Time to sort this out

Hi Lets-sort-this

I am a recovering CG.

Gambling in the hope of a big win so you can pay off a debt? We all know that's not a really bright idea, but I think most of us have done it.

I would definitely recommend GA and some financial counselling for you. It sounds as though you haven't got into too much debt yet, so now is the time to address the problem. Is your mum in control of your finances? Would you be willing to give her control? Limit your access to money as much as you can.

Read some of the stories on this forum. Any one of them could be you in a few years time if you don't attempt to arrest your problem now.

Best wishes

I spent years chasing losses and hoping for that big win to pay off debt and seemingly solve all my problems. I've only ever earned just above minimum wage, and due to debts and gambling was stuck living with my parents until I was 34! I racked up about £18,000 of debt taking out loans, credit cards and overdrafts mostly to fund my gambling. It never got better until I decided to quit gambling and stay quit. I began with the intention of quitting about 2/3 years ago and had a few relapses along the way, due to stress, or whatever excuse I made to justify gambling. I was so depressed at one point I even attempted suicide. Allowing my gambling to continue always simply made everything worse. Every time. I've not gambled in ten months and things are finally looking up. The best thing I did was be honest with my friends, family and debtors. If you can't afford to pay a debt, contact the company - they do have departments in place specifically to deal with people in financial difficulty and will help you find a way to deal with the debts. Since I did that a year ago my debts have been going down (very slowly, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now) and I've managed to move into our own flat with my partner - something I could never have afforded to do while gambling.

I want to wish you all the best in your journey, and congratulate you on coming here and being ready to face the fire. Well done. I know you can get through this. Use the support of friends,family, this forum and anything else you need such as counselling, your GP, GA etc. There is a whole host of support if you reach for it, but ultimately it's your own determination that will see you through.

Love & Light,

Pinky x

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Well done on making the first steps writing down tthoughts and feelings will help with your recovery. I too took out so many Loans and payday Loans and if you don't stop now it will get worse.
I called a debt company and got a debt management plan as I couldn't cope with all the Loans anymore, is there someone you can give your bank card to.

Wish you all the best

can i join you on this task im brand new and have shoulders like moutains

Just re read this and i think we have alot in common, im still in 15k debt and pay a pound a month to each company but then i choose to s***k 800 in 3 weeks online, mad i know.. But its been my first day of being clean and i woke up feeling numb due to having no doe once again. But ive made it to 4 oclock today without a cheeky tenner spin.ive decided Now its time to get back on the right path i had loads of items i sold for penuts and this has annoyed me lots. But im gonna get a nandos tonight n watch footy n chill. Its gonna be hardnot to gamble but i can do this

insted of making the bookies rich, imgonna plan a trip to ny at xmas so having that goal i have something to work at

i hope u stay clean enough is enough bro we can do this 2getha

Sorry about the no replies guys. I wish i could say I have been gamble free, but I would be lying and I have done enough of that in the past few years. Had about a month of no gambling due to being very busy with work, then since being busy I have been back online again, albeit not gambled as much it is the serious fact that it will end up with me gambling a lot more. Payday yesterday, a nice day for many as they can treat themselves, not for me. After paying back a friend money I owed him and the other loans that I still had to pay off I was left with a staggering £220 for the month, oh no wait I forgot I have another payment due out in 2 days for £120 so that leaves me with £100 (I think you know what's coming next). Sat in my room on my military base, nothing to do and all that's playing in my head is how on earth can you live off £100 for a month. The £220 was then passed from my bank account to a rich online gambling website because they need it more than I do. Now I am left with around £40 for the month which I have in cash. What about the £120 that I have to pay in a couple of days you say? Looks like yet another phone call to try and explain I am having financial difficulties.

Today I put together a list of what I owe and a possible plan to pay it back, let's see how that goes tomorrow when I phone around with a sad tone to my voice and once again feel like a complete idiot. I think tomorrow I will also call gamcare for a chat, after all as embarrassed as I am, what harm can a phone call do.

thanks guys

You need to break the cycle before you end up having to pay loans you've used to off loans etc and you are stuck forever. Gambling got you into this mess and is never going to get you out of it. Hope you get something sorted out for now but think what you are going to do next month.

You are indeed correct, I have been in this cycle for sometime now. It's a horrible cycle of feeling sorry for myself and hope but I do understand it's not going to fix itself and gambling is no way to fix a gambling problem. I am hoping that after a few phone calls tomorrow I can sort out a payment plan where I can pay roughly half to three quarters of my wages towards debt for a few months and live quietly with minimal spending (usually quite hard when working within the military) but needs must. My mum is very aware of all of this and tries her best to help, but being away from family doesn't help. Next month I am home for 3 weeks which will help keep me occupied and help with structuring a plan further. Thanks for the reply DeLorean

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Hi joydivider.

i think stress is the worst thing about it, I get stressed when I have little money, the gambling does kind of take me away from that for a short space of time and then the reality that I have no money left sets in and feel worse. Constantly having to cancel plans with friends because I have no money is really horrible and sometimes I will go out with mates when I know financially that I shouldn't, but I just feel I need something to take myself away from the financial stress. I have always been a 'do it now, think about it later' kind of guy.

Today one of the payday loan companies told me I had to pay in full because I was in a position next month to pay it in full, despite having numerous amounts to pay off loans and after I had written out a plan and my plan was to pay it off in two instalments, back to the drawing board (that really didn't help my stress levels).

Next month with what money I have left I plan to install software to block gambling sites. Although I started gambling in the bookies, it's not a place I tend to go as I feel uncomfortable in them and it is easier to keep it quiet sat in my room throwing away money that just shows up on a screen. I would say 95% of my gambling is online and the other 5% in casinos on a night out.

Thanks

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Joydivider.

thats all my payday loans sorted for next month, will get a wage of a measly £1300ish and £1029 will be paid out but only a few months and fingers crossed I'm sorted.

one thing I am finding weird, I had the usual urges yesterday to gamble, lucky I had no money in my bank. I was watching YouTube videos of gambling addiction and ended up on a video of people betting on roulette, it gave me the same feeling as if I were playing it ( watching and hoping it would hit their numbers) not sure if this means I get a buzz off watching the wheel, but after I watched the videos I felt okay, my urges passed. Found that very strange but interesting.

Now is the worst time for me, I have a weekend off and all my work mates have gone home or going out of the lash. I have opted for a few cans and a weekend of FIFA and TV, not my choice but down to having very little money. It's these kind of weekends where I am at my loneliest, wishing I had the money to go home, constant messages from my mum who worries about me and I am just sat here being a recluse in my room.

Tomorrow I have to go and sell my ipad, I am due a friend money and I must pay him. I think that's going to help as well because it's another device that I cannot gamble on.

thanks for the reply