Day 24, Christmas Eve! I used to get paid on Christmas Eve in my old job and it was one of the few times of the year that my wages lasted more than a couple of days as the bookies were always closed. However the vile companies got greedy and started opening on Christmas Eve, if they could they would be open 24 hours 365 days a year to bleed as many of us dry as possible. I remember a few years back going into one with a large amount of money and losing the lot on dogs and virtual racing. Totally ruined my Christmas, but they were happy, they got their money!
Anyway this morning I wake on Christmas Eve and no bookies is getting a penny of my money! Don't want to have a bet, not interested. The last few months urges around pay day have gone and I am full of fight and determined to make the right choices. I'm out today with 18 lads from work for some lunch and then a good few beers. Had I been gambling I would have had to let them down because I would be skint. So the food and drink will taste much better today because I will be relaxed and calm. Today I am most certainly winning!
Morning Phil,
Lovely post to read this Xmas Eve morning, have a great time with your pals today, and don't do any thing silly like getting too drunk lol lol,
Suzanne xx
Day 25 without a bet and a Christmas Day without worries and without feeling a let down. I do however have a bad head from yesterdays drinking session. Ironically the last bar I was in yesterday was next door to a bookies I used to be a regular in. I'm self excluded from there now so I couldnt go in, but more importantly I didn't want to go in! Seems so strange that the past few months I have really struggled with wanting a bet, but right now I'm not tempted at all. I do however have to be ready to change channels on tv quickly and avoid certain things that may catch my eye about tomorrows racing. I have no idea of the odds and the runners for tomorrows big race and thats the safest way for me to be.
I wake up on Boxing Day with no urges at all. This day used to be one of my favourites on the racing year, I would spend hours studying the form and usually go to the bookies and then at 5 to 3 go to the football. Considering its supposedly such a good day for racing I was having a think and can't really think of many days when I won. I do remember one year placing my first 100 pound bet, I think I was 17 or 18 and then a few years later I placed my first 500 pound bet on an odds on good thing that lost! Well today I won't be looking at any race cards or football coupons, I don't want to bet today. I have a lot to look forward to in 2015 and that first bet could ruin it all. I do however want to chill out and enjoy all the amazing sport on tv, but sadly I'm in work, oh well its double time!
Its ten weeks now since I started my diet, and I have gone all this time without any junk food and have cut my alcohol intake down massively. Feel a bit mad this week because I gained a pound, but I have had two big Christmas dinners and more alcohol than usual in the past two days. So back on it today, I'm not far off losing 3 stone now. Feels good to have some will power back as I have struggled in the past.
Successfully negotiated Boxing Day without a bet and got through a long and boring day in in work, thankfully I have the weekend off and am back in on Monday. Not many plans today apart from food shopping and watching the darts, but tomorrow I'm going to the football and having a few pints. Money is really tight till I get paid at the end of January, but I should have enough for a few football matches, food and nights out. Bring on January when things get so much better!
Feel good, feel happy and I won't be having a bet today!
Hi Phil,
Your posts are getting stronger and more positive, well done.
Suzanne xx
All sounding positive BA!
Although money is tight, don't you notice it goes a lot further when gambling?? Now a pint costs me £3.50 and I get £6.50 change, not £3.50 for the beer, £1.50 for the fruity and probably the £5er chasing the £1.50!
I'm out all day tomorrow and I'd usually easy spend £100, now even at £4 a pint thats 25 pints! I might do half that and the beer is more like £3 round my way 🙂 2 nights out for the price of 1 basically!
I'm feeling under the weather today, I'm supposed to be out for a good few beers but I think I will have to make it a couple of beers before the game and then go home! Money certainly does go further though, I can go to the match with 30 quid in my pocket rather than wanting as much as possible if I was having a bet. Then there would be times I was losing so much I wanted to miss the match in order to chase my losses. None of that nonsense today, I don't want a bet and I won't be going to the bookies!
Hi Phil,
Get well soon.
Suzanne xx
Loving the positive thinking.
When you're gambling you don't think a world exists without it and takes a while to come to terms with the fact gambling isn't all that!
I read a lot of posts and diaries on here and sometimes you can tell if someone is really serious about quitting or not but can definitely tell you are in the right frame of mind and very confident you'll keep it going!
Top man.
Thanks for the posts of support they mean a lot. I just had a couple of pints before the match and then came home at full time, we won 2-1 and it was a good game. Just had a look in my wallet and I've got 8 pounds left. Its great to see my money lasting longer and not walking out of a bookies having blown every penny. I still feel rough and I'm back in work today, it will be a drag but I will get through it.
Mixed feeling about New Years Eve, call me miserable but once the clock hits midnight and I look around seeing people celebrating I usually find it does nothing for me, I don't recognise the clock striking midnight as a reason to be joyful and happy. I usually go out, but mainly so that when people ask me what I did I have something to tell them. I'm full of hope for 2015 so maybe this year I will feel differently when the clock strikes midnight.
Same with NYE, don't really get it. Might stay in a have a Horlicks!
Well done on another day gamble free, starting to mount up!
Day 30 today and I feel I'm making real progress! I have no money worries, this month may be tight, but I've no big secret debts to worry about or stress me out. Life is more simple now, day by day all I need to do is make that choice not to gamble. I can have whatever I want if I budget and for the first time in years save up for things! The one big win that will fix everything doesnt exist and isn't ever an answer. So no bets for me today, just a mundane day in work, but a day without gambling is a reason to be happy.
Nice update Phil , good to see the peace that comes from a gamble free lifestyle well done
New Years Eve and the end to an up and down year, I started off well but lost my way and have ended up back on the right path. Most importantly I have learnt lots and also started counselling which is helpful. I'm shortly off for a few beers and games of pool, not got concrete plans for tonight, but got a house party to fall back on. I'm not a big fan of NYE but I'm excited for what 2015 will bring.
No bets for me today!!!
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