[hoops1970]

Hi All,
It is almost time for bed.  Made it through the day without gambling.  My co-worker told me she bought a scratch off last night and won $100.  She was stressed at work this afternoon and wanted a snack and she also bought another scratch off.  I did not buy one!  Two weeks ago I would have, but not today.  You are all an inspriation.  The more I read out here, the less alone I feel.
Good night, LisaNot Gambling…one day at a time

[hoops1970]

Hi Phillip,
I read your posts and can relate very much to how you are feeling.  I live in Wisconsin and had no trouble self-banning from the 2 I am banned from.  The one, I had to go to and follow the procedure explained in an earlier post…meeting the security person and filling out a form.  The second one, I e-mailed.  They sent me the form and I had to fill it out and send a copy of my drivers license.  If you go after you self-banned, they will arrest you for trespassing.  If you are a quiet person, as am I, that would be devastating!! I have had enough trouble with gambling, no need to bring the law into it.  Self-banning is the best deterent I have found to stop gambling and obsessing about going to the casino.
Mind you, this has been a work in progress for me.  I have been self banning and building more and more barriers over the last 2 years.  Change hurts and sometimes does not stick the first time.  If you are determined, you will keep plugging away and will find what works for you.  My first barrier was not carrying any checks with me.  That was the way I could get the most cash at the casino.  I then graduated to no debit card, having my cash availability removed from my credit card and so on.  I also have a friend hold about half of my money each month so I am not tempted to gamble with it.
Your comment about everything else being boring really struck a chord with me.  I just said that to a friend about a month ago.  I read a post or an article about how our brains get addicted to excitement or the thrill we get from gambling.  It is true, for me, that those feelings fade with time away from it.  You are the only one that can control what you do.  It is a huge freedom we have until we abuse it.  Stop letting gambling control you.  You can do it, I know you can!
Take care of yourself first.  LisaNot Gambling…one day at a time

[hoops1970]

Happy Thursday!  It is a beautiful GF day – it is about 77degrees out….winter is finally gone!
Today is day 9.  Tomorrow I get paid.  As I read in Diva’s post, payday is a treacherous day for most cg’s.  I know it is for me.  This morning, I balanced my checkbook with what I will get paid tomorrow and paid every bill until the end of July.  It is out of my checkbook and off to the right people.  I have been pretty successful at paying my bills at least a month ahead until  early April and all of May of this year.  I slipped up BAD.  My latest fall started in April when I visited my sister out by Seattle.  There a plenty of casinos out there.  After going to the casino 3x in 5 days out there, I continued my lunatic gambling spree when I returned home to Wisconsin.  I live about 45 miles from the Minnesota Border, where there are also plenty of casinos.  Like I said earlier I just banned myself from the 2nd casino in MN.  Thank God!  I spent about $4,000 on gambling in those 2 months alone.  I can drain a bank account in mere seconds.
I also read a post today about cg’s learning or relearning the true meaning of what money is.  I have always worked for the money I have.  No handouts.  My Dad was very strict with his money and didn’t spend it on hardly anything but necessities and saved the rest.  We lived in a very nice house, but we all worked for what we had.  I had quite the babysitting business going from the time I was 9 years old through the end of Jr. High.  I had to buy all of my own clothes, pay for school activities, give money to church and pay for pretty much anything else I wanted since I was 9 years old.  Maybe this is why I am so messed up about money.  My brother has the same issues I do, but my oldest sister does not, she hoardes her money and does not like to spend it.  We are all weird 🙂
I better get back to work.  Have a great day!
Lisa
 Not Gambling…one day at a time

[hoops1970]

Hey Diva,
Oh my goodness, I feel your pain.  My husband does not like to gamble at all, but almost all of my friends and co-workers do.  It is tough to stay strong – OMG – it takes so much to say no and stick to it.  I had to laugh when you set up the trip to the casino to make it look like you didn’t really care if you went or not.  I have done that a million *****! Pretending like I could give or take it – HA!  I was always the last one to leave, the one that spent the most money, always had to try to beat the machines.
My brother and I are very close and gambled ALOT together.  We would split money alot….then I started feeling guilty because I felt like I was making him gamble – not true, he is very capable of losing his money without me around.  Our relationship almost ended over gambling – he owed me alot of money and I felt like he took advantage that I have a good salary and thought I could afford to support his habit too.  I had to put my foot down one night after I had borrowed him money "to get gas and groceries" and I found him gambling at a local bar.  I was furious and told him to never ask me for money again and if he did our relationship would be over for good.  Fortunately, our love for each other as brother and sister prevailed.  He has not asked me for a dime in almost 1.5 years and we have put that behind us. 
I hope you and you BF can work things out if you want to stay with him.  Please stay strong for yourself and your future first.  Talk to you soon.
LisaNot Gambling…one day at a time

[hoops1970]

Dear Vera – You are correct!  Nothing good comes from gambling and Laura is an Angel in disguise!  Thank you for your posts.  I am almost crying right now…it feels so good to have someone understand how it feels.  No judging, no guilt, no ultimatums.  Just plain understanding and support from people that really know the gut wrenching sickness we all go through when we gamble. 
I am 41 years old and should have thousands of dollars saved up.  I have a degree in Management of Information Systems and have worked in this profession for almost 18 years.  I own rental property and have a part-time job as well.  I know how to make money….Keeping it is a different story.  Gambling has ****** most of my money (which, I always have an excuse that I can make more right?), it has ****** precious time with my family and friends and it ***** my pride and self-esteem.
It stops now.  One day I will not be able to make more money and if I keep up like I have been I will not have friends or family to turn to.  I am taking my life back!  Day 8 without gambling.  I have to get back to work and then go to my part-time job at 5 pm so good night everyone and thanks for being here!
Lisa
 Not Gambling…one day at a time

[hoops1970]

Awesome!  Good job on self-banning.  It is so weird still when I read posts and I feel like I could have written them myself.  Everyone on this site has been so supportive and honest.  It helps so much to know we are not alone and that we can conquer this together!  When you wrote a weight was lifted, I could relate with you so well as I just banned myself from the casino I started going to after I banned myself from the casino that is closest in location to me.  I am so glad we have that option.  I think you will do great!  I don’t know anything about your BF, but if he is unsupportive of you and gambles as well, it doesn’t sound like a healthy environment for you.  Stay strong – LisaNot Gambling…one day at a time

[hoops1970]

Thank you Laura…thank you so much.  This morning I was feeling strong.  Today is 7 days without gambling. I had a stressful day at work and I have no obligations on Tuesday nights.  I really wanted to go to the bar and gamble after work.  I drove 12 miles out of my way after work to go there and I thought about you Laura.  I don’t know you and probably will never meet you in person, but I thought about you when I got there and turned around and went home.  The feeling of power this gave me was awesome!  I was able to say NO, I am not going in, I am not going to waste my time and money today!  My sone was home when I got there and I got to talk to him a while and now I have the rest of the night to relax at home and get a good night sleep for tomorrow.  Yay!
Have a good night everyone, LisaNot Gambling…one day at a time

[hoops1970]

Hi Kathryn – I am so happy for you celebrating 8 months!  You give all of us hope that we can do it too!  Take care and thank you for being here.  LisaNot Gambling…one day at a time

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