Day 115: no gambling today.
I am aiming to be debt free by 31st December 2012. However, it is more likely to be by 31st March 2013 as I am going to have a big tax bill to pay later this year, which will put a spanner in the works. For now I am trying to pay-off £250 per month from my credit card and £350 per month from my personal loan. I am also looking to be out of my overdraft by April. However, with a child on the way, my finances could well take a turn for the worse with all the additional costs that parenthood brings.
Day 116: no gambling today.
Day 117: no gambling today.
Day 118: no gambling today.
I have just reviewed February in terms of money saved through cycling to/from work rather than taking the tube. In summary, I cycled to/from work 13 times during the month thus saving £70.20. The cumulative saving this year now stands at £124.20.
Great news!
And you must be so much fitter for it too!
GT
Day 119: no gambling today.
My wife's aunt and uncle, who have been staying with us for the past eight days, went home this morning. It was really nice to have them in the flat as, unlike other family members, they do not get in the way or cause annoyance. On the contrary, they were happy to take themselves off around the London galleries and museums during the daytime so as not to step on our toes. In the mornings, they would prepare breakfast for us and then do the washing up and, in the evenings, they would prepare dinner for us before doing the washing up again. The flat is very tidy, but will no doubt be a filthy mess again soon. No gambling for 120 days, which is good, but the Cheltenham Festival is fast-approaching so I need to be on my guard because it is the best horse racing meeting of the year.
Day 120: no gambling today.
Day 121: no gambling today.
Day 122: no gambling today.
I am liking this pattern!
GT
I am well aware that the Cheltenham Festival starts next week - it has been advertised on the tube for a start. As a spectacle, the Festival is a good advertisement for horse racing and frequently produces exciting races. On one hand, I would like to watch some races as an observer without placing any bets, but on the other hand, I worry that the racing will lure me into betting again, which I want to avoid. However, I do not feel the urge to place any bets and have several blocks in place. The question is: can one enjoy watching horse racing without getting financially involved? I do not know the answer, but would like to feel that one should be able to appreciate the spectacle of good sport without betting on the outcome. The problem is that horse racing is intrinsically linked with betting and the assumption is that horse racing is meaningless without betting. I do believe that this is the case with sub-standard weekday racing, but I think some big races can be enjoyed without a bet: the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Aintree Grand National, for example.
Interesting post. There'll be plenty who say that you shouldn't do it. But equally, I'm sure some people do manage to go back to their chosen sport just for 'fun'. I suppose, if you feel you have to give it a go, you should put yourself in a position where you can't bet; do they show it in a pub, for example? Could you watch the TV but only take in enough money for a couple of jars? If you meant actually going to the races themselves, then the solution is the same - don't take any CCs and just take enough money for a drink. You might be playing with fire, though.
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