Redemption - The journey of a recovering gambling addict.

Lonelygambler

~FlowerPot~ said:

Just wondering how you are doing? It's been a while. I have everything crossed it's still going well
Flowers x

Yes, things are ok. 

Had a lovely weekend with my children and wife. 

Lonelygambler

Debt Update

Personal CC and Loans

• Natwest - Over 50% paid off - Aim to clear within four months if I can make £300 payments 
• MBNA - £50 fixed payments until Natwest is cleared 
• Tesco Loan - £143 fixed payments - Have rounded up to £150 a month. 
• Apple 0% £430 - Dec 24 - £66 a month (I see no benefit of clearing earlier)
• Peleton 0% £480 - Feb 25- £37.70 a month (I see no benefit of clearing earlier)

I have closed nearly all my credit cards and have taken a hit on my credit score down 14 points on clear score. 

CC Limit is now £85,000

Currently using around 5% 

• Amex Cashback Card
• Tesco - Main card for all spending (Cleared statement every month)
• Nationwide CC - Backup Card 
• Virgin Money - Inactive (Have used before for 0% balance transfer - no offers might close)
• Santander 123 Cashback Card - No annual fee card (Kept as this was my first ever credit card - I believe good for holidays?)
• Lloyds - To close this month
• Barclaycard - Inactive (Get long 0% deals so will keep this card as I will need to transfer MBNA when 0% runs out next May. 

LG

FacelessNumber

Glad things are going well, I haven't been updating here much either but still reading. 

Lonelygambler

Just checking in - nearly 4 months without a gamble. 

Attending weekly therapy, really helping. 

If you have a gambling problem, please talk to someone. I wish I did earlier in my life. Sharing this would have stopped me wasting so much money. 

LG

alt80

@Lonelygambler you’re doing good mate, well done. Hope things are getting a bit better at home for you, it takes time but if you both want it you can get there.

Re finances agree it’s not worth clearing the 0% on the tech/ bike early. All looks like it’s ticking along nicely for you.

mark55man

Hey there just checking in, I try and find a new diary now and again.  Part of my pay it back.  Just a few thoughts

1. You are doing great!
2. You have some great people on board this diary - Both @alt80 and @enthusiasticsaver and i have been on each others diaries for years now, and are voices well worth listening to.  Alt's journey is inspirational to me - although he's prob !!!! blushing now - and ES is just a model of calm and control and wisdom
3. You do need to spend on yourself and family - its a long haul clearing 5 figure debts, and if you sqeeze too tight you end up miserable and then have a splurge.  You oscillate between a good balance, but then you turn the screws too hard and I can sense it affects your mood 
4. You have done the right thing taking some of your CC off the table.  I have about £40K credit but don't use it.  It feels like a safety net although I never use it.  I agree about emergency funds, not strictly necessary, but having savings allowed me to take some time of work when I needed a break
5. Although you can chop and change your mind about you priorities you do have to set some in terms of clearing debt.  For me it was overdraft, then CC, then loan and then mortgage neutral / free (still ongoing).  Rather than feeling guilty about clearing all at once.  The way I like to put it is "you can do anything, you just can't do everything" so one at a time works for me
6. You are right to focus on saving money by reducing frequency of small spends rather than only focussing on big spends

Anyway your diary is a great read and your inner strength shows through - you got this - just remember its a slog not a sprint, and don't let the bstard  grind you down.

Lonelygambler

Pretty busy weekend but my mental health has not been great. 

Held it together in front of the family and kids but inside I am not good. 

No gambling though. Which I’m pleased about. However I have been thinking a lot about it and it’s making me feel so sick. 

However if I’m strict with myself I could get a CC under £1k by the end of the month. 

Just taking it a day at a time. 

LG 

mark55man

Those milestones under 5 figures under 4 figures or even better £0 on a CC are really motivational.

sorry to hear you are struggling but you are still doing well - your struggles makes your achievement more impressive

prowla

I think there should be curbs put on gambling advertising.

Lonelygambler

prowla said:

I think there should be curbs put on gambling advertising.

I wish they did. 

I would have not wasted 5k in one night a few years ago. 

Gambling is killing young men and women.