Uphill struggle

Keep going. No matter what stage we're all at with clearing debts and being gamble free, we are all putting every inch of motivation and effort we have into not gambling, whether we realise it or not. You can do this. Depending on the size of your current debt, you have one or two options, sell your house (which seems a bit drastic) or speak to the companies and set up payment plans that you feel comfortable with. Have faith in yourself and be thankful everyday for the good things in your life. Always here to listen x

Thanks to the above kind words.
It's a long journey trying to sort my finances out.
Today I finally got an appointment with a financial advisor from citizens advice for next week.
That's 3 weeks after I first went in.
I have already spoken to stepchange and rung my bank/credit card companies
There are problems I need to get sorted so I'm hoping they can advise me the best way to do things.
20 days gamble free and to be honest the samaritans have been a godsend. I send them an email when I feel things getting on top of me. I find it helps just to put my thoughts into words.
I know I have this site but sometimes I feel what I want to say isn't suitable for on here.
Keep battling on, it's up to us to make a better tomorrow for ourselves.
LML x

Hi, just dropped by to say well done on your gf days, they are soon mounting up, each day you don't gamble your winning x stay strong x best wishes

Thanks for popping over to my diary.I'm glad the older stories help you..
Don't ever feel you can't write certain things in your diary..you can...no one will judge..your doing great love...x

Hi LML, pleased the appointment come through to help sort your finances, I'm sure once you have a proper plan in place you will start to feel in control. You write whatever you need /want to in your diary ...it's ok to shout for help...but if emailing Samaritans works, that's good too...as long as you keep your head above the water. Take care x

Thanks to the above for your kind comments.
Day 23 today. Absolutely avoiding anything to do with gambling.
Gradually starting to feel happier, weight on my shoulders is not so heavy. Rays of hope for a better future are starting to break through.
Hopeful that my appointments with financial advisor from citizens advice will be productive.
Counselling sessions are helpful.
Anyone reading this who are new to the site, don't give up.
Take all the help you can get. Gamcare counselling is free.
Look on this website for debt help or ring the helpline.
Do not be embarrassed by your situation. You will not be judged and they understand the difficulties you are going through.
Gambling can put us in a very scary position but with help you can get your life back on track. x

Well done miss. ..
Keep it up....your doing great...
Hope your appointments being some releif to the debts...that in turn will make you feel more in control : - )

Thanks Loxxie I know I've failed a couple of times before but this time I've got to come good.
Im at the stage where I'm feeling better with myself and a bit more optimistic that I can get through this and come out at the other side.
I'm just pinning all my hopes on Tuesday. Hoping i can get some good advice and direction
If I can manage to get my finances in order then it will enable me to have a future I can look forward to and to be honest, with the way I'm feeling today this excites me because for the last 3/4 years I've lived under what feels like a black cloud with heavy weights on my shoulders.
I've been gambling for 5 years but the first year it was just bits and bobs then it just took control and my life went downhill from there.
I just want to feel content again, in control and safe. I'm lucky I have so many good things in my life. Gambling makes me blind, changes my personality and pushes me away from loved ones.
I'm determined to beat this.
I just hope I'm not disappointed with the options available come Tuesday.
I'm keeping everything crossed!!
Luv and strength to all fellow sufferers x

Hi, just thought I would drop by and say well done and hope today went ok for you x

Thanks Anon,
Well, I finally got to see a financial advisor through citizens advice and he gave me the one option that I had available to me.
Because I have some collateral in my house it rules out all other options.
I have to go down the road of offering to pay a minimal amount to my creditors and hope they'll accept. Either way the debt will probably get passed on to debt collectors so I'll just have to deal with that when it happens.
At least I know where I'm going now and that it's the best/only thing I can do.
I've got to go through the process of changing my bank account etc
But on the whole it went OK.
The gentleman I saw was really kind and helpful.
Bonus is, I've decided to give my Sunday job up. By the time I've taken expenses off and tax I'm not working for much. Seen as my credit rating is now going to be shot and I'm going to be paying back for ever more I thought I may as well have a full weekend off instead of just one day a week.
Try to get a quality of life back.
Anybody reading this who are struggling with debt, go to your local citizens advice bureau . Be honest with your debts and they will advise what is best for your circumstances.
I have to get this sorted and start living life again and not just existing. The only way I can do this is to stay gf. The ball is in my court. x

Hey LML you've done well, facing up to the debt is the hardest thing, I'm only just beginning the process of sorting out my mess so I can totally relate to how you must have felt in that meeting. It's a step forward .... and forward is good 🙂

Stay safe, best wishes

M x

Happy to report I'm still gamble free.
I've still got finances to sort because I can't change bank account till beginning of next month. After that it's all systems go sending out letters with offers of payments and keeping fingers crossed for positive replies.
I've noticed lately that sometimes, whilst at work I walk along and it hits me how much better I feel in myself.
May sound strange but I feel lighter as though now I walk along and have a big of a spring in my step.
I'm having coversations with people whereas a month ago I would probably have avoided them. For no other reason than I just didn't feel I wanted to chat.
I felt low and unhappy. Why would I want to inflict that on people? It was better just to say nothing.
Anyway to anyone reading, keep going. It's difficult but I feel there's going to be light at the end of the tunnel xx

Hi, great to see such a positive post, your doing well, keep it up x

Little miss lost wrote: Happy to report I'm still gamble free.
I've still got finances to sort because I can't change bank account till beginning of next month. After that it's all systems go sending out letters with offers of payments and keeping fingers crossed for positive replies.
I've noticed lately that sometimes, whilst at work I walk along and it hits me how much better I feel in myself.
May sound strange but I feel lighter as though now I walk along and have a big of a spring in my step.
I'm having coversations with people whereas a month ago I would probably have avoided them. For no other reason than I just didn't feel I wanted to chat.
I felt low and unhappy. Why would I want to inflict that on people? It was better just to say nothing.
Anyway to anyone reading, keep going. It's difficult but I feel there's going to be light at the end of the tunnel xx

Great post Little miss lost.

Welcome reading, thoroughly deserved progress.

Says a lot about you that you want to avoid inflicting negativity on others. That's nice. Really cannot imagine that you would be capable of that though Little miss lost.

Do sense a lot of unnecessary worry from you. Particularly regarding what others think.

Your situation is tough and feel you hold back a bit due to the idea of bringing negativity or self-pity to the forum. Two things I've certainly been guilty of in the past, I know what it looks like and that has never been how your posts come across to me.

Genuinely trying hard amid adversity with a lot of kindness is what I see.

Keep up the good work Little miss lost.

I'll be back in 5 days d;-)

Thanks Anon, kind words and they all help to keep me gf.
Glint - you've done it again. You've an uncanny knack of seeing through me. Such lovely words, they truly lift my spirits. It's hard dealing with this practically on my own. Anybody reading my early posts will know why I do.
Thanks to this forum for giving me strength. I'll keep fighting the good fight. Day by day my life will change for the better x