Attempt to stop gambling and get out of debt.

Day 42. It has been going well. I have started actually enjoying small things again such as movies or going for lunch. Not having lunch interrupted every 5 mins to check the football scores. I do have to be hones though and say thoughts still come into my mind that I could use gambling to quickly pay for an expense such as a bill. I put these thoughts to the back of my mind though and move forwards.

All the best.

student101 wrote:

Day 42. It has been going well. I have started actually enjoying small things again such as movies or going for lunch. Not having lunch interrupted every 5 mins to check the football scores. I do have to be hones though and say thoughts still come into my mind that I could use gambling to quickly pay for an expense such as a bill. I put these thoughts to the back of my mind though and move forwards.

All the best.

Always like reading your diary we are on equal days. How much our lives have changed in the past 6 weeks.

I agree, I also feel free from the Sky bet app, I even used to be obsessed with checking it when I had no money to deposit. I remember this time last year putting £20 on 4 games of tennis who were all hot favourites. Needless to say I didn’t see that money again.

Glad you’re keeping those urges at bay don’t think of a quick win but the long term effects of feeding that bug again. You’re doing so well.

Thanks for your comment leedsfan, always appreciated.

Checking in. Day 46

Enjoyed reading through your diary! Glad your still on track and keeping the demons at bay! I find the hardest part i boredom...

Thanks pavingking.

DAY 50 !!!

I have definitley been neglecting this blog. I planned to write much more each day but life has been extremely busy.

I have not gambled. However, i have almost felt compulsed to spend money on rubbish. Its almost as if I am trying to convince myself I am not in a bad position. I got drunk at weekend and spent a fortune on drinks (only one person actually bought me one back). I need to stop this and grow up a bit.

work has been going well and been promised a raise in work but waiting for it to materialize for over two weeks, would help me out a lot. Will answer a lot of questions for me also about my future in the company. If its not what I expect then I may move on.

Amazon Prime flash sale today and spent a fortune also.

I suppose at least I have got something for my money this time rather than given it to bookies. hopefully in another 50 days I will be in a much better position.

All the best people

Congrats on 50 days!

Its easy to move on to another vice once we stop gambling. For a few months i ate much more food once i stopped. Just be aware of it and deal with one thing at a time. Once the not gambling becomes the norm you can start to address other areas you need to work on. Just don't go crazy with it!

All the best.

Thanks sjw.

Day 59. Payday tomorrow. Worked out where my money is going and its pretty depressing. but this will be last payment to payday loan. Have to be honest and say the thought of a big bet has went through my mind, thinking a couple of hundred profit would make the month less depressing. I wont do it.

Raise in work still hasnt progressed meaning this pay is less than i thought which is adding to annoyance. To depress things even more its a 5 week month to payday with lots of expenses inbetween.

Conversation of savings came up in the pub and realised I am the only one of us in debt, even though most earn less. All that time wasted.

Pretty depressing post but probably because I am just in a **** mood.

On the plus side I havent gambled.

Student101 - you need to stick with it my friend.

A couple of things came to mind when I read your last post about placing a big bet

1) think about what measures you can put in place to stop that happening, I wouldn’t want to see all your hard work undone on one impulse. Think about self exclusions etc

2) I understand your comment about money - as gamblers I think we’ve perhaps all lost a sense of what the true value of money is and how difficult it is to earn, what can be done with it etc. It’s perhaps worth drawing up a monthly budget of what you earn, what bills you need to pay with that and then allocating yourself spending money

Thank you for your comments.

Day 74. I have to be honest it has gotten harder rather than easier. I think being no better off due to unexpected bills has annoyed me.

The football season starting was difficult as well. I ended up being in the pub before 3pm kickoffs on Saturday and was listening to my friends talk about there coupons. I was very close to putting one on. I didn’t and as I watched them all lose it felt easier.

The promotion still not happening, even though being promised has really wound me up as well.

The girlfriend has been away for 9 days as well which means I have had more time myself which is maybe why I am tempted more as well.

On a positive note, away on holiday on Monday for a week.

I will post and read in this more.

All the best

Ps. The captcha on this site is getting really annoying

Day 75

For the first time I have been extremely tempted this past week. Once today I actually allowed myself to decide that I will tomorrow, even went as far as to check odds. I think If i didnt have gamstop I may have possibly have bet. Having to go to the bookies at least puts a time delay giving me a chance to act less on impulse.

I know if I gamble I could probably pick a winning bet. I also know that I would never stop until I lost it all. If I could gamble only on a saturday then great but it is impossible. I would look for bets every day and lose it all.

I will not gamble. I cannot gamble. I am better off without gambling. Its not even losing the money I am scared off, it is getting back into the state where all I think about is picking my bet. That is not a life.

What has happened is the pain of my last lost has been forgotten now. I will read my posts again and try and remember.

I will 100% begin to post on this far more frequently.

All the best.

Okay, so I have visited my past posts. I feel better. I remember why I am doing this. I will not gamble.

Question, is it really possible to enjoy football after stopping gambling? I mean, without becoming tempted to bet again?

I didnt gamble!! day 76

Day 77. Urges still at large.

Holiday in the morning. So hopefully that will be enough to get rid of them.