Focus on the future, because in the future you haven't gambled

Hi Dan,

Congrats on your 100 days!

2014 was a great year for you with all your gamble-free periods combined. Delighted to see you in such a great place for Xmas. Enjoy that shiny new coin!

Take care,

Suzy

101 days free of gambling.
7 days to go.
808 pounds saved.
1168 paid off (long term debts)
0 spent on gambling
Money +- in last 176 days = 1408

So now that the 100 milestone has passed need to have a new target. Short term up to new years eve, after that will be staying clean all of January which will take me nicely towards my first holiday of the year...skiing 🙂 A clean January will pay for the trip itself so a great incentive.

On the 24th day of Christmas a gamble free day gave to me a pair of top end designer sunglasses worth 192 quid. Just to clarify Suzy I am not splashing my cash on all of these items although it's an example of what I could buy instead of gambling. Who knows may treat myself to one of these gifts in the post Christmas sales.

Thanks to all for messages of support. Merry Christmas everyone hope it's a great time with family and friends and that gambling is as far away as possible.

Hi Dan,

Merry Xmas to you. Have a really good one, you deserve to.

Suzanne xx

103 days free of gambling.
5 days to go.
824 pounds saved.
1168 paid off (long term debts)
0 spent on gambling
Money +- in last 178 days = 1424

So had a really enjoyable Christmas day with no thoughts about gambling. Looking to a year ago and I think as soon as presents were unwrapped I was glued to my phone all morning until Christmas lunch trying to win some money but inevitably it led to me loosing around 1000 quid before new years day.

None of that this year, enjoying family company playing a few games and getting plenty of rest, I am feeling better and personally think I am looking better too.

Great diary.

"Glued to my phone trying to win some money" is something we are all guilty of. Always ends in disaster. We cannot win because we cannot stop.

Good luck getting through to the new year and make next year the best year of your life by not gambling.

105 days free of gambling.
3 days to go.
840 pounds saved.
1441 paid off (long term debts)
0 spent on gambling
Money +- in last 180 days = 1440

Bit of a longer entry today.

15 weeks ago today I was sat throwing close to 800 quid away on tennis matches while watching a man u game. Today I am relaxing gamble free and writing this diary while hoping for a win over Tottenham.

So yesterday I had the pleasure of attending one of my best friends weddings, it was a fantastic day and great to know I hadn't got to check my phone in secret on bets I'd placed etc... I was saddened to see a friend I've mentioned before closely watching his phone and checking odds on horse racing, Football and darts. He actually did say to me "I think I've got a problem" although he was trying to come across jokey but you never know, I often said that in my early stages.

So looking back at Christmas and I can't believe how not once I've worried about money and trying to claw back my spending on presents, I'll just wait to next payday and see my financial situation continuing to improve. I must point out the present that got the greatest enjoyment to my parents was one of the cheapest at only 9 quid. It was a thimble rack that they have wanted to get for ages and just not had the time to find one. It also brought me great enjoyment seeing their faces when they opened it.

My recovery has taught me that the simple things in live make you happy. Another thing that made me smile was a double decker bus journey from the church to the wedding reception yesterday, it was along the same roads I usually drive but seeing it from a different hight and seeing the roads, fields and houses covered in snow was so peaceful and beautiful. Yes I may have gone soppy in my recovery and did get a bit teary during the wedding but I am seeing the beauty outside of a gambling and it's brilliant.

106 days free of gambling.
2 days to go.
848 pounds saved.
1441 paid off (long term debts)
0 spent on gambling
Money +- in last 181 days = 1448

Thanks for your post NT, so very true that I suddenly have so much time for other things. Need to keep the brain busy somehow.

Back at work but not a lot to do and enjoying planning my year ahead full of holidays but with a focus on my next career and exams.

Well done on your days free Dan, a really great acheivement. Your hard work is paying off.

Happy new year

107 days free of gambling.
1 day to go.
856 pounds saved.
1441 paid off (long term debts)
0 spent on gambling
Money +- in last 182 days = 1456

So looking forward to a great new years eve party tomorrow night. Have my outfit to make later, going as a sheep as it's a fancy dress animal theme and I thought that would be pretty easy to do on the cheap.

Quiet day again but I prefer it, although anticipating a very stressful week next week so I'm taking this week easy on purpose.

Hi Dan,

Have a lovely New Years eve, (made me smile to think of you as a sheep and smiled even more when you said cheap option lol)

Anyways enjoy seeing this year out and stay with the herd lol.

Suzanne xx

108 days free of gambling.
Happy New Year...
864 pounds saved.
1441 paid off (long term debts)
0 spent on gambling
Money +- in last 183 days = 1464

So it's not the new year yet but I'm not going to have time to write later.

Roll on the new year where I can set new totals and refresh my diary.

109 days free of gambling.
872 pounds saved.
1441 paid off (long term debts)
0 spent on gambling
Money +- in last 184 days = 1471

Hmm what to do to make my diary new and exciting.

So hungover and tired after a great night last night so I'll leave it until tomorrow.

Hehe. Loved reading your diary. The days of Christmas with presents you could've bought with the money saved made me chuckle. Huge well done on your success so far. You've done amazing and I've enjoyed the start of each post seeing financially how much you've been better off and the money you've paid off long term debts. Great idea ! Happy 109th day gambling free.

Clare

110 days free of gambling.
880 pounds saved.
1441 paid off (long term debts)
0 spent on gambling
Money +- in last 185 days = 1480

Thanks for your post clare will read your diary at the weekend, very busy today and tonight.

Have a date tonight but feeling really nervous as I haven't been on one for a few months and not sure if I am really ready to. I do really like the girl who I met online but worried it will bring back financial stress and be a distraction to my studies. And then there is also the fact I want to go travelling towards the end of this year.

So annoying as my heart says one thing and head the other, bit late to cancel so will see how it goes, I'll just have to be honest about where I want my life to go this year and hope she has a similar mindset.

Hey

Hope you chose to go on the date. If the person is right for you then she will complement your life and understand you as a person and your goals for the future. Plus it is Friday night afterall. Have fun!

Clare x