I am 32 years old and have had a problem for many years.
My first instance was at the age of 20 when I racked up 8k in debts mainly down to gambling. My mum and dad Lent me the money and I paid all of my wage every month to them bar £50 til it was fully paid. Somehow I managed to convince them it was just normal debt and I was living beyond my means so they never knew it was through gambling (massive downfall) I carried on gambling over the years but didn't really build up debt although I would regularly spend a month's wage in a night then beg steal and borrow to get through the month.
At the age of 26 I met my wife and her daughter(age 4) we were happy and planned a great future but little did she know I was slowly building a huge debt. Late 2015 and she told me she was pregnant with my son and I was over the moon. I had a bad night gambling and lost my full wage in a matter of minutes and I had to come clean. I was disgusted in myself and my wife was destroyed. I owed £9000. She told me she would help and to save both our embarrassment she never told anyone. She took control of my wage and after 2 hard years we had paid the debt... I was so proud and ready to begin my new life. My wife trusted me and gave me control of my money again. I swore on my kids life it would never happen again.
Well here I am again. I lost my full month's wage in an hour last night and I'm in trouble I can't even afford to feed my children I really am disgusting. I rang my dad and 6am and told him I needed to speak to him. I came clean to my mum and dad about everything and they are so upset. They are going to help my wife financially through the month and are going to settle my new debt and I repay them. I then had to go home and come clean to my wife. I owe another £4000 due to gambling and I have spent all of my wage which I only got yesterday... Not a penny left. She is understandably devastated that I have done this to her again. We were saving for a house in an isa and I have ransacked the account and left nothing in it (£800) we worked so hard to save it. Ive treat her horribly over the years mainly down to stress of covering up my debts and losing lots of money. Ive had to leave home now she won't help me through this again and I don't blame her. I am at my parents house now and I'm looking for help. I really need help.
Hi Richa87,
i am 23 years old and I am in 19k debt due to gambling. I have no control of my money now, my brother and my mum do. I’m trying to stay positive, it’s going to take me years from the end of July to pay my debts.
You need to stay strong and try think about your children. People can help so much then they will give up. I know this is my last chance otherwise I would be homeless at a very young age. People have stopped giving me money to bail me out, so maybe parents need to stop bailing you out, that’s we why gamble again because people keep helping us financially, but what we need is proper help, emotional help. Speaking to gamcare over the phone is good.
jee
Thanks for the reply and I completely understand. I am attending a GA meeting on thursday which I'm not looking forward to but I want to prove to everone I'm ready to end it before it ends me.
My parents are paying the money now just to stop the interest from going up and I will be paying, them all back as quickly as possible. The first time they paid it I gave them around 97 percent of my wage every month til it was paid. (I lived at home so didn't need much) The second occasion I used stepchange and paid 30 percent of my wage a month (because I had bills and children etc)
I have taken the hit and paid my debts each time but I habe never wanted to stop before. I am ready now I want my children to have a good life. I've signed up to gamstop for 5 years which is the maximum... I would have selected life if I could.
Thanks for the advice I will make myself ring them today.
I hope you can free yourself of the debt and then begin to enjoy your life without the demon of gambling. Be very careful if and when you regain control of your money. Good luck thanks again.
We are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. You can also contact us for free on 0808 80 20 133. If you would like to find out more about the service before you start, including information on confidentiality, please click below. Call recordings and chat transcripts are saved for 28 days for quality assurance.
