This is it!

Day 43!! This month bills and other expenses paid. Christmas presents bought. Been a lot more social and have had money to go out, hair cut & coloured. I haven't had to make excuses about not socialising as usually the money would have been gambled away. Definitely more of this to come in the New Year. Actually living for the first time in years not frittering away hard earned money. Not been easy and been having urges but not giving in

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Hi kadiz and delighted that you have stormed your way to Day 43; just think you are going to get an extra present this year - Day 50 on Boxing Day!!!

Wishing you continued happiness,

Mixer

Getting paid tomorrow I managed last month without gambling. The battle begins again tomorrow. Can't afford any slip ups as getting paid earlier than usual for Christmas so wont get paid again until the end of January. Don't feel the same apprehension as last month but cant afford to get complacent still early days.

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It seems to be getting harder don't know whether because I know I've just been paid. Having serious urges but am not going to give in. Still taking it a day at a time.

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Here i go again!

I thought i had placed my last bet in November and genuinely believed that i would be welcoming in the new year afresh and gamble free. After stopping for 6 weeks i naively thought i had it under control. 6 months and countless losses later i have realised that i will never have it under comtrol. I won't be able to do a one off bet. All my hard work over those 6 weeks ruined and the cycle of self destruction only now coming to an end. Time to get my life bsck where i am in control and not the gambling.

The real challenge will come when I get paid. The next couple of weeks until pay day will not be difficult as I have no money left to gamble with.

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Its a couple of weeks until I get paid and already the dread is setting in. To avoid temptation I'm going to withdraw ny pay

I get paid on Wednesday and all I can think about is gambling. I am determined not to.

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You've been honest about gambling again - many people I know from my time in the bookies' aren't.

Do you think there is anything different you can do this time to help you stay away? Obviously people have lots of suggestions, GA, counselling, self-exclusion, blocking software, handing over control of finances, telling nearest and dearest etc.?

Best wishes, Phil.

Hi Phil,

Thanks for your comments. What ive learnt from my one and only attempt at giving up is that im not in control of gambling. I thought i had done so well what harm could one bet do? I have one bet and stop because i had proved that I could stop. How wrong i was, obviously once i started and began losing I began chasing. I wasnt even enjoying it any more.

This time I know that my only chance of success is to stop completely, no more betting not even for fun. I now know thst I'll never be in contol of gamling unless i stop completely. In addition to putting in practical steps like self exclusion, and withdrawing money as I online gamble i can never have the odd bet again, it will lead to failure.

I take full responsibility for gambling and the mess I have got myself into to. I chose to start now i must stop. I dont even think there is any deep rooted cause just seen it as an easy way to make some extra money, also boredam and habit. Its definitely turned into hsbit rather than anything else.

I felt so much happier like a weight had been lifted from me in the few weeks that i didnt gamble before. I am goiing to feel like thst again, no more wasted energy and hard earned money wasted.

Still very strong urges so will have to withdraw my pay on Wednesday as I online gamble. Take away my means to gamble

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I am now feeling positive about the journey that I will begin tomorrow after I get paid. I have put in the necessary. Blocks and feel more determined than ever yo put this gambling nightmare behind me.​

Gamble free and its pay day, a real achievement and step in the right direction for me.

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Another day done and dusted!

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Have spent money on myself this weekend. Going out with work last night for meal and treating myself shopping today. Although it seems a lot its only a fraction of what I would gave wasted on gambling.

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