Still no gambling! (24/05/13)

Day 77: 8/8/13

Dipped into my overdraft again, but this was to buy my Villa shirt. I've done so much work over the past two months, I wanted to reward myself with a shirt to take on holiday with me. Should be fine financially as payday will occur as soon as I return from holiday.

Took my resit exam today too. That seemed to go well. At least it is out of the way now and I can enjoy my break with no work outstanding.

4 Days to go!!

JT,

Thanks for the post on my diary. Great to see you doing so well. Eleven weeks free from gambling puts you in a really good position and you will soon be celebrating 100 days.

Well done on your exams and I am sure you will have passed with flying colours.

I hope Villa do well this year. I like Lambert a great deal and think he really gets his players playing for him. Would still like to see you guys bring in two more experienced players probably one of which should be a centre half.

Tomso.

Day 87: 18/8/13

Just a little check in from the US.

No gambling still, a little harder to do so from here anyway but just want to say I cannot believe a nearly threw all this away.

I am here in LA for WWE Summerslam and really having the time of my life just like at WrestleMania. This is what I should be living for, not stupid stuff like throwing my money away on uncertainties.

When I return home, it is time to save money for the next trip and definitely put all the stupid behavior behind me!

Take it easy my friends

Jace

Day 99: 30/8/13

Pretty much 100 days gamble free!

Well its been a little while since I posted here, just been a little preoccupied with the remainder of my holiday and such.

Had the best time ever, seriously. Great weather, nice food, met plenty of wrestlers and had an awesome time doing the events, plus the freedom of money again.

The return home has been ok, luckily the weather is not too cold, so it hasn't been all bad. And then payday came as soon as I returned, which for once I have a little bit of money to spend.

Only one more payment to pay off on my credit card and then I'm debt free again. Hopefully for good.

Time to aim for another 100 days gamble free

Jace

Day 101: 2/9/2013

So past that magical day, and everything is great so far. No problems gambling, just trying to fill my days with other things.

It is a nice feeling being free of it for so long. Had a little talk with my mother this morning. She says she is pleased with the progress I have made so far, in terms of getting back on my feet etc. There is always that mention of don't be stupid with your money again, and while it sounds so condescending, the warning is warranted.

So now is to looking forward to better things. University starts in a month, which I am somewhat looking forward to a newish kind of experience living on campus, all while saving money for my next US trip in April for WrestleMania 30.

Hope everyone else is doing well

Jace

Day 111: 12/9/2013

Well, got to say that I'm feeling back to the normal. Obviously I am tentative about gambling again, but so far so good, especially this time around in having this place to post my thoughts and activities whenever I feel the need to.

No gambling of course, just a fairly simple month again with next to no money, but with a little to spend with no worries. Still the end of the month is when a get my student loan come through so they'll be extra money. I'm confident enough to say though that there will be no relapse.

Day 119: 20/9/2013

So, still gamble free and it feels great.

Need the end of the month to come for payday and my student loan as my bank account is low again, but at least I can say it is only that way because of my normal spending. Had to put a bit of stuff on my credit card, but luckily the interest amount is low enough now that I should still be able to pay everything off the end of the month and be debt free. Feels really good that I have had a productive summer in terms of working a lot and of course my holiday.

Not much else to say lol. One week till university begins again so should be a lot more busier than I have been over the summer. But till then, its back to GTA V.

Jace

Day 128: 29/9/2013

So I'm Back To Good, no debt, no gambling whatsoever

Yes, finally, I'm back in the green and it feels great having cleared the debt. Obviously the fight is not over, but this is one mountain overcome.

The urges have pretty much gone, and I have freely been watching football, with no real thoughts of gambling. As everyone knows, it is tough to escape all thoughts as betting is highlighted so much on TV etc, but I know, one slip, no matter how tiny, will most likely send me spiralling back to that dark place. I can't let £5 go, let alone any big amount. I feel confident that it won't happen this time though.

Jace

Day 140: 11/10/2013

So, I started university again for real this week. Final year, but first year on campus. Gotta say I had a blast this week with a couple of nights out. Unfortunately I cannot stay the week as I have to work which I wish was different, but it is what it is.

