Boxing Day 1

Thanks Suzanne.

Nine weeks !! Who'd have thought ... Not giving up this challenge. So much happier still get urges but just do my best to forget them and keep busy !

Day 65 🙂 still no gambling and I'm pleased to be able to say that. Only urges I get are really to go to bingo. It's something I used to do about once a week. And I haven't been since about a week before Christmas. No intentions of going there and undoing my hard work.

Day 67 and another weekend gamble free. Not too long till I hit the century now !

Day 68.

Some urges still creeping in at times but I'm trying to remember that they will go away if I keep ignoring them. So far so good.

Hi Mel

Just a suggestion. Instead of ignoring the urge, try acknowledging it, ask it what it wants, its there for a reason its trying to solve a problem for you. It may not be a huge life problem its trying to solve it may be things as simple as being bored, feeling tired or lonely it may be an issue @ work or in our relationships with others but its there for a reason. If we examine our urge & what its trying to solve for us we can then make a less destructive plan to tackle the problem.

Dan

Hi Claire,

Agree with Dan, I talk to myself a lot lol, asking myself why on earth would I want to play and lose even more, it would just make me feel worse,

68 days today very well done,

Keep strong and positive

Suzanne xx

Thanks for your support I'm 70 days in and still going strong. I've been still thinking of going bingo but I've reminded myself this is still gambling even though I only had a problem with slots and one slip will ruin my hard work so far.

The reason I still have urges is because I crave the feeling of playing and the thought of winning. But we all know there are no real winners. Even a win is only temporarily on loan from the bingo place till u go again. U don't win every time you go and the chances of winning aren't that great. On average how often did I win when I played ? Once or twice a year if I'm lucky. Why did I play ? To win.

But you don't win. Any money you win is simply funds to play the next time you go.

How do you win ?

Answer: don't go in the first place.

Great work on 10 weeks 🙂

The urges tried it on in disguise with me too recently, keep kicking them where it hurts & they'll soon get bored!

Keep winning - ODAAT

Thanks !

I am kicking those urges into touch 🙂

wont be beaten. Too many other things need n deserve my hard earned. No longer lining pockets of any bingo or slot machine site :))

72 days still gamble free and looking at setting up a new savings account to try no pay my gambling debts a little quicker. Holiday is almost paid off now. I have until end of April but this will be no problem so long as I continue as I am and no gambling !!!

Well done on 72 days you are doing great.

Keep winning and stay positive.

Suzanne xx

Thanks Suzanne.

Day 74 only 26 days till I'm in the century club ! Determined to see this through. Still fighting off urges when the voice creeps into my head saying 'go on have a £20 on the slots - you will enjoy it, doesn't matter if you win or lose it's just £20 you can afford it for a bit of entertainment '

This voice can be difficult to ignore. I've got to get round to putting blocking software on my latest laptop. I've still not done it and I guess I'm leaving myself wide open to giving in and indulging in some mad weak moment.

My spa trip is coming up soon - two weeks on Sunday and that was just one of the rewards I promised myself if I stayed stopped. It will almost coincide with me making 100 days gamble free 🙂

Hi Clare,

Well done on staying stopped - sounds like you have had a bit of a hard time but you're showing strength by not listening to that voice telling you it will be fine to have just one go!! No way, no how, you know as well as I do where it will end - and we are not going back - EVER!! : * xxx

Mel - forever 4 days behind you xx

Hello Mel

Good to see you still four days behind me. Things are mostly easy but won't deny it's still an effort at times to resist the urges.

However knowing I've come this far and how much healthier my finances are looking is helping me stay on the right path.

I have been thinking of saving up to pay off my debts quicker as at the moment I feel as though I will be forever paying off those debts!

Day 79 marching on keep looking forward and enjoying being able to treat the kids a lot more new clothes shoes phones .. And all keeping within a reasonable weekly budget. I'm paying off my debts saving for our holiday abroad. Slowly climbing out of debt rather than falling deeper in.

Why oh why did it take 10k debt to make me wake up and quit the slots ?? !

Spa weekend treat coming up soon ... Nice treat for me to celebrate 100 days gamble free 🙂