there are over 2019 reasons to not gamble this year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the post Stephen, so goal number one down 100 days free!!!.

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Well done Adam. Congrats on 100 days. Good to see things are going well, keep at it mate.

All the best.

Cheers sjw, off for another day at work

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Feeling a bit down tonight, ive asked for most of my holiday allowance in December as my holiday year runs out in December. I may have a lot of time off , however as I was sick a lot of 2018 I'm unsure whether its best to take if or work it, feeling a bit like I should not take any more time off ? Any thoughts? I was off sick nine weeks in 2018 four in Jan then five in Sept. Off to bed now think ill sleep it off and hopefully feel better tomo.

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After thinking about it all last night I couldn't get to sleep till two am, just gonna leave it.

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Congratulations Adam on your continued good progress.

You are a good man who is making positive lifestyle changes. Be kind to yourself and take care not to sow seeds of doubt and confusion in your mind.

As regards your holiday pay, I don't see why time you were off sick should have anything to do with your time off for holidays. However, that could be influenced by whom you work for and your conditions of employment...stephen

Cheers Stephen, i left it and it was authorised so I'm off work for Xmas on the seventh of December. Really don't know what I'm gonna do with all that time off think ill go to the gym and swim everyday been a bit lax on my training last two weeks.

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i will post my objectives for 2019 on new years eve as im not going to go out. They will be smart objectives, sensible, measurable, achievable, realistic and ive forgotten what t stands for ill call it terrific lol. Number one is the most important for the rest and is to stay gamble free for the whole year, in order to do this i must follow lots of barriers and namely not take my debit card out with me (i did this over the weekend thinknig im cured and wont gamble however it does open up the option to gamble three hundred pounds cash so i will endevour not to do that again. Number two is my physical training, i will do a 5 k run in may in Brighton and will try to train and lose weight for it in order to have a goal for physical fitness for the year. Number three no alcohol (this is another tough one) it will however be good for fitness and im hoping not to fall ill through 2019. This brings me to number four try not to be too hard on myself, if i get down for a couple of days or struggle at work or become ill try to see the best from my life, well enjoy life a bit more. The last one Spend less time thinking about money its not the be all and end all of life it just helps.

i feel like ive succeeded each year since ive been here by one by one putting blocks in and making improvements to my life, i think age has a lot to do with it and living with my parents now they have rubbed off their sensibleness onto me. Being mature about life has a lot to do with my improvements i think maybe not but im definitely improving:

2016: 8000 spent on all social activities including gambling for the year including 2000 on ciggerrettes.

2017:5000 spent, 0 on cigerrettes horray.

2018:2600 spent, 0 on cigerettes only 600 on gambling vast improvement.

2019: lets see, 0 on cigerettes, 0 on gambling, 0 on alcohol, to try to breakeven financially i have to spend less than 1800 the whole year but without the cigerrettes, gambling and alcohol i should have to budget it will just happen.

Good work adam123 - I've got high hopes for 2019 too. For me, alcohol and gambling are both cravings, and I need to reduce / completely cut out both together. I'm improving too, but 2019 is an important year. Good luck! - keep staying strong and improving.

Cheers for the post Andy much appreciated.

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One day at work done of ten, nine days left of work till christmas break horray. Spashed out over weekend. Bought a polo, had lunch out on Sunday and went out Saturday night, all in all spent just under thirty pounds.so next year one thousand eight hundred divided by twelve is one fifty a month then by four thirty seven fifty a week, serious budgeting required there but ikow I can do it.

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And after reading sa's diary for the past month, someone who has been on here since before 2009, its fair to say it puts my troubles into context. I have food and water, I have a house that is warm and I get a lift to work and back. I'm going to live a minimal life up to 2019 because that's all that's needed, we are lucky to live in this country. We get caught up in the social media and thru peers growing up telling us we need a partner, we need a nice house, kids, mortgage, nice clothes, presents at birthdays and Christmas. Do we really need this hell no back to basics we just need food.

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Id planned to only spend money on presents in December. Two nephews one neice, sister mum and dad, seventy pounds altogether maybe one hundred see how it goes already got one nephews 18 pounds, mums 12 pounds slippers, sisters five pounds slippers, dad ? Niece ? Other nephew ? Christmas isn't about spending a fortune its about spending time with people.

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Adam
Fella SA's diary is a truly sobering account of a life living with gambling addiction.
You are bang on with what you write about the festive season, the commercial side of christmas is far too easy to become entrapped within, for me today life is far more rewarding in many other ways,we have done a secret santa in our house for the past few years, the five of us draw lots and a meaningful gift the outcome for each of us and the money saved can be used for a greater purpose or to purchase things that are often being sold a day after the event!!
Keep up the good work, it will reward you.
Without waging a single penny you win for that be proud.
Abstain and maintain
Duncs stepping forward never back.