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So tired this morning -had to wash clothes late last night which has me exhausted today – really need to get a good housework routine .
16 days until payday – life is looking good but I know how easily I could blow it – I need to be super aware .

Feels like a turning point in my life – I am seeing things a little clearer – the posts AOD have written have been exceptionally helpful .

Onwards and upwards

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Charles I agree that I need to set another target – I’m not finding it at all easy to stay gamble free but I went shopping tonight and while I didn’t buy anything I enjoyed looking at things and knowing I could buy them if I wanted to.

I know exactly what you mean – often I have been able to stop in the run up to a holiday but then after its as if if I had never stopped.

I have a few targets – I have Christmas, then a weekend away early February, and I will need to save for a big holiday in the summer. I also have some targets for my home.( millions of them)!

Jen that’s how it gets me too – I think I am gamble free, then I’ll convince myself that one bingo will be ok , then the slots in the bingo hall because they are cheaper than online – next thing I know I am chasing my losses .
This time I am trying to stay completely gamble free but it is really hard .

Definitely more motivating to ***** days down to a target than to slowly and torturously ***** gamble free days !

Onwards and upwards

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Thank you Monica and Jen for your posts .

I am
Not sure when I went to bingo – it was either last Tuesday or Wednesday – either way I am getting close to a week gambrel free, but I guess more importantly for me, I haven’t gambled online in over a week. 17 days until next payday.

Fridge is stocked and bank is healthy .
Lots to look forward to.

Onwards and upwards

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Hi kin
Sorry to read you had a bet – I don’t think it is day one in that all that you have learned during your gamble free time is still with you. A small slip perhaps ?
Thank you for posting on my thread .

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Hi Sloppy
Well done on starting this thread and seeking help .
As you gamble online I would advise that you get a gambling blocker for all your online devices. There are several to choose from such as betfilter or gamban but you could also download a child’s browser for free like k9 and get someone to se the code on your phone .

You are taken many steps already – most of us on here are all to familiar with reverse withdrawals .
Keep posting and keep using the support on here – here are groups tomorrow where you will get more advice .

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I have just finished group and have a few things to do before bed – I find I want to gamble tonight .
I guess most Sunday nights I want to gamble.
Is it to cope with the stress of the week? I’m not sure.

However I now have 18 days to go until payday and my current pay is intact – and I won’t have to touch my feeble savings !
Just need to keep focused on the goal – I think my home will wait another year – my son won’t be home for much longer and I am thinking that maybe we should have a really great holiday next summer – I want him to have great experiences to look back on. I guess if I stay stopped and look after my money I will have choices! When I’m gambling my time is spent focused on surviving and picking up the pieces .

Onwards and upwards

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Hi Monica
Glad to read you are feeling better – magnesium really is a miracle supplement !
Having your son move in has been very positive for you – company is nice and even nicer when it’s family .
I struggle constantly with my weight – well to be honest it’s a bit like stopping gambling – I talk about it more than do it .
I am back to sensible eating tomorrow !

I hope you didn’t have to spend all today working .
Hope to meet u in a group during the week. Xx

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Hi Mike
Well done on seeking help.
I think this post probably belongs in the my journal section.
We try to cut three things – money accesss and time ATM

Money – we can get someone else to take control of our account and just give us an allowance as we need it. We can cut up cards, save into accounts we can’t access without a lot of notice .

Access – we can self ban from local casinos (like your video slot place), join Gamstop, self ban from sites, fit gambling blockers on our phones and other internet devices.

Time- we can plan our time so carefully that we simply don’t have time to gamble. We can find new hobbies to replace gambling .

If you write on the my journal section Mike , you will get lots of more ideas – also there are groups on here which you could attend .

Most people cannot stop without support so this site willbe really good for you .

Hope this helps

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Hi Laura
I am not surprised you are exhausted – and meds really can make you so tired .
It is great that you are staying connected – and getting out to socialise .

Sorry I missed you in group – I was travelling home – but hope to catch you soon xx

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Hi vera
I am glad you are feeling more positive – you have a lot of positives in your life – and you still have a significant lump sum- maybe take time to reflect on the security that gives you- you can have dreams and plans – you have a safety net .
It is an excellent idea to put it away for a year and while that is away you can continue to save and get back to where you were earlier this year .

Vera you are taking all the right steps – well done for choosing to protect what you have rather than chase what is lost .
Xx

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Hi Laura -I think we were posting at the same time – thank you for your post xx

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Jen that fairly mich describes my gambling also – I always think this is it – I’m finished and somehow always manage to survive .

I hve a slight hangover today – the alcohol kind !
I am home again and I find the urges creeping in- after my crazy night I should be planning an early night but instead I find myself thinking willing I to bingo, will I try to get onto an online site .
However my mindset seems to have changed a bit because the urges are being squashed by a greater desire for a good and peaceful life free from the pain of gambling.

Today I feel peaceful and happy knowing that there is money in the bank , good food in the fridge and new clothes hanging in my wardrobe .

Onwards and upwards

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Hi Jen ,
None of us look pretty after a gambling binge – the darting intense eyes which suspect that everyone is judging is , the internal dialogue of why didn’t I cash out, why didn’t i stop depositing , why didn’t I set limits , the adding and subtracting of money to try to survive until payday , the lack of sleep,the dehydration as we forget to stop to drink – so many reasons why we look so awful.

That was our past – our present is that we are both gamble free and doing the things to keep us that way .
Can you ban from the casino which is two hours away ? It would remove some of the temptation?

Jen we are here and doing ok- have a lovely weekend with your son xx

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Hi Jen ,
I know myself so well that I have all my bills set up to come out on payday! I never fall behind on mortgage or other payments due to this – I think this is really good in terms of keeping me afloat – but maybe not so good in that I never really hit rock bottom and therefore often continue to gamble.

I also put a substantial amount into a savings account where I have to give two weeks notice to withdraw. Unfortunately I dip into this all the time to make up for my gambling losses. If I make it until Christmas I will have four months of savings in there.

I really have tried to set up everything to safeguard my family even when I can’t trust myself .

I am determined to make it until Christmas. Xx

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Hi Vera
I hope it feels less awful this morning .
Can I make a suggestion- instead of withdrawing large sums to cover all you have to pay, why not break it down into smaller withdrawals to arrive in your account on the day the payment is due . That way there is no extra cash hanging around.

It sometimes helps to bring me back to reality when I think about it in terms of material things for example , I have gambled a new car, I have gambled my home extension, I have gambled a trip to America. I still have funds to gamble my big trip, my new patio area , even a swimming pool! Imagine all the things our money is buying for the fatcats.
If you make your money from the misery of others, you really will not hve any scruples about setting a high rollers’s favourite machines to heartbreak.

So look at me lecturing you when I have hardly any gamble free time accumulated- just I find where you are now is quite scary – and I feel you should get back to GA and all those things which were helping you . GA seven times a week is so much better than the pain of gambling . It is seven quid towards the coffee!

Please Vera , take the steps you need to to help yourself- .who wants to reach rock bottom ?
I am sure your son is causing you huge pain at the moment – perhaps you could invest a hundred in counselling to address this this pain.

Hope you feel better today xx

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