Our families are familiar my mum has had an addiction for at least the past 17 years off and on. She will deny until she is blue in the face that she as an addiction. She says she plays because she is bored, only spends a couple of hundred and doesn’t have major debt because of it. Gambling isn’t a daily thing for her but sure is a weekly thing, it has been off and on. And I remember when I first found out about the addiction, I was 16 yo and I felt so betrayed, I hated her.
When I got my first job I started saving up for university, back then the hourly rate was low, only worked a few hours a week but I worked and saved hard. One day I found a bank statement and their were all these withdrawals almost daily,. And I realised my mother drained my savings account which I worked so hard for! I was so angry and devastated. My mum use to steal my keycard and withdrew money out from within the bank it was very dodgy. I remember I never swore to be like her and here I am with the same addiction. I know I am not like her but I was angry with myself for so many years because of it. I can totally relate to you and I am so glad you are doing your research. And your beginning to implement healthy measures that is great. Really happy about your father giving you more money this christmas. I started a new job and I am working hard to get a bonus in the next few months.
My aim is to save as much as I can (have something to fall back on) and then pay off my smallest debt first and work from there. So glad you decided to go out tonight, I did also, had dinner out it was good.
Look forward to being kept updated.