[hambone]

Randomly decided to check in today and was shocked to see people commented on my post 🙂

I’m still GF. My life is challenging like everyone else’s but it’s a hell of a lot easier with not gambling.

I recently started getting into shape – I’ve gotten a little obsessed (missed one day since Jan 1) but it’s a good obsessed, I always overdo things.

Everyone – stay strong during March madness! It will take a few years but right now I’m watching the games and enjoying them for the first time with no urge.

I’m almost to the point where the negative reports on my credit fall off (7 years) life is good!

[hambone]

I just wanted to check in and tell everyone I am still GF.

I consider myself the worst of the worst, and if I can do it, you can.

It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.

[hambone]

Just following up –

It’s been over 4 years GF. My life is nothing like it was when I wrote this post.

We can heal, we can get better.

[hambone]

I just wanted to come back and post an update.

I am still GF, I’ve lost track of time but I think its been almost 4 years!

I dont have the urge to bet anymore; sportsbetting is legal here now, and I laugh at the commercials I’ve spent alot of time talking to my 8 year old son about gambling and what it can do to you, I’m hoping he wont follow my foot steps. Right now he hates gambling 🙂

I take pride in having $0 balances on all my credit cards. My credit score is almost 800. I applied for a card last week to book a vacation with and get points and was approved with a high limit, it made me really proud.

Recovery is possible. The life I’m living isnt perfect, but its a million times better than what I went through. YOU CAN DO THIS!

[hambone]

Thanks Kathryn – and congrats!

I came across tennis on ESPN tonight, and tennis was always my favorite to bet on; it got me thinking of this thread. I watched it for 5 minutes and couldn’t believe how boring it was, lol!

I’m still GF – I’ve been working 3-4 jobs since 2019 (before it was cool!) and I’ve done very well for my family financially since I quit gambling.

I hope everyone out there can find whatever they’re looking for in their addiction, and get it somewhere else!

This sick disease will do nothing but hurt you, it’s a literal parasite. Gambling is NOT the means to an end, trust me. I lost several hundred THOUSANDS before I learned this.

[hambone]

Just checking in…

I actually forgot about this site until I recently got a random email from a thread I apparently had subscribed to.

Still GF. I don’t even consider it. Looking at how good my life is now versus then, I could never go back down that road.

I wish everyone the best of luck. If I can beat this, anyone can.

[hambone]

I did something similar to you, I ran myself into about 150-200k in debt before everything came out. I picked up a second job (see my thread) and then a third. It took me almost 2 years of putting everything from my second job towards my debts to finally become debt free. I’ve been GF for almost 3 years, and am now living the life I want, atleast financially. I have 4 kids, a beautiful home and am making great financial decisions.

It took you a long time to make the debt, and its going to take a long time to fix. There is no easy fix. Dont get discouraged, resist the urge to try and do it all fast, there are no shortcuts to this. It takes hardwork and dedication, but once you quit gambling and making progress, the veil will be lifted from your eyes and you wont believe how you used to live.

As I was making my *final* payment, my wife found a letter in the trash about a loan repayment; everything came out. I had been working the second job in secret (at the same time as my primary job) and my plan was to pay it off and move along like it never happened. Now, to be fair, it was much easier to get her forgiveness after the loans had been repaid, if she found out when I was at rockbottom I dont think it would have gone as well. But the point is, you need to be honest with those people around you so they can keep you accountable. Once I told my wife everything, it was such a burden relieved. We talk about my gambling from time to time, and it reminds me how far I’ve come.

It’s not going to be easy, but nothing worth it is. I can promise you, gambling is NOT the solution to ANY of your problems.

[hambone]

Just checking in ——

Still GF; I have the occasional thoughts about gambling, but when I realize how miserable I was back then, I quickly snap out of it.

This time of year is always challenging, there’s a lot of financial pressure and stress – in the past I used to always breakdown around this time. This year is different – things are going well and I’m happy.

If I can do this anyone can – gambling will never be the way out of your problems, please please believe me.

[hambone]

I just wanted to follow up for anyone looking for hope. We’ve been in a 6000 square foot house for just about 3 months. I’m going on 3 years GF and I’ve never been happier emotionally, financially or personally.

I was a junky, and I did it. You can to.

[hambone]

It’s been awhile…..

In March my wife found some mail that I had tried to hide. Once she confronted me, I let everything out. She was devastated as you’d expect, it after a few days we decided to try and get through it.

I just hit 2 years GF. We had planned on building our house but cancelled when the perfect house for us hit the market: we’re now moved in and life is good.

We still have our challenges, and I am still fighting battles everyday but the urge to gamble is gone. Id I can do this, anyone can. Good luck!!

[hambone]

Just checking in… still gamble free. Everyday my life is getting better, I am almost over my financial issues, and am working on building our dream house, something that was never possible when I gambled.

Stay strong and put in the work guys, you can live GF, gambling is not the answer to your problems, it IS the problem

[hambone]

Just in case anyone reads this…

Today is Tuesday. Friday my last loan will be paid in full. That’s $150k USD in gambling debt paid off in 18 months. As I sit here and type this, it’s surreal. I’ve never felt less inclined to gamble than I do now. Instead, I am excited to keep grinding and saving; I’m going to build a house; pay off more debts, the future is endless.

I love you all. I am not special. I succeeded because I had no other choice. I’m paying my last loan Friday and I’m having a baby Monday, it’s like I’m closing this chapter. This baby will never know gambling or debt.

If I can do this, anyone can. If you’re reading this in a similar situation thinking I’m special, I’m not. I’m an addict. I worked my ass off and turned my life around. If I can, so can you.

[hambone]

Just an update for anyone reading this.
n
nMy 100k+ debt is now down to 13k. Additionally, I’ve paid off 42k in student loans, and 49k in loans for my wife.
n
nI am about 16 months GF and by the end of next month will officially be debt free. This burden I’ve carried for so long will finally be off of me. I’m not really sure how I’ll feel; I’ve spent so much time chasing, stressing and worrying. I’ve always worried about what’s going to come in the mail, who’s going to call. I haven’t gotten any bad calls or mail in months, but I still stress.
n
nI’m so excited to finally close this long, 18 year chapter of my life. Gambling had been such a big part of my life for so long, but after 16 months it’s completely gone. I’ll never go back to that person I was.
n
nAs always, if you’re reading this, trust me when I say you can beat this. If I can, anyone can. Come up with a plan that doesn’t require you to gamble. Gambling is NOT the means to an end.

[hambone]

53 weeks ago I started this thread.
n
nI was 100k in debt, plus owed 17k on a car my wife thought was paid off.
n
n53 weeks later, I am gamble free. I have about 2 months before all that 100k is paid off, and last week I bought a new van for 38k and paid cash.
n
nRecovery is possible. Gambling is NOT the way out of your financial struggles.
n
nIf I can do it, so can you. Believe in yourself!

[hambone]

2 days ago I hit my 1 year GF milestone!!!
n
nMy life is so much better then it was when I wrote my first post. I still have hard days, and I am STILL working to pay off the financial damage I created during my gambling days, still running from ghosts of my past.
n
nThe difference is these days are much fewer, and I have a plan to get through them.
n
nAll I can say to anyone reading this is that if I can do this, ANYONE can. Stop the cycle. Stop betting. It is NOT the solution to your problems!

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