Cripplng gambling debt, no idea where to make savings

Brenster

Its a difficult one, the loan from his uncle is an easy fix, but i dont understand why his uncle wants to see his historic statements, of course they will make terrible reading, however what is done is done.
However the root of the problem is the gambling addiction, and i think if the uncle is prepared to help, he deserves to have reassurance that the OP is serious about giving up, a couple of ways of doing this would be to Self Exclude from all Online Betting through Gamcare (Show uncle correspondence to prove this), go to all bookies within a couple of miles of his house and self exclude (any shop can exclude from all local shops of the same company), so a couple of hours should sort this, bring uncle with you to reassure him you are serious, and also to avoid temptation whilst in the bookies.  And finally, show your uncle a couple of months statement after he has helped to show him you are managing your money correctly.
I think his uncle is doing the correct thing, its easy to throw money at the problem, but his uncle is trying to make sure the root cause of the problem has been extinguished.

Abandon

Brenster said:

Its a difficult one, the loan from his uncle is an easy fix, but i dont understand why his uncle wants to see his historic statements, of course they will make terrible reading, however what is done is done.
However the root of the problem is the gambling addiction, and i think if the uncle is prepared to help, he deserves to have reassurance that the OP is serious about giving up, a couple of ways of doing this would be to Self Exclude from all Online Betting through Gamcare (Show uncle correspondence to prove this), go to all bookies within a couple of miles of his house and self exclude (any shop can exclude from all local shops of the same company), so a couple of hours should sort this, bring uncle with you to reassure him you are serious, and also to avoid temptation whilst in the bookies.  And finally, show your uncle a couple of months statement after he has helped to show him you are managing your money correctly.
I think his uncle is doing the correct thing, its easy to throw money at the problem, but his uncle is trying to make sure the root cause of the problem has been extinguished.

Some great ideas, thanks. For obvious reasons I can't go to bookies to self exclude as they are closed, but this is something for the future. I've tried to register with Gamcare a few times, I can't identify myself for some reason. I'll try again though. 

My father and uncle are discussing this all tonight as my father is a bit embarrassed he can't help me himself.
In the meantime I'm embarrassed to admit I lost £30 on the slots yesterday. I had a free bonus but ended up putting my own money in. That really was the last one though!!!! 

IrishSean

Gamstop.co.uk 
Go on it, like as soon as you read this, fill out the details, there's no reason you can't block. The Myers Book I listed says it's all about creating your OWN rock bottom cause if we don't we'll end up on the streets with no friends or family left we can speak to and the road back from there is 100 times more difficult (at least). 

I'm serious, I visualised myself saddled with debt in a bedsit, no contact with wife or kids and it was like a bucket of cold water round my shoulders. Slots don't seem appealing then.

You can do it; gamstop, you'll feel a thousand times better when its done.

theoretica

Abandon said:

Deleted_User said:

What will showing him bank statements show? it's proof of the debt he should be seeing e.g the debt letters from creditors. Unless all your debt is one big overdraft?

He's just in shock at the mess I've made and wants to see it for himself. I suspect he's going to make an example or me to deter others. 

For all your father's fears about what others would think about your finances it seems you would have had considerably more privacy in any of the official routes than this unofficial family one.

AnxiousTheElephant

IrishSean said:

Gamstop.co.uk 
Go on it, like as soon as you read this, fill out the details, there's no reason you can't block. The Myers Book I listed says it's all about creating your OWN rock bottom cause if we don't we'll end up on the streets with no friends or family left we can speak to and the road back from there is 100 times more difficult (at least). 

I'm serious, I visualised myself saddled with debt in a bedsit, no contact with wife or kids and it was like a bucket of cold water round my shoulders. Slots don't seem appealing then.

You can do it; gamstop, you'll feel a thousand times better when its done.

I self excluded with GamStop and within 24hrs I'd received emails saying my accounts had been closed (some I forgot I had) I did mine for 5 years which was the max.

candiii

In the meantime I'm embarrassed to admit I lost £30 on the slots yesterday. I had a free bonus but ended up putting my own money in. That really was the last one though!!!! 

Seriously, address the addiction NOW

IrishSean

AnxiousTheElephant said:candiii said:

In the meantime I'm embarrassed to admit I lost £30 on the slots yesterday. I had a free bonus but ended up putting my own money in. That really was the last one though!!!! 

Seriously, address the addiction NOW

IrishSean said:

Gamstop.co.uk 
Go on it, like as soon as you read this, fill out the details, there's no reason you can't block. The Myers Book I listed says it's all about creating your OWN rock bottom cause if we don't we'll end up on the streets with no friends or family left we can speak to and the road back from there is 100 times more difficult (at least). 

I'm serious, I visualised myself saddled with debt in a bedsit, no contact with wife or kids and it was like a bucket of cold water round my shoulders. Slots don't seem appealing then.

You can do it; gamstop, you'll feel a thousand times better when its done.

I self excluded with GamStop and within 24hrs I'd received emails saying my accounts had been closed (some I forgot I had) I did mine for 5 years which was the max.

These☝☝☝☝☝☝☝☝

As Nike wud say; just do it....

IrishSean

Lucifer656 said:

Do they know you're in debt to this tune and that you have a gambling problem?

Seems weird that they pay you pocket money each month when you are a grown adult earning a wage that more than covers your rent and priority bills.

I wish I was getting a cheeky payment like that every month! They must be rich! In that case, can't they help with clearing down the debt?

Not my diary, but if you read up OPs parents are not wealthy enough pay off debt. Also much debate is to whether having any family paying off is a good idea. I used gift money from my families to pay off debt and fall back into old ways. Only way i'd advocate it would be to protect kids or negate homelessness, otherwise we have to paddle our own canoes.

[Deleted User]

Abandon said:I'm embarrassed to admit I lost £30 on the slots yesterday. I had a free bonus but ended up putting my own money in. That really was the last one though!!!! 

It wasn't though, was it?  I think you know that as well as everyone else on this thread.

You need to actively do something about it, not just do the usual 'that's the last time' routine.

curlytop12

that's shame about the slots.
So, let's be productive- you posted here 24th April, what have you done so far ?
What can you do today? However small the step, it still counts.