Doing alright financially atm, not too great but not in any debt which feels great and I have quite a bit of money to come in the near future. Kinda weird though, as I ain't too excited to spend or plan to spend any of that money. I thought I would be, but I suppose it is because it's not a somewhat disposable income like it felt when I used to win some money gambling. I like this feeling of being in control better!

Keep strong

Jace

Day 149: 20/10/2013

Still no gambling. Feeling awesome.

Slowly getting my life back on track on multiple fronts. Spending quite freely again, uni going well and social life has never been better.

Definitely feel stronger after going through this experience. I'm definitely not proud of my past but it has really been a learning experience and I'm happy that I'm through it now and it didn't cause me too much damage

Day 162: 02/11/2013

No gambling.

I'm still on guard to my problem rearing its ugly head though I have been nowhere near caving. Usually, as soon as I think about gambling for more than a minute and the second I start looking at odds, I'm gone.

My life is pretty good so far, which keeps me sane. Got some good friends around me and meeting new people too which helps. I just think I need to be in a relationship again to finally settle me down. Nothing I can control too much though, so I'm taking it easy.

Day 180: 20/11/2013

Still no gambling!

Can say life has been better without it in my life. Sure I'm still recovering financially, but I am actually doing ok and buying what I want. Tougher time coming up with Christmas of course, but come the New Year, I should be more than ok.

Got some good things to look forward to, including WrestleMania in New Orleans, but I still need to find what I really want in my life. University is gonna be over in about 6 months time, and I need to change some things,

On to 200 Days gamble free soon enough!!

Day 205: 15/12/2013

Well I made my 200 day gamble free milestone. Gotta say I'm quite pleased with myself. Has been the longest I've been without gambling for a couple of years now. My year has been better since I stopped and worked hard to get back to a better financial position. It has been tough going, and I'm feeling it a little at this point, but that is mainly because of Christmas. I can't complain though, it was my own doing.

So I hope to continue on this path of recovery. I try not to think about everything that happened but at the same time, I hope I don't forget either. I don't want to take a step back in undoing my good work, it is not worth it and I plan on using it as a good learning experience which thankfully did not ruin me too much.

Keep strong my friends.

Jace

Day 218: 28/12/2013

No Gambling, no worries.

So another Christmas as come and gone. Glad to say that it all went as well as it could do. Was an expensive time and my credit card has took a hammering but at least it is because of spending on myself and others and not through any losses.

Seems like a real long time ago since I stopped gambling and I can safely say that I don't miss it one bit. I feel safer, even though I don't have a lot of cash at the moment, mainly because I know what money I do have is safe and plus my time is not spent trying to work out what bet to place and then stopping everything I'm doing to watch a result play out.

Hopefully I can continue to move further away from that bad period and continue being positive and make 2014 a better year than this one. I can't say 2013 has been all bad for me, but the first 5 months were pure hell for me for a few reasons, topped off by gambling. Though, I feel all the negatives are far behind me now and I look forward to what the new year will bring.

Stay strong my friends. It is possible to change your ways!

Jace

Day 228: 07/01/2014

Still far away from any form of gambling.

Generally, the new year has been going well. Have cut a couple of bad habits out which I'm going strong on. I feel if I could knock the gambling on the head, I should be able to do the same with other things.

Unfortunately though, for everything that is going great in my life, I'm missing the thing I really want; a lasting relationship. As some of you may have read, I believe that gambling was somewhat the cause of my last relationship to breakdown. It wasn't everything, but it potentially did cause some initial problems as I turned to gambling to try and fund a lifestyle that I thought my ex-girlfriend had to have. When things went south and I lost my money, she wasn't too happy to say the least, but she stuck with me, though there was a couple of months that were kind of strained because of the lack of money/nights out etc. Things between us never picked up after that, although she did not know about any further issues as she grew apart from me. I was there for her and everything, but for her own reasons, she didn't want to know. So that was that. But even now, I still hold on to the pain of losing her. Sucks!

Still though, I'm trying to stay positive as I do not want anything like that to happen again if and when I'm in a relationship again. I'm feeling good about things though, its a new year and I've somewhat underlined the past, so hopefully 2014 is a all round better year!

8 months clean and hopefully many more to come!

Jace