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I think your husband is maybe like my husband – it’s simply easier not to rock the boat !

I guess that’s his way of saying you need it get back to GA.

Vera , why not go back to visit for Christmas – you are gamble free now and practically everyone trying to give up gambling has had a blip sooner or later .

I think your wisdom and you wit would be very much missed at those meetings

Xx

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Thank you Vera and Jen ,

You must have been meant to write it on my thread Jen!

Coincidentally I am just about to go and get take-away coffee and breakfast for the family – so much better than struggling to make ends meet after throwing my money away.

I am developing a ritual of checking my bank account first thing every morning – it motivates me to see a healthy sum in there . This mourning when I woke I had the usual day dream of winning a huge sum and getting a huge extension on my house – it seems the longer I am gamble free, the bigger the win and the bigger the extension grows .
My weird brain again !

It’s twelve days til payday – so much easier not to gamble with a short term target than a limitless number of days stretching ahead – once pay day arrives I need a really good next target.

I hold a holiday fund for my friends (stupid thing to do ) as they feel I am sensible – what a tangled web we weave! My next target is to replace that and hand it over to one of my friends – I will give myself until end of jan payday to do that.

Thanks to having my pay intact i was in a position to do something really nice for one of my friends who has been recently bereaved – sometimes little things that money can buy are just as important as those things that money can’t buy.

I beat go now – feels like I am writing a novel this morning – so much more to plan and do I guess when we are gamble free.

Xx

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Hi Jen ,
You have clearly thought this through – in a few days this experience will have ended anyway but the pain it could have inflicted would have lasted for months – especially if it ruined Christmas. You have made a really good decision here and good decisions lead to an incredible life !
Well done Jen
Xx

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Hi Monica
Hope all is good with you xx

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Jen , I feel strangely relieved for you that you are not on that trip – I guess posting the photos is their way of keeping you involved and letting you know they miss you.
The reason we would love to be there is probably because we would love to be propped up on a stool watching reels spin.
You are doing so well Jen – I think I am about two weeks gamble free .

Just think what a fabulous new year we will have . Xx

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I’m sorry to read you gambled Lizbeth -it’s a blip .
What a waste of our hard work to give it to some greedy casino owner .

I guess you need to find a way, as Vera says to lock your money down. I know how hard this is to do .

I can’t advise but for some reason it seems you and I find it difficult to build up gamble free time – I wonder is it because we always manage to escape rock bottom ?

Keep posting and as P used it say “never give up on trying to give up”

Xx

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Thank you Jen – yes we do not want another gambling hangover – unlike alcohol ones they last for weeks . Thirteen days until payday – I am wondering if I got paid more frequently would it make me more or less likely to gamble? It is nice to wake up everyday and check my bank balance – once the next payday arrives I am moving any left over funds from this one to my husband’s account. I need to keep as much money safe as possible . The urges are getting a little easier to control- I can squash the bingo ones , I have such limited access to online gambling I’m not sure I would even find somewhere to gamble and I can put the lottery off until the next draw. I can do 13 days

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Hi Jen,
Thank you for your post on my thread .
I seem to be posting a huge amount – I am finding it quite difficult to keep dismissing the urges – even as I look at the time I realise I could just make it to bingo !

Hope your week is a little less stressful -we can do this !

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Another great day at work- I am home and looking around my house and thinking about that extension (yes the new kitchen has expanded)!

Next thing I am thinking about all the times I made a lot of money online but never cashed out – I am wondering if I could do it again.
I read what Vera wrote in Jen’s thread – a bad day makes us want to gamble and a good day makes us want to gamble .

I find people putting me down makes me want to gamble but I also am starting to notice that people being nice to me makes me want to gamble .
I have this stupid picture of me helping them out with a cheque??
– why??

I don’t understand me but I am starting to notice the things that give me urges .

I have such a strange world in my head.

Anyway I have decided I am buying no new decorations this year – I am not buying anything new for the house(except a desperately needed iron) and I am going to focus on that emergency fund and then my debt snowballing !

I can do this !

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Lizbeth
That’s exactly right – it doesn’t matter how many gamble free days we have – so long as today is gamble free.
I sometimes feel keeping track of days is counterproductive-a small slip feels like a gigantic setback and this leads to chaseing losses.

Enjoy making those earrings and other gifts xx

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So last night I set out to go to bingo despite my strong post .
On the way I decided to detour and get that shopping instead .
Today I am so glad that I did .

I realise that if I had invited my friend I would have been unable to change my mind – so in future if I get tempted I need to keep the option to change my mind open.

Feeling happy with my choice this morning – fourteen days until payday .

Onwards and upwards

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Had a busy but great day – its so nice here my mind isn’t preoccupied with stretching money .
I have fifteen days until payday – I am currently having my fay urges to go to bingo and my Wednesday night lotto urges.

So I am changing my thinking to I will go and buy nice Xmas presents for someone -my son needs Pjs and they always feel like a waste of money -my stinkin thinkin again. I will buy him two pairs and it will still be cheaper than a night at bingo.

Onwards and upwards

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That a great goal Jen – anything which keeps us focused is good.
So I have made it to the end of another day game free. Temptation was there but I somehow made the right choice .
Payday is getting a little closer and I have a healthy bank account .

Really tired tonight

Onwards and upwards

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Vera it’s good to hear you sound better and well done on keeping that money safe . You have the Energy of twenty of women. I’m sure your house is beautiful .

Himself is shouting at me here about spending money – he thinks I’m frivolous- little does he know !

You have identified that this friend’s borrowing often triggers your gambling -so well done in saying no.
We need to look after ourselves first Vera.
Hope to catch u in group later xx

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Hi lizbeth,
Isn’t planning good things so much better than gambling? What a Lovely idea to make jewellery as gifts – I so wish I was artistic – and you have the most important gifts sorted out – those for your grandkids.

It is a pleasure to read your happy post !
Keep strong xx

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