a new way of thinking

We are all in this together.

We all have our struggles with those pesky urges and anything else that life may throw us.

We all have our dreams.

And those dreams WILL be achieved.

Gambling - PAH!

GT

Thankyou ADE,CODY,SMILER & GT

Your right of course time is not important but i am quite impatient and want everything done yesterday.But of course as with all addictions time is the one thing we all have and its the one thing we need to recover.

Ive spent quite alot of time on here over the last couple of weeks reading and posting as i have been feeling very low mainly due to not being well and thats danger time for me i have felt the urges and that sodding little voice quite strong and with the onset of christmas work hours being cut and like alot of people serious money worries i am trying to stay positive.

Sometimes i wonder if its just my oscar winning acts of everything is ok that get me through.

This reads quite negative but i am quite positive about things just worried dont know why as i some how always manage to get everything done and paid.

Quote GT Simple but effective Gambling PAH.

STAY STRONG.X

Thanks Ade.

My boss has just text me to say my hrs have been cut again next week christ im struggling financely as it is i can barely pay my bills now.

Dosent matter which way i turn there seems to be a f*****g great wall in my way sometimes i just feel like giving up.I wont but i do wonder why i bother ,i may as well sit on my backside on benefits doing f*** all allday no worries about how to pay the childcare bill every month or rushing around like a blue a**e fly working,dropping kids off picking kids up etc etc.

God its so hard to stay positive about anything at the moment let alone fighting this.Arrrrrrrrrrhhhhhhhh.

Ive got up this morning with a huge knot in my stomach and a feeling of dread the same feelings as when ive gambled,i havent but its the only way to describe how i feel.

Im really worried after my bosses text how im going to manage this month and with christmas not far away i really dont know which way to turn.

Maybe it feels worse because iv been ill for the last two weeks on a good point little one is now better as he has actually asked for breakfast this morning he hasnt really eaten much in the last week.

Its easy to fall into the £20 wont hurt routine but it will because i wont win so i wont do it but im finding things tough.

Trying to stay strong.x

Oh dear Liz that is really tough having your hours cut, and at the most expensive time of the year too, no wonder you are feeling like you do. My slip of £20 wont hurt manage to leave me £100 down and feeling bad, so try not to go down that road. Sometimes when 1 door closes another opens, it just seems to get stuck sometimes for a while, its so easy to turn to gambling especially when you are low, come on Liz, keep your strong head on, you can do it, big Hug

Hey Elizabeth,

Sorry to hear you are so stressed by money at the moment. I know only too well that churning feeling of dread. Is there any way you can use a catalogue or something to get Christmas things from? you do pay over the odds, but it would be cheaper than panicking and gambling. Perhaps a relative could help with a small loan, if you explain the situation? it takes a while to sort out, but if your hours have been cut, you may be entitled to housing or council tax benefit too.

Don't know if you are already behind with council tax, but that is the easiest bill to fall late on. They are quite patient and tend to give you months to get caught up when things are better.

Sorry if I'm stating the obvious and you have already tried these things.

Take care,

f x

PS - if you don't gamble, at least you can look your little one in the eye on Christmas morning and say "I did my best" - if you DO gamble, imagine that feeling knowing that you made it worse. STAY STOPPED AND HOLD YOUR HEAD HIGH! no child ever needed therapy because the turkey wasn't big enough, or because they didn't get an extra gift.

Thankyou juliette and feda for your support and advice.

Freda your right about christmas i will do my best i grew up in a house with no money and my brother and i have never had therapy over it lol.

Im having a day of feelig sorry for myself later i will kick myself up the backside and get on with life as i always do.

Sometimes it just feels even when your doing all the right things nothing goes your way.

Holding my head up and Trying to stay strong.x

Hiya Elizabeth,

Sorry to hear your having a hard time of it, I know only too well the don't work don't get paid thing. It's stressful. I seen your post on Freda's diary about childcare, I'm single parent and get help from the tax credits with my costs..would this maybe something for you? A trip to the local citizens advice might help just to see if any entitlements in this or an;ything else?

Just a suggestion e.b.ay. can be a source of income..selling off your old stuff to get a few pennies together. It does add up over time. I love hoking in charity shops..bought a pair of kids shoes for 25p the other week give them a clean and sold for 10.50, when your skint like me this is wonderful lol.

Its just cr** when if feels like one step forward and four back and when repeated in quick succession it's soul destroying..but gambling will just make it all worse. Things will get better...Keep strong & T C

Best Wishes Del x

Well ive spent the last couple of hours surfin the tinternet and have found some great biscuit recipes which ive decided the boys and i can make and decorate together and give as gifts to family this year some shiney boxes and abit of ribbon great presents for very little outlay.Ive decided this christmas is going to be a back to basics holiday,i will spoil the boys to the best of my financial abilities .LO is only 2 so dosent really understand but the eldest is 13 he is my real expense but if i dont have it he cant have it.

Still feel quite down but now ive started to make some decisions about christmas starting to feel abit better.

Staying strong.x

Hi Liz,

Firstly well done on staying strong and away from the gambling. That has to be your priority as normal life becomes so much more difficult when you're gambling.

Biscuits sound like a great idea as Christmas pressies. Maybe something we could do in our household, be great fun for our daughter, she loves helping out in the kitchen 🙂

I'm sure your eldest will understand financial situation and like you say, if you aint got it...no real point borrowing for the sake of Christmas.

All the best in your future recovery, you are doing just great at the moment.

Keith

A big thankyou to everyone for their support and advice yesterday really was feeling quite sorry for myself.

Still feel down today not feeling 100% from the virus me and the boys have had and trying to work on top of it.

No gambling today i stopped counting days a while ago so will have to look back through my diary since my slip.

No moaning today just no gambling.

Stay strong.x

At home having cuddles with my 2 year old watching mickey mouse club [again] with a cup of tea before cooking dinner my favourite place to be.

No gambling .

Hope everyone is well.

Ade p85.

Stay strong.x

Just try to compare the scenario that you have just described with one of you in the past during your horrible gambling days.

There really is no comparison is there?!

Enjoy your evening of love.

GT

Keeping an eye on you Liz, very well done, you are doing great, big HUG, enjoy your time with LO, they dont stay that way for long and you can never turn the clock back.