In the beep! Need advice

Dory35

Hi all,

I've gotten myself into deep water and can't find a way out!
For a past year or so I have been gambling on online sites. But this month, it's now come to ahead for me. I blew all my salary on gambling because I have my car insurance and MOT to pay for, that I'm short of.. I thought that if I gambled I would win. Well clearly not..

I have 10k worth of debt, that I'm struggling to repay and now off work for the second time in a year with depression / stress and worries that I would lose my job because I'm off work.
I have a supportive partner, but there is only so much he can handle!!
I eat rubbish when feeling this way so now my weight has increased to 17st 10lbs. (3 stone in 2.5 years)

Feel like there isn't a way out

sourcrates

Hi Dory,

There's always a solution to a debt problem, I think it's the gambling you need to get help with first.

Debts can wait, it's the cause of your problems you need to tackle.

Sort out the gambling, the debts are the easy part.

FlowerGirl27

Hi
Sorry to hear about the mess you are in, but there will be a way out.
You say your partner is supportive - great. Does he know the full extent of the problem and the money situation yet?

Do you live together / share household expenses etc?

enjoyyourshoes

Identify why you want to gamble.

You do know that you can't gamble your way out and that you will always loose in the medium term, so the gambling is self defeating.

Google help groups for addiction and specifically gambling. Get some help today, not tomorrow or next week, but now when you have read this post.

Get partner to close down all gambling sites and take away your means of funding the addiction.

Work out how your partner can give you just enough cash to allow you to function normally but without the means to be tempted by the addiction.

Work out strategy to start paying off the debts (highest interest first &/or the 0% deal with the highest interest post deal and with the shortest term remaining.

Throw what you can at the debt and treat the eating addiction too.

Good luck but external help is what you need.

GarthThomas

Since you can't afford the insurance, sell the car. If you get a job again, cycle, or use public transport.

enthusiasticsaver

There is a way out but you have to stop gambling first. Give any debit or credit cards to your partner. Sorn your car until you can afford to insure or mot it.

BrainAches

Hi,

I have had a problem in the past with online gambling, specifically the slots.

You will benefit greatly from a support network, speak to your partner, or a close friend. If you feel they cannot support you then I'd like to hope you are wrong in that assumption.
I felt the same way, it took a huge amount of courage to speak to my partner, and the level of support I get now is unbelievable
Exclude yourself from the gambling sites, all you have to do is ring them up and they exclude you for a set period of time. I have been self excluded for 7 months now and I haven't looked back.

There are loads of gambling support services on or off line, and they are very helpful, some you can chat online too.

I ran up over 10k on credit cards in just a few months and used my all wages one month, hoping for the "big win" and that was my eye opener, it forced me to approach people for help as I had no money for food.

Its a tough road but you will get through it, if you want to chat drop me a line, happy to offer help and support

zippygeorgeandben

Go and register with https://www.gamcare.co.uk
Plenty of other people in your situation who have come through the other side. Well done for facing up to your responsibilities.