Gambling debt plan

TrimmTrabb

After having gambling problems and finally getting help, I aim to tackle my debt in 24 months.
I am looking forward to tracking my progress on here.

I am trying not to destroy my credit rating.
I have 12th months on a loan left, the payments are high and I will have to cope on around £40 a week.
About £6000 left on the loan, then I will tackle my credit cards, I have 4 totalling £10,000, is interest free as I managed to move cards apart from £2500.

I will have to keep up just over the minimum payments on these whilst I clear my loan, then I will attack them completely.

All gambling accounts have been closed permanently and my laptop is now blocked.:)

Never Again!

Muhren

Welcome and well done for facing up to your problem, you will find a lot of knowledgeable and helpful people here so you are in the right place.

A couple of other things to help you stop/supress the urge are;

Banning yourself from the betting shops.
Only carry the money that you need for the day.
Tell people that you no longer want to gamble so they can keep an eye on you.
Find different routes to places you need to go to avoid bookies/casinos.
Put a block on your smart phone and/or limit the amount that you can spend with your service provider.
Try GA.

These all might sound drastict but I didn't address my problem in the right way round first time out and ended up going back to it even harder. I don't want that to happen to you!

All the best in staying off gambling and sorting your debt out.

andyfromotley

Please go to GA if you arent already attending.

Please dont place too much pressure on yourself to pay off these debts in record time. It can become depressing and often drives people back to gambling. Your priority id to remain gambling free, not to become debt free.

bamgbost

Well done for admitting your problem. First step onwards & upwards!

Like Andy said... GA is a good place to start.

clint_S

Get yourself on a self-exclusion list of the gambling companies. You can list yourself for a period of up to 5 years.


check gambleaware self exclusion for more information.

TrimmTrabb

Thanks guys. Some accounts are excluded for 5 years, others 6 months, I will email them to extend them.

There is also a counselling service for addiction in my area I can attend. Pretty sure GA is not available in my area.

This is the second time I have got in to debt through this and it will not be happening again.

SmoggyTalisman

andyfromotley wrote: »

Please go to GA if you arent already attending.

Please dont place too much pressure on yourself to pay off these debts in record time. It can become depressing and often drives people back to gambling. Your priority id to remain gambling free, not to become debt free.

This is a very good point and is exactly what I did. Pressure from lenders forced me to panic and to try win money to cover their requests.
Please don't do this.

Leads to a downward spiral of depression and often more debt.

Good luck with your plan mate and hope you can stay clear

themidasman

Hi TrimmTrab,

Well done on the gambling, hope your still going strong.

I have had same issues and not long stopped but strongly suggest you read Allen Carr "The easy way to stop Gambling". Has totally transformed how I look at gambling and finally believe I can stop after trying to for last few years.
Bit late for me in deep debt and lost family but if i read this book before i really believe I would have stopped earlier.
Nothing new in it, very basic really but something gets in to your mind. I have read it a couple of times now and every time feel stronger after. Its only a fiver so nothing to lose would think its one of them things that works or doesn't but done the job foe me.
All the best and good luck
themidasman

limars

Muhren wrote: »

Welcome and well done for facing up to your problem, you will find a lot of knowledgeable and helpful people here so you are in the right place.

A couple of other things to help you stop/supress the urge are;

Banning yourself from the betting shops.
Only carry the money that you need for the day.
Tell people that you no longer want to gamble so they can keep an eye on you.
Find different routes to places you need to go to avoid bookies/casinos.
Put a block on your smart phone and/or limit the amount that you can spend with your service provider.
Try GA.

These all might sound drastict but I didn't address my problem in the right way round first time out and ended up going back to it even harder. I don't want that to happen to you!

All the best in staying off gambling and sorting your debt out.

can I please ask how you got your debt down so well

Muhren

limars wrote: »

can I please ask how you got your debt down so well

Yeah no worries.

I was in the fortunate position that my parents paid off my debts for me and I am now paying them back. I moved back in with them and I am renting my house out at the moment, with the rent more than covering the mortgage.

I am either fortunate or unfortunate depending on which way you look at it, that I am single so no one else to think about. I had always been very good with money in the past (handing it over to the bookies aside) and have got back in to that habit now. I am still around two years away from being debt free so still along way to go, so I still need to keep plugging away.

TrimmTrabb

I am going well at the moment, I am really determined, I have stopped this time. Not had a bet for around 3 weeks now.

Funny you should mention the Allen Carr book, after doing a lot of research, I purchased that book online a few days ago, should be here on Monday.

Looking forward to reading it.