day 1...I swear on my own life I will succeed this time

Hi mba,

I have myself just joined a Debt Management Plan as gambling has caused me too much stress and debt. Sounds and looks the way forward to me so good luck

Hey mate. Can you tell me if they froze the interest on all of your debts?

Hi MBA,

Sorry to read you have slipped again.

I hope this helps, I have had all my interest frozen on every PD loan and my long term loans, ie overdraft, bank loan and credit cards.

I pay the minimum on all of them. My larger long term loans I pay a tenner a month, the payday loans are higher, but I have paid 4 of these off in less than six months.

I did my own payment plan, but you can get in touch with the FREE DMP ie Stepchange,

Do not go with any DMP that charges you.

If you can do it yourself it is better because you are in control of what you pay.

Don't go overboard with payments, you can always pay more, do a fixed payment that suits you and will not leave you too short, especially if they are long term payments.

I have been paying off the smallest debts first and each month I have freed up a bit more spare cash, to pay extra on another PD loan.

If all your debt is long term pay what you can afford, it won't be so daunting and negative then, there is no quick fix to pay debt off, but you will have peace of mind knowing you are on a plan, and no more letters, phone calls, or emails will hound you.

If you are 100% committed to wanting to stop gambling, you can do this DMP, because this is the only way to pay off your debt, more gambling will only increase it.

I hope this helps and I wish you the best on setting one up, it is the only way forward,

You will feel better once you are in control of your debt.

Take care and best wishes,

Suzanne xx

Thanks Suzanne,

I contacted payplan today and have submitted my details and will ne speaking to them tomorrow.

I have 2 payday loans 3 long term and two credit cards. I pay about 900 a month on all of this and of I can get it down to 250 I'll be very happy.

Suzanne, did you tell them you got into debt through gambling?

Day two nearly complete but as I said I will do it this time. I swear on my own life.

Mba

Hi MBA,

Am pleased you have been in touch with payplan.

No I did not tell any of my debtors about my gamBling, I just said my money had been reduced and I had a lot of debts and I wanted a to set up a debt plan, I did one at a time, After the first one it got easier and I was quite surprised but obviously very relieved to get plans quite quickly on the phone, especially with the PD loans, one credit card took a few attempts but I got there, and believe me once your interest is frozen, it is such a relief, it's worth the embarrassment of ringing them.

Ok my credit score is screwed but hey I don't want any more loans so that suits me fine.

Let me know how you get on.

Suzanne xx

I felt that best to be honest and the fact I have a problem gives them extra reason to help me I hope

One week completed today. Its not even an achievement as I absolutely know I will not be betting again. If I do I'll lose my family and my 'life'.

I should never have let it get this far but I have realised right on the edge of the cliff and from now on my life will improve.

Hi MBA.

Maybe getting to edge of the cliff, is what some of have to do before we stop, I know I did, you are now one week gamble free, don't underestimate yourself, because it is a big achievement.

Well done.

Suzanne xx

Thanks suzanne,

Totally love your posts they help alot.

Yep I agree its an achievement completing a week but what I'm saying is that I have no choice now as my life is my girls and wifeaand if I slip up again I will lose them. My wife knows everything and all this before xmas and her asking her family to borrow money its the last straw. So as you agreed, I have taken this as far as I can go and I physically cannot and wont bet again and until I've done 6 months/year I won't see it as much of an achievement.

I think i am seeing it like this....

Imagine you're in a padded room with nothing just books and games for example. Someone brings you food every meal time. You're here for 1 year then your set free.

Yea you have not bet for 1 year but in all honesty you couldn't so where's the achievement really.

That's how I feel. I know if I really wanted to I could walk into a bookies but if I did I would probably find myself in that padded room. I will not be gambling again.

Mba

fella great to red you have taken the step into recovery before you have gambled 'all' and lost.

I too stopped short of losing everything,for it each I understand how fortunate I am.

I actually in a perverse way see it as my biggest win.

Moving forward stay honest fella,it will help.

Celebrate recovery with those you hold dear,it for me makes the resolve to remain gamble free grow and most of all

Enjoy it.

Abstain and maintain

Duncs stepping forward never back

8 days now. Telling my wife was the best thing I did to help me stop. It means no going back to gambling and once my debts are paid we can look forward to spending our money on something nice in a year or two.

Hi MBA,

Very well done on 8 days.

Your debts will slowly and surely go down, and every pay day you will be slightly better off, and feel good about it, just keep making that right choice.

Your gamble free days will mount up and your debt will go down, how positive is that.

Keep going and stay strong.

Suzanne xx

9 days gamble free.
I'm starting to feel much happier and my wife is over the initial shock of the amount of debt I got us in.
Today will be another gamble free day making it double figures 🙂