Hello,
Restarting my diary since I've fallen back into old habits. I'm going to write my story again for those of you that haven't previously seen it. I'm 19 years old, have a decent job but doesn't pay lots, and I'm fairly sure I'm addicted to gambling. Mainly table games and visiting the bookies. I'd say I've been gambling seriosuly for the last year and a half / two years. I've tried to stop many a time, I seriously decided to stop at christmas, had a little money saving plan sorted to keep track of where my money was going, and more. But now we are almost half way through the year, and I'm still gambling. I've tried to stop lots of times. I need advice and help.
My friends also gamble, but not as silly or as much as me. One of them has recently told his parents about his gambling and told them that he was stopping straight away. Unfortunately telling my parents is just something that I wouldn't be able to bring my self to do. I need to get my act together.
I have enough money to see myself out till the end of the month. I'm going on holiday on the 3rd of next month which will hopefully put my mind off of it for a week. The main reason I keep going back to gamble is that I'm trying my hardest to save money, and if I don't see the figure that I want by the end of the month, I'll see gambling as a solution. Anyway.. Back to square one. I have self excluded all of my online accounts. I'll try my best not to find a website that I haven't signed up for. I'm going to start my money saving plan all over again, as painful as that is. But it has to be done.
I would really appreciate advise.
Thanks,
LPL
Hi LPL can you ask your parents to help you manage your money? You don't have to tell them initially why. The other thing that helps is basic bank account. I would strongly suggest finding a GA meeting if you don't have support from family. Join the challenges in the 'overcoming gambling ' section. Anything that makes you accountable, stops your access to money and credit. It's progressive, it only gets worse, its forever. You've realised a problem so now do something about it. Stop looking to gamble, start looking for other things to do. The only way to build up savings is to work for it. The change comes from you, you are the only one who can stop. Start living just for today, don't worry about what you've lost.
Merry go round wrote:
Hi LPL can you ask your parents to help you manage your money? You don't have to tell them initially why. The other thing that helps is basic bank account. I would strongly suggest finding a GA meeting if you don't have support from family. Join the challenges in the 'overcoming gambling ' section. Anything that makes you accountable, stops your access to money and credit. It's progressive, it only gets worse, its forever. You've realised a problem so now do something about it. Stop looking to gamble, start looking for other things to do. The only way to build up savings is to work for it. The change comes from you, you are the only one who can stop. Start living just for today, don't worry about what you've lost.
Thanks for your comment. I’ve got my own money plan to help me save but will look around for help. I will also try to find more ways to limit myself from gambling. Thanks a lot
Final thoughts of the day. It's going to be extremely hard for me to get over the losses, and the months that it's going to take for me to slowly build my savings back up. But I'm not in a extremely deep hole. If I continue to gamble it will get that way. I have signed up to GAMSTOP to self exclude to all online sites. Tomorrow is day 1 gamble free. This is it. I'm promising myself.
Day 1 - I feel so frustrated that I’ve done this to myself yet again. Left myself with just enough to get by for the month and no savings to fall back on. Makes me so angry at myself. But there is nothing I can do now. Today is a new day. Today is my first day gamble free
Day 2 - Not really thought about gambling today, finished work for the week. Looking forward to my holiday in 3 days. Will definitely take my mind off gambling.
Day 3 - Going good. Off to Greece on sunday until the 10th, probably wont write again until then. Have a good day all.
LPLSTOP wrote:
Day 1 - I feel so frustrated that I’ve done this to myself yet again. Left myself with just enough to get by for the month and no savings to fall back on. Makes me so angry at myself. But there is nothing I can do now. Today is a new day. Today is my first day gamble free
I think that frustration and anger is what makes that 'addiction beast' in our brains say he's won, keep battling on and tell it to jog on..
Until we don't gamble and put the money we would have used that day on gambling in a jar/savings account/somewhere else, we will never see the benefits we could have if we didn't gamble, maybe its just a learning curve but it could also be a path of destruction for the rest of our life.
I have got myself in lots of deep trouble, so much I may lose everything I ever loved if I don't carry on being gamble free.. I hope that doesn't happen to you down the line.
Think we will end up camping again this year till loans are paid off, but I do so love finding those slugs on the handle of the kettle 5am in the morning... tbh I have always loved camping, love the slumming of it, being out there with just.. nature. Weird but cool at the same time lol.
Hope you have a fantastic time, you deserve it for coming this far, love your positive attitude, enjoy life don't beat it up with gambling.
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