April Fools!

Day 230.

So……… Last night, after reading some diaries on here, it got me thinking about gambling. In an instant, I was checking out non Gamstop online sites!! 🤷🏻‍♀️. I checked just one of them out and was quickly able to sign up. I sat staring at the “deposit now” screen, thinking, “Shall I, shan’t I, shall I shan’t I”???

I think the sudden reason for this was one, I have 6k sitting in my savings account, 2, I have just had to lay out more than double for my MOT and service (was totally ripped off I believe, being a woman on my own). I mean who does an MOT and puts 3 new tyres on your car without notifying you first AND I was told by one of the guys, that as I had driven less than 1000 miles in the last year, it only required an interim service. However, the guy I dropped it off with did a full service!!🤬🤬.

I also got a parking fine.  My own fault I know. I stopped off at a “pay and display” for 10 minutes and as I was racing back to my car, there was the warden slapping the sticker onto my screen. Lesson learned there. 😕.

Last Wednesday, I got home from work to a notification on my mobile banking app, informing me of a contactless payment that had just come out of my account for £185.00!! 😱. I was shocked and knew this was not me as at the time of the payment, I was actually sitting at my desk in work. After calling the bank immediately, it transpired that someone had used my card details for an online transaction with their apple wallet (which I don’t even have), in a supermarket in Holland!!😨.  I mean, how on earth does that happen???

After consulting with the bank and the fraud team for the last two days, I finally got my money put back into my account.  The questions I was asked were unbelievable, considering I was the innocent one in all this. I understand why they would have to ask such questions however.

I also received an email last week to inform that the windows that need replacing in our apartment block of 9 residents, is going to cost a staggering amount of money and that we will all be required to hand over, somewhere in the region of nearly 4k, just like that!🤬🤬. Of course, we had a residents meeting at my apartment with the management company and we had to do an anonymous vote. Long story short, it looks the work will be going ahead next spring regardless. 

My issue is that I have the funds BUT I am also having to fork out 6K for 3 implants, due to an ongoing infection in my gums, affecting 3 of my teeth 🙈. I also owe my sister some money, which part of my plans, were to start paying her back in January 2025 in 12 monthly instalments. Our management company has said that they can set up bespoke monthly payments for individuals, for those who don’t have the funds up front.

Sorry for the essay but I think all of the above, triggered what I did last night - signing up to a non Gamstop online site.

I stared at that deposit screen for 10 minutes, before telling myself the following:

- YOU WILL NOT WIN ANYMORE MONEY

-  THESE SITES ARE MORE HASSLE THAN THEY ARE WORTH

-  YOU HAVE COME SO FAR AT DISTANCING YOURSELF FROM THIS

-  YOU WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOURSELF

-  HOW CAN YOU FACE YOUR SISTER?

-  YOU COULD LOSE A LOT OF MONEY

-  YOU WILL BE RIDDLED WITH ANXIETY

Now for THE OUTCOME! I stared at that screen for a moment longer and thought to myself, “absolutely no chance”! I came off that site, went onto my online savings account and took a long look at my balance sitting safely there, gaining interest 👌.

Today, I reminded myself to just press the “reset button” and just breath my way through all the above, telling myself that “it will be ok, I will get through it and I have gotten my way through much worse 💪.

I have no inclination to visit that site again. I was shocked however, at just how easy it was to find non Gamstop sites.  Is there anything that can block anyone from accessing these? If so, please let me know as I want my blocks to remain strong and robust. More importantly, I want my mind to remain strong and robust and thankfully today, that has been the case.

Take care all.  “Look after your pennies and the pounds will look after themselves” - a quote my late Mum always used to say 😇.

”April fools - no more the fool”! 230 days and still counting 💪.

Pink Lady 🩷🍎.