very welcome .

thanks Izzy x

Hi, well done on your progress so far.

I am by no means a financial expert, but having so few years left on your mortgage, have you discussed, possible non iva solutions, such extending/borrowing against the mortgage, remortgaging to pay your debts.

Possibly even looking into selling, if you have equity in the house and downsizing.

Of course, only gambling will stop the financial situation getting worse.

If you are not already a member, the forums at moneysavingexpert.com (set up by Martin Lewis, the guy who is always on telly, advising non financial wizkids, about ways of saving money etc), is excellent and has so many extremely knowledgeable people who could suggest, ways of dealing with your debt, as well as IVA's and other things you could do, such as above.

Well a week today no gambling no lying/hiding and it feels a huge relief .... the debt side is worrying me a lot but have contacted stepchange and hopefully the crediters will accept the dmp they have set up , things still strained with me and my partner but hopefully we will be ok when he learns to trust me again so hopefully I can get my life back as it was before this addiction took over me .

Izzy xx

Morning everyone just an update on my gambling addiction , well its been 5 weeks this thursday coming since I gambled I have been tempted a cpl of times but then I think of the hurt I have caused my family, all the lies/ sleepless nights/no money /scared of my partner seeing my bank account the debt were in because of me, its such a relief not to hide and lie about what i'm doing on the laptop so hopefully this keeps me going on the road to being in control of gambling,I also know I would lose my partner this time if I went back to gambling, he's given me a cpl of chances but I think this time was the last straw with him and hopefully in time he learn to trust me again so heres to a guilty free future .

Izzy xx