Boxing Day 1

Thank you Suzanne. I'm very determined to overcome this. That £10k debt won't get any bigger! It will already take me five years to pay back and I already feel like my life is on hold a little till I'm free of that debt. If I gamble again then the debt will mount up again and that's certainly not what I want.

Gamble free always now.... hate it with a passion!

Hi Clare,

well done on your recovery I think it's so good to go shopping or booking something / somewhere to go...at least you can actually see what your money has been spent on!! Don't worry too much about the debt it will clear soon enough, jus focus on the here and now 🙂

Mel - forever 4 days behind you 🙂 xx

Thanks Mel.

Day 19 🙂 and still soooo happy I've quit.

I will try to focus on the here and now Mel as you say.

At least I consolidated the debt into one big personal loan in October so it is just one repayment each month to the bank. I did a detailed monthly budget and I can afford the repayments so I guess I shouldn't worry. It just annoys me that I'm repaying the gambling addiction for the next few years when I could be saving for a deposit on a house or something. I've spent it and it's gone but that resentment towards myself is difficult to put to bed.

Mel if you always stay four days behind me I will be delighted as it means we are both staying clean from the stupidity of gambling our hard earned cash and chucking away future happiness. I know we will do this 2015 challenge 🙂 no gambling all year is going to happen and I'm already looking forward to celebrating at Christmas !

Hi Claire, and thanks for your supportive message.

19 days is great going and even better because you feel soo good.

Once we sort our debt out to manageable payments, it does make life a lot easier, and the addiction simply hates that.

Well done and a good positive post (addiction hates that too lol)

Suzanne xx

Thanks Suzanne.

I must admit I think less and less about gambling. I know I can't go back to it and definitely wouldn't want to. It's in the box with smoking. I can't do it in moderation so I can't ever do it at all. I've accepted that and I will control this, not vice versa!

😀

Day 20 - almost three weeks now gamble free. Feels good.

Hi Claire,

Great going 20 days today, 3 weeks tomorrow already.

You deserve to feel good, well done.

Suzanne xx

Well done on 20 days! I read somewhere that it takes 21 days to break the habit but it sounds like you are well on the road to recovery but we have to keep thinking one day at a time, and stay focused.

So happy that your finances are getting healthier too, its our payday tomorrow (1st one after xmas) so we get some breathing space but I bet its so nice to see things for your money rather than a humungous bank statement full of gambing transactions 🙁 We have to start enjoying life and our families again - addiction has ruined this for us lately but no more! I have gone through our last 3 months bank statements and they are depressing - my hubby hardly spends a thing, i havent bought my daughter any clothes /treats for god knows how long. But I would happily deposit £££'s on online slots! pfft! totally irrational!!

Keep strong and keep posting!!

Mel - forever 4 days behind you! xx

Thanks guys. Your support means a lot.

I never knew it takes 21 days to break the cycle. Well I'm definitely out of the habit of relentless gambling on a daily basis 🙂

I know exactly what you mean about looking back at those bank statements Mel. I opted for online only to minimise the trauma but I can scroll online and see the hundreds of gambling transactions and not enough of spending on the things that matter like you say.

Well I have definitely turned a corner with the support of my friends and you guys on here. It's not been as hard as I thought (so far) I know I am not over it and I know one slip and I'd be back to square one. So I'm not naive, I'm still treading cautiously and grateful for every day that passes and I retain the strength to refrain.

Clare x

3 weeks .. 🙂 I'm delighted !

Yay, way to go on your 1st 3 weeks 🙂

I'd read 90 days somewhere for something important too but 3 weeks or 3 months won't be a cure so as long as we stay strong & focused, it matters not what the milestones are as long as they make it easier for us - ODAAT

Hi Claire,

With 3 weeks under your belt, you sure deserve to be delighted, well done.

Suzanne xx

Thanks both of you 🙂

23 days and counting - counting the pennies I'm saving and thankful there are no gambling transactions debiting my account all year. Keeping at it and really happy I've quit .

Clare x

Day 24 - always like to log in if I'm awake past midnight. Like to see the days roll over. Wasn't sure I'd get this far when I joined this site and decided enough is enough. But here I am - feeling happier and although still very much annoyed about the financial disaster gambling brought last year, I'm now fighting to keep this up. No gambling all year and so far, so good !

Thanks NT - appreciate you stopping by and your support.

Yes - the future's ours and so long as it's gamble free it can only be happier for it. No use looking back!