When things are down (and it happens to us all, even to non-gamblers), just think...
..60 days!
Brilliant!
Just think where you were 60 days ago and where you are now.
GT
Hi Michael
Sorry to read your stressed and angry at the mo,i know how hard you work and the hours you put in to reduce your debt but i think you need to find away to vent some of this anger and frustration before it builds up to boiling point.
Is it possible to find a few hrs a week to go down the gym or a boxing club or just a punch bag in the garage and pound some of that anger out might help you sleep as well.
Hope the stress levels start to come down soon.
Stay Strong.x
PS well done on 60 days.x
Hi Kaza, GettingThere, Elizabeth,
Your comments have really cheered me up and I really do feel I'm on an emotional rollercoaster sometimes. I've had so much pent up anger in the last few days, and deep down I know I'm angry at myself and I take it out on others (at least through this diary - not to their faces). I was so angry this morning, but I did a few hours work came home, had a fun-fight with my son, a cuddle from by OH, and once again, the world is a better place.
Day 61
Been feeling sorry for myself during the last few days. What with tiredness, frustration, debt not shifting at all at the moment, work stresses and worries, I was having a few thoughts about you-know-what. Anyway, in the nick of time, I had a decent success at work today i.e. managed to get something working that I was getting really stressed about, as it also concerns an overseas supplier - thankfully it looks like we'll not need them - result ! On the bus tonight, thinking about this debt, and how I tackle it. So back to basics, with little targets. I have actually 6 Credit Cards, so I will systematically tackle each 1 in turn. 50 days for CC#1, 100 days for CC#2, 100 for CC#3, 50 for CC#4, 150 for CC#5 and 50 for CC#6. 500 days to get each one paid off. I have the next 50 days to hit CC#1 with everything I can - difficult but achievable.
Day 62
Inching towards that 100 day mark.
Another successful day at work, more stuff we've managed to (almost) get working which was causing us major headaches. Stress levels reduce just a little more. Also, attempted for another 0% BT card, which I was accepted for - Credit Limit was a bit disappointing. But it does mean that my final 25% Interest rate credit card can be rid of saving £40/month interest. Debt is still high (CC debt £31K, Parents debt £25K, Overdrafts £12K), but inch by inch I'm making moves in the right direction and I just know that this will have a snowball affect, as the less interest I pay, the more capital I pay off.
I need these positives to get me through this.
Have you got a special deal with your overdrafts? Would it not be cheaper to have a loan of 10-12k at around 8% than to pay more interest on an overdraft? My overdraft charges about 20% interest but I can't pay it off as I can't access further credit at the moment because my credit score is Very Poor. Instead, I am permanently overdrawn and paying a lot of money out in interest each month. Still, onwards and upwards!
Day 63
Hi Pellekanin,
Most of my overdraft is in a mortgage reserve account, so it's the same low rate as my mortgage. I have another which I have a few thousand and pay max £10/month. The final 1 I pay a 'normal' overdraft rate. All in all 12K of overdrafts cost me about £60/£70 interest / month.
Anyway, Xmas is coming, pressure is building financially, can't wait for Jan when I can tackle this debt head on. I stay strong and press on.
Day 64
Feeling on top of the world at the moment - don't ask me why because I have no idea. Perhaps it's the realisation of what I'm slowly achieving here - absolutely 100% determined to turn this around and not to become complacent. And the thought of doing truly great and achieving something fantastic is inspiring in itself.
Day 65
Another day. Nothing to report !
Sounds like you are in a great place at the moment.
And long, long may this continue!
Have a great day.
GT
Day 66
Hi GettingThere, Yes, a good place indeed, but how do I stop here ?
Anyway, again, just getting on with life i.e. decorating today and a few Mystery Shops. Otherwise, yet again, nothing to report.
Day 67
Have to say, I'm a footie fan and watched Gary Speed play in his heyday, so today's news has absolutely floored me. For a number of reasons, not only was he a great player but also a geniunely great and well-respected guy - and how many people in football these days can be classed as well-respected (count them on 1 hand). I'll not waffle on too much tonight, but this news sure does things into perspective. Totally saddened by this news. R.I.P.
Day 68
Had a bit of an "if only" day today. If only I hadn't gambled how great life would be. However, I reckon if I hadn't gambled, I wouldn't have appreciated how great life was, so in some respects, when I reach that time when the debts are paid, and all is good, I'm going to appreciate a hundred times more than if I hadn't.
Day 69
Just paid off the last £34 from CC#1 - aimed to have this paid 2 months ago, but decent news all the same. At the beginning of June, this was sitting at over £6,000 - so I'm pleased about that. I have another 4 heavy duty CC's which'll probably take about 6 months a piece to pay off - that's before I start paying off my parents. It's slow slow progress - a few steps forward, a few steps back, and the effort expended has been huge. But I have to admit, no matter how hard I've tried in the past to get my mind off it, my thoughts always ALWAYS return to the debt mountain I've created. Everything good which happens in my life, and I'm talking about the little things like taking my son to the football, having a pint down the pub with friends, or whatever, every single time a smile starts to form, my mind wanders and always returns to this ... and that's the reason why I need to get rid of it. I simply can't live a happy carefree life with this hanging over me .... so with a shrug of shoulders, I press on. Had a few very fleeting urge's, but nothing more.
Hi Michael
I have the greatest of respect for you the way you deal with the burden of your debt and your recovery.
I have no doubt of everybody on this forum that you will get the carefree life you want and deserve one day.
I believe you are an inspiration to every one on here with the way you have dealt with all this with no personal support apart from this forum.
I know that one day i will be reading the post that says you are debt free.
Take Care and Stay Strong.x
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