Hi there
I’m 19 years old and it’s time I finally do something about this. For the past 2 years, my life seems to have been taken over by the world of gambling. Horses, casino, accumulators, any opportunity of winning a bet. I’m currently studying for a degree and I owed rent money for my accommodation a few days ago, this was £800 I needed. I stupidly gambled my way down to £400. 2 nights ago, I was lucky and got this back up to £1200 in the casino. I was over the moon, I could pay my rent and have some left over to be set for the month. Tonight, I went back in the casino out of greed, and lost most of it. Im now stuck at £200, maxed out my overdraft and due to pay rent today. My guarantor (my mum) will be notified I have not paid this months rent, however I’ll have to make up some stupid excuse to cover me for a day or two. She knew I used to gamble a lot, however she believes my problem is sorted and all is good at university. I feel like I’ve let her and my family down completely and I’m completely stuck as to what to do. I have a problem. I feel sick after what happened tonight. But right now, I need a short term solution to help with my rent situation. I’ve applied for another student account to get another overdraft, however this could take a few days to come in. Please, help me out here.
Thanks
Hi Simon I'm sad to see another really young person trying to get a better life here. Tell your mother. That's the best advice. Get her to handle your money so that your rent is paid. Get to a GA meeting. This is becoming a major problem as you have obviously been here before. You need to accept the money is gone. This is a progressive addiction which gets worse over time. It will take over your every thought, it will change you, make you depressed , ruin your social life. Get help now while you're still young. Don't look for a short term fix, this is a lifelong problem. Call gamcare for help and advice.
You gambled your rent and now that same money isn’t there to pay the rent. It’s not the money that’s the problem, it’s the gambling. The addiction to gambling. That’s what you need help with. More overdraft means more gambling tokens, not necessarily a roof over your head.
The help you need isn’t at any bank, including the Bank of Mum. It’s at GA, go to meetings, you’ll fit in because everyone is there with the same problem.
Get practical help from the Uni student services, who are there to help, rather than a bank, whose agenda is to lend you what you can’t afford at high rates of interest. And tell your parents - not for a bail out but so that they can help you by looking after your finances to prevent more financial damage, so that you’re accountable, so that you start to become honest. Your parents should go to GamAnon to learn how best to manage.
There’s hope if you choose the right path from here.
CW
Simon, CW’s advice is spot on.
Get yourself to GA and tell your parents.
You sound like I was 32 years ago & the lost money was the least of the problems. I wasted my 3 years at Uni, missed exams to gamble, lost jobs through gambling and have basically wasted much of my adult life.
I agree with KST I was the same dropped out of uni in second year due to gambling . Had to work full time to subsidise my addiction . 25 years on and am finally getting it right . Did go back to university and graduate around 4 years ago . I’m happy you recognise it is a problem but you will only stop when you want to stop. Look deep in yourself about what it is doing to you , what actual benefits are you getting from it ? Good luck and I will follow your progress
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