2015 Challenge

Many thanks for all your hard work

I'll try not to let you down !

jim

Ahhh another late check in but definately still not bet. Love how im forgetting what it is like and less stress and anger or fluctuations of mood! Will not get complacent though, GL all

Checking in 53 days gamble free. Looking forward to tomorrow as have treated my self and a friend to a flotation treatment and indian head massage. with some retail therapy chucked in as well.

Stay strong everyone and remember together we can do it

Getting a check in early this week. Have a good one everyone!

Hi everyone. gosh, 26 days today! I am doing really well. Feeling the wrath of an addiction though! My bank just said i was at my overdraft limit!! That sucks! How long did people take to get back to a normal way with bank accounts? Im talking of those who are GF for months and months?

I am very proud of myself and maybe a few more monthly pay days will get my confidence back up. Still doing a second job to get some cash and its slow progress. Times are hard with money, the weekly shop is so expensive these days.

Thank you for all your support, i enjoy catching all the stories and good luck everyone! Im 26 days GF!!! Great achievement! Cant wait to reach 50 then onto 100!!!

Thank you everyone, thank you GamCare, this community is brilliant!

Gambling is evil! House always wins! Think of the money you will save! stay strong!

Hi I'm in 15 days gamble free

Thanks Phil. As ever I immensely appreciate the time and effort you put into the organization of this group and encouragement for all those involved.

I read an article on the bbc today which made me think a lot about gambling as a whole and why not to go back to those dark days. As I mentioned during the Cheltenham week not all that interested in horse racing, however this article basically summarised that if you placed a £1-00 bet on every race "champion jockey" AP McCoy has ridden since 2000 you would be in negative almost 2 grand. I understand odds and the fact that's he probably rides the best horses are shortened odds, but really, champion jockey and statistically he's cost probably most punter more than he's earned them. If he was a stock price he'd be a loser. If you'd bought 10k worth of AP shares in 2000 after 15 years of investment you would now have 8k. Good value - NOT!!!

Statistically all odds are against us so why do we bother.

I for one won't be spending my money on this rubbish anymore and would much rather it was spent on loved ones.

Have a good week and congratulations those reaching milestones. I'll happily raise my bat for the 100 not out this week as life gets so much better without gambling.

Andy

48 days down, they keep on ticking up! best i've felt in a long while

Checking in 12 weeks today. Thanks again Phil.

Bornagain

hi Phil, my gf days are 34 but the roll of honour has me down for 36. Could I have 2 days taken off please mate as I feel like I'm cheating on myself seeing more days than I should have.

Gf free 34 days today.

Thank you so much Phil.

Checking In - Day 284

Strong urges to gamble these days but not giving in to them.

The urges will pass and I get to keep my cash and my sanity.

Hope you are all okay.

Suzy

Sorry about that TickFollowsTock, its been corrected now.

Thegerman our past life as gambling addicts leaves many of us with huge debts and problems managing money. Theres no quick fix in my opinion, we have to learn to value money again, to budget and also to deal with how we feel when paying off gambling debts. I was paying back 1000 a month throughout 2014 and its hard to feel you're working for nothing. This can be a vicious circle and bring the urges back. For me you need to take it a day at a time, make a plan to repay debts and get used to managing your money and budgeting, over time things will get much easier.

Better life thats a really interesting post, I used to be a racing fan and AP McCoy was the best jockey, he would put his all into it and just wanted to win. If you can't make money backing him then that shows what a mugs game gambling is. I try to look at the football results on a Saturday and think to myself theres more money saved when I see a big team has slipped up. Gambling is geared for us to lose and I was one of the biggest losers going, lifes much better now!

Chrisjohnson if you want to be added to the challenge please make another post before midnight Saturday with a bit more about yourself and your story!

Checking in day 31 feeling good positive and on a better track again
thegerman I too have taken a second job and all of my money goes onto repaying debts right now budgeting weekly shops so not many goodies in my house but the blessing we still have more than some people :0) keep thinking it will get better I ring the bank getting them to reduce overdraft as I pay some off it so always at my limit at the moment but don't trust myself having money in the bank but the feeling that soon enough I won't have that shadow over me is worth more than money, do keep up the hard work soon enough theyl be paid off as not gambling isnt making the problem worse and that extra cash your not gambling could turn into savings :0) that's my plan x

Thank you born again and tt...

I appreciate your thoughts. Days at a time are best! Countdown to pay day lol!!

Hi great update Phil as always

Glads dad checking in and doing well