Day 138
Still no slips. I've got my eye on 6 months gamble-free now - that'll be 30th April.
The debts don't half take some shifting. It's like filling a sugar pot grain by grain. however, a little more work has come my way, plus I found out today that i get more tax credits now that number 2 has come along - not a vast amount more, but it'll pay (for example) petrol costs for a month. As always, gambling for a fast return has crossed my mind, but been dismissed. I might pay more attention to it if I had more time - every second of every day is filled, we have no TV so no time wasted there...just work, looking after the kids and doing things in the house and garden.
i'm new to the site but just wanted to say well done on 138 days you have given me hope for my future x
Day 141
Still chugging along. I'm trying very hard not to use my credit card and overdraft and just spend the cash coming in from work, but it's hard, and my debts are not really going down. We're going to a certain European country for 4 weeks in the Summer (where my OH is from) and I'm just in the process of booking the flights/trains etc. That's going to cost the best part of £500. Need to hire a car for two of those weeks too - another £300. There is smoke coming off my CC as I type...
day 145
Building up a new cc debt after I worked so hard to get my other debts down. Still, unavoidable at present, just no 'liquid' cash and having to use credit. My OH has 3000euros in an account which she's going to give me this summer to help with the finances. Feeling like I'm running hard to stand still at the moment. Will post my debt update next time.
Day 150
It's another nice number, not long til 6 months now (April 30th).
As for gambling, just can't at the moment. Spend,spend, spend. Debts going back up a little. Don't want to work them out and post them just yet, it's a bit demoralising. Other than that, although I've always been fit, and my job keeps me more active than 95% of the population, can't help but notice that having two v young kids, doing a physical job, having an allotment, and trying to do all the DIY jobs in the house and on the car (to save money) are having an effect on my 42-year-old physique. I am seriously knackered all the time, come the early evening 'falling asleep knackered'. dearly wish I had some of that money now, so that I could pay someone to, for example, mend my car tomorrow
152
Just read my last entry, dear oh dear, I was feeling the strain a little on Tuesday.
I've been musing about gambling a little tonight, met a friend for a pint but he was called away (on call) just after I'd bought a pint so i had one of those rare 'alone in the pub with a pint' moments. There was a bandit and ~i was tempted to play it; I didn't, and although I have spent too much on them in the past they never became a problem in the same way as online gambling did. In fact, online gambling has been my downfall. If I'd never been introduced to it, I could've chugged along with throwing the odd £20/30 in the bandit a couple of times a week. Unfortunately, I now know the 'mini-hit' I get from the bandit is enough to spark off the more serious CG part of me, so i have to avoid them. still, in moments like tonight, I miss playing the bandit in the pub.
156
Bought a lottery ticket on Sat; prob buy 3 a year, always have, just a spontaneous purchase, haven't checked the numbers yet, will do so tonight. Can safely say I won't go back to my old ways because of it, no buzz and no chase. Still, wanted to report it.
Other than that, a comb of 2 v young kids and lots of physical work has madee me completely cream crackered. I feel like I've gone 10 rounds with Tyson tonight, hence early night.
stay strong y'all!
day 159
Some small relief on the debts - just transferred some euros from my partner's account to help pay for the travelling this summer. She doesn't know about the gamblng debts, but offered to help with thetravel costs (she just had a little money kicking about in an old account, which we emptied).
That takes me under the 10k barrier, although maintaining it will be difficult.
Debt 1 - £5,150
Debt 2 - paid off
Debt 3 - paid off
Debt 4 - £2,900, Cc
Debt 5 - £1,000 CC2
Overdraft: paid off
Opening debt: £13,500
Current debt: £9,050
Last gamble: 31st Oct 2011
Debt-free day: 24th december 2013
Well done on getting your debts down below the £10k threshold. I find mine seem a bit more manageable now I have a 4-figure debt rather than a 5-figure debt. Still not good, but it is going the right way. I dread to think what would have happened if I had gambled every day since I stopped last November. I imagine I would have done something stupid like taken out a secured loan on my flat, re-mortgaged and ended up with a 6-figure gambling debt around my neck. I try to comfort myself like this sometimes by just thinking how much worse things would be if I was still gambling day after day. I also got the feeling my health was suffering so I am glad I stopped when I did. Looking forward to hitting the six-month gamble-free mark soon.
Hi Jim,
you are well under the 10K mark, that must feel good, you have reduced your debt by over 30% that is fantastic going. in the same time i have only managed less than 7% but i know i will get there.
Debt free on christmas eve could not pick a better day .
keep going your are starting to make great strides now.
Pat
161
it's no wonder I was such a c**P gambler - i can't count for toffee. I missed £500 off my debts. Still well under £10k, though.
I finish on christmas eve because my first loan is via standing order, leaving on the 24th of each month. So, yes, Chrismas day 2013 is a perfect time to celebrate being debt-free, all being well.
Debt 1 - £5,650
Debt 2 - paid off
Debt 3 - paid off
Debt 4 - £2,900, Cc
Debt 5 - £1,000 CC2
Overdraft: paid off
Opening debt: £13,500
Current debt: £9,550
Last gamble: 31st Oct 2011
Debt-free day: 24th december 2013
4 figures, hey! That must make you feel brilliant!
Christmas Eve for me this year and Christmas Eve for you next year. What wonderful days we both have to look forward to in the next two years.
There really is light at the end of this very dark tunnel.
NT
164
Still plodding along...spent £160 in tesco yesterday, it's not easy to feed a faimly of four cheaply. 6 months ago that wouldn't even be one hand of blackjack. It's starting to horrify me now, looking back at the amounts I was actually playing per hand. In retrospect, it's a miracle I didn't go under - just a few big wins kept me with my head above water. I remember the buzz too - that's irreplaceable, unfortunately, but at least I can look my sons in their eyes again.
Thankyou for the support hun and using your old moniker.
With you on the family feeding hun but dont forget youve got baby and toddler so thats nappies wipes milk etc all adds up.My LO is now out of nappies completely its amazing how much that saves.
Your doing great with your debts slowly slowly catchy monkey :0)
Like you dont post much but always catch up with what your up to.
Stay Strong
E xx
167
Still 'mostly' OK.
Urges come and go, but my head is sorted enough to keep them at bay. Being busy all the time helps, but occasionally I find myself wondering if I could slip away for an hour if I wanted to.
Money still tight, but managing. Won't be any more cash injections for some time now. No easy fixes for now.
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