Diary of a broken gambler

confused76

hi Amiga
shame about the holiday..hope you can go away another time
can't believe discharge is nearly here for you!
all the best Amiga, your thread is a great help to others
take care x

IF

Hello Amiga, just wanted to say all the best and I'm glad your staying with us. Not long to go now.....doesn't time fly!!!

Take care
If...x

assumedname

just read through this entire thread as was directed here from my own post as my situation sounds kind of similar to yours Amiga.

Your story is very very helpful for those of us that are considering the same options and i'd like to thank you for it, it's already helped me a lot!

Amiga

You are welcome. Any Questions feel free to ask here or PM me.

Best of luck with whatever option you choose.

assumedname wrote: »

just read through this entire thread as was directed here from my own post as my situation sounds kind of similar to yours Amiga.

Your story is very very helpful for those of us that are considering the same options and i'd like to thank you for it, it's already helped me a lot!

Amiga

Slight update

Had a letter yesterday from the OR advising me they are applying to the state to be released as my trustee. Just under 3 weeks until I am discharged to!

philnicandamy

result! :D

confused76

excellent x

MikeJO

Remarkable story Amiga....just read it through, congratulations on you upcoming discharge (from a fellow addict, different "drug" to you and I'm sixteen years clear of it so it played no part in my BR but still....respect).

Noofywoo

Fab news Amiga

Noofywoo :j

mandrake75

Just thought i'd pop a quick reply on this thread as i've turned to it a lot over the past few months. It is also for the benefit of others to read who may be in such a situation so please excuse the length.

My situation was similar. 60k of debt with the majority of it due to gambling, the rest being made up of living costs after i had gambled my living money.
My addiction got worse and worse over the years (after just starting as a few quid in the fruit machine or on the football coupon ending up in my pay going ito cursed video roulette machines) as i used it to blank out the loneliness of my life and also to always get that extra bit of money, or get that big win to see me out for the rest of the month. It never came. If i got a medium sized win it would always go back the same way. Life was awful.
In 2008 after getting internet access i found out there's debt charities who can help - so i contacted CCCS who were hepful and put my head right for a while.
They put me on a debt management plan, and despite me working two jobs and paying the maximum i could stand, two of my three creditors would not stop interest.

I kept this up until the start of this year when i couldn't take any more - i told a friend (the only person i'd told as i'd kept it from my parents for years) and this friend let me lodge in his spare room, while i went to Gamblers Annon about the addiction, and to CAB about the debt. From that day in March i have not gambled once, I cancelled my huge CCCS payment and as of 11.15am this morning I have cleared my debts via bankruptcy.

I am not happy at clearing it in this way personally, but it was for me the only way. I do feel guilt and always will. But the whole situation was killing me of that i'm certain. When my housemate returned from a year of travelling he just couldn't understand what had happened to the old me.

So thank you, Amiga, for this thread and for all you other contributors, you have made SO much difference. I am expecting a BRO/BRU but i will accept it glady and who knows in a week or two i will start to smile again.