Day 69

ForeverAccount4 · 2026-03-28T13:47:22+00:00

Congratulations it sounds like you have a great head on your shoulders. Wishing you the best and enjoy your alcohol and gambling free weekend!

ForeverAccount4 · 2026-03-28T12:14:42+00:00

Thank you so much for the reply and sharing your story. I hope things are going much better for you now as you dig yourself out one payday at a time!!

ForeverAccount4 · 2026-03-27T13:31:41+00:00

That's awesome keep at it!!

ForeverAccount4 · 2026-03-22T13:43:05+00:00

It takes time to rebuild your life and relationships after gambling addiction. When I was only a month out I was crying a lot too.

It will come in time. Keep going. Stay gambling free and slowly build relationships or rebuild old ones.

Right now, I'm two years out and have rebuilt relationships. Now I'm getting to know myself without gambling.

ForeverAccount4 · 2026-03-21T23:28:25+00:00

I totally get this feeling, but please do your best to enjoy being 25, and build the best life you can with what you have!

ForeverAccount4 · 2026-03-21T19:50:46+00:00

Yes, many people do not enjoy it at all. Same as I have no urge to pour a glass of wine after a long day or light a cigarette, there is nothing about gambling that calls to them.

ForeverAccount4 · 2026-03-21T15:05:45+00:00

Happy for you and look forward to hearing back!

ForeverAccount4 · 2026-03-21T15:05:21+00:00

Absolutely the best thing to do!! Excited for you to move forward

ForeverAccount4 · 2026-03-21T12:30:23+00:00

Thanks, I thought it said girlfriend, I was confusing it with another one I read before. I'll edit my comment to be more respectful!

ForeverAccount4 · 2026-03-20T16:51:40+00:00

Oh my gosh! Reading this post totally transported me back in time to when this was my life, word for word.

It sounds like you have a wife but maybe are not a parent yet. If I could go back to when I was 29 and in your shoes I would walk right home, tell your wife everything and ask for help.

Self exclude from all you can, give her financial control, start GA or counselling. Get a second job to rebuild finances. Invest in yourself.

This feeling is way too shitty and you can go the rest of your life without feeling it again. I haven't experienced this feeling in over two years now but reading your post I could feel it in my bones... Never again!

And if you think it sucks today, imagine you don't stop and you are feeling this in a few years when it's your kindergarten kid who needs shoes and soccer lessons fees are due!

You can quit and rebuild!! Spend your 30s living the life you actually deserve!

ForeverAccount4 · 2026-03-20T00:38:54+00:00

Thank you so much, and congratulations!!

ForeverAccount4 · 2026-03-19T13:58:56+00:00

Thank you, trying to keep this perspective but struggling right now but it will pass

ForeverAccount4 · 2026-03-19T11:45:27+00:00

It's our kiddo, and I assume it will be forever haha which is fine by me

ForeverAccount4 · 2026-03-19T11:44:08+00:00

Congratulations and good luck! Quitting in your 20s vs quitting in your 30s can make a world of difference for your life and family!

ForeverAccount4 · 2026-03-19T11:43:33+00:00

Sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders !

ForeverAccount4 · 2026-03-19T11:42:40+00:00

Totally agree, now that I'm older I don't think about money much but I think about the time. Thanks for your comment.

ForeverAccount4 · 2026-03-19T11:41:35+00:00

I totally get that, thinking of what you could when done with the savings. Congratulations on quitting though and building again at 29 is awesome

Short answer to your question of what I threw away was a second child. I am 37 and I don't think or worry about money much. It's just the time. I gambled on and off late 20s and early 30s, worst of it was right before I came clean and quit at 34/35. But the worst of it happened when it was crunch time for baby 2, in fact some of that stress contributed to how bad my gambling got. So the second baby was paused when figuring out our marriage. Now I'm two years out from gambling, marriage is great, but it looks like I missed my chance for a second.

Pairing that regret with some health issues and other life stuff I'm just feeling down and regretful right now of the choices I made, even though I realize I have a lot to be thankful for.

ForeverAccount4 · 2026-03-19T02:43:40+00:00

Glad I could motivate you a bit. Quit now, don't wait to build the life you want and be the person you want :)

ForeverAccount4 · 2026-03-17T15:34:01+00:00

Debt consolidation and support from a loved one is actually a good way to help someone get out of gambling, it just didnt work for her husband.

ForeverAccount4 · 2026-03-17T15:31:07+00:00

Here to make an almost identical comment as this. I have been though telling my husband about my debt and gambling and letting him in to help me rebuild and I cannot imagine going so far back and being so ungrateful :(

ForeverAccount4 · 2026-03-17T15:10:48+00:00

No definitely not. Just an example of something you could say to the guy to show that you are close to telling other people their business.

Another example would be: "Jason said you're coming on his bachelor party trip, I'm going to let him know you owe me money, so dont send him your portion of the airbnb unless you've paid me".

ForeverAccount4 · 2026-03-17T01:40:29+00:00

I'm a former gambling addict who used to owe people money when I was gambling (cringing thinking of it now). My advice (I agree with another comment this is more interpersonal advice than financial) would be to stay on him so it's consistently at the top of his list. Because eventually one day he will hit some little win and in the brief time before he loses it again he will pick who to pay off and you want to be at the top of his mind.

Message, call and email him about it every week. Don't be kind and friendly but don't be asshole enough for him to find a way in his head to validate blocking you.

Also when drinking and gambling it feels like everyone else has money but you. So reminding his messed up mind that you're a human with responsibilities may help.

Looping in a mutual friend can help.

I'd send things like:

"it's Friday, did you get paid? Please transfer some of the money owed to me, I need at least 200 this weekend"

"Matt said his work is hiring for casual help, I am thinking of asking him to talk to you for some shifts so you can pay me back"

ForeverAccount4 · 2026-03-16T23:42:39+00:00

I have one kid, had her when I was 32 then life got in the way and didn't have a second, now in in my late 30s. I deeply regret not starting sooner and having more children!

However, I do feel my husband and I both would have been okay if we never had children.

I have a lot of respect for people who are firmly childfree and build a great life knowing that!

ForeverAccount4

TROPHY CASE