Using this forum as a means of improving my life

[wanttogetbetter10]

I don't want to get in to detail - I just want to get better. Getting better includes improving my financial situation - daily.

Every day I'm going to post how I've conducted myself and what I've spent money on - every single day.

I suck at staying on top of doing things daily - but I think it's because I always try and do too much. One, quick and simple post on here can't be that hard. So, you'll notice immediately that I have a problem with what I've spent today.

SO, as I've stated, and today starts it - I'm saying what I've done. I thought of writing about what activities I'm going to do to improve my financial situation - but there's other places for me in my life that I've set up to do that.

This will purely be a place for me to document my daily financial cash inflow and outflow.

DAY 0

• (1,500) Gambling

DAY 1 THROUGH 365 - it's my goal, and my mission, to not gamble for the next 365 days and find other means of creating sources of cash inflow.

[creditcardfree]

Welcome! You might want to start a blog. You can start one here on this same site.

[wanttogetbetter10]

Originally Posted by creditcardfree

Welcome! You might want to start a blog.

creditcardfree,

Thank you for the suggestion. I have actually started one some time ago. There is just something I feel better about from an accountability standpoint by using the forum. If it's frowned upon - please let me know - if not, I look forward to getting started on the journey.

The blog I created if you'd want to learn more about me is mydebtsjourney.blogspot[.]com/

Anyway, I do appreciate the suggestion.

[creditcardfree]

Good luck! My blog has helped me with my financial goals, I wish you the same.

[bjl584]

You may require more help than this forum can provide. It's one thing to type up a quick post each morning telling all of the members here how much you gambled the day before, but it completely another thing to attack the root of your problem and stop gambling. Gambling can be an addiction just like drugs and alcohol. I suggest that you seek professional help. Join a support group in your community, talk to a member of your church, go speak with a counselor. I wish you all the best in your journey of recovery.

[wanttogetbetter10]

Originally Posted by bjl584

You may require more help than this forum can provide. It's one thing to type up a quick post each morning telling all of the members here how much you gambled the day before, but it completely another thing to attack the root of your problem and stop gambling. Gambling can be an addiction just like drugs and alcohol. I suggest that you seek professional help. Join a support group in your community, talk to a member of your church, go speak with a counselor. I wish you all the best in your journey of recovery.

Thanks for the input. I understand the root of my problem - and have sought out some help from family members. For me, it's a bit different than a drug and alcohol addiction (i feel like). It's not a hard thing for me not to do - I don't get serious urges to do it, never am I tempted to visit an actual casino, etc. I've canceled all gaming accounts - and have essentially sworn against it.

Thank you for your wishes - I look forward to a successful journey back to where I need to be. I'm a very ambitious person and actually look forward to the challenge in front of me.

Again, thanks for the input.

[bjl584]

I'm glad that you are serious about tackling this problem head on. Maybe you could set up a lifeline number. Someone that you are close to and know and trust. Soemone that wouldn't mind you speaking to them anytime of day or night. Whenever you get the urge to gamble you can call this person first and they can help you work through things until your urge passes.

[wanttogetbetter10]

Originally Posted by bjl584

I'm glad that you are serious about tackling this problem head on. Maybe you could set up a lifeline number. Someone that you are close to and know and trust. Soemone that wouldn't mind you speaking to them anytime of day or night. Whenever you get the urge to gamble you can call this person first and they can help you work through things until your urge passes.

Brian - not sure what you do for a living, but you're giving some great advice. That is something I will no doubt do.

It kills me that I fell into the trap of online gambling, because I am very frugal in every other facet of my life.

Time to get my mojo back and be smart about life.

Thanks again man - great piece of advice.

[bjl584]

I actually work in supply chain management, but there is a lot of gambling around me. Casinos are everywhere around where I live. Plus there is a lot of less than legal stuff that goes on betting on sports through bookies. It doesn't interest me at all, but I have people close to me that got caught up in it pretty bad. It almost ruined one of my good friend's lives. He had to cash out his 401K to settle his gambling debts. It was a shame to watch an otherwise good person become so financially devestated over gambling to excess. I'm just glad that I've been able able to give you an idea as to how to tackle your problem and hopefully get over it before it causes you any irreverseable harm.

[wincrasher]

Addictive behaviors are just a symptom of a much deeper rooted problem. Excessive gambling is just one manifestation. You need to get help on understanding the core problem, otherwise you will relapse or some other problem will arise.

Good luck!

[wanttogetbetter10]

Originally Posted by wincrasher

Addictive behaviors are just a symptom of a much deeper rooted problem. Excessive gambling is just one manifestation. You need to get help on understanding the core problem, otherwise you will relapse or some other problem will arise.

Good luck!

I agree to an extent, but that's a very general statement. Perhaps I'm being a bit defensive.

For me, I continued to gamble not because of the rush, or because I had fun doing it, etc. I continued to gamble because I hated losing the money and wanted to win it back. Now, I understand you can't just win it all back - so I understand that I simply can't do it again.

I believe in simplification and positivity, as being negative only complicates life.

I'm the type of person that loves a challenge and I'm very ambitious. In addition to my 9-5 - I have a start up company, my name on a couple patents, and am working on becoming a writer.

All that being said - I know I had a problem, but between my goals, my faith, and my determination in other areas of my life - I'm know it's no longer an issue.

Thanks for the input!

Oh yea...

DAY 1 - $0 SPENT.

[Ima saver]

Congratulations on day 1 !!!!!

[wanttogetbetter10]

Originally Posted by Ima saver

Congratulations on day 1 !!!!!

Hey Thanks for the support! It's all about being consistent from here on out

[maat55]

I gave up golf and a few other things. How I managed to not waste money was to buy cheap personal finance books at Goodwill. Reading and learning is a cheap while rewarding past time.

I suggest you find these books:

The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

The Automatic Millionaire by David Bach.

You will get a better picture for an financial plan by reading books. Seeing real results will feed your desire to win.

[wanttogetbetter10]

Originally Posted by maat55

I gave up golf and a few other things. How I managed to not waste money was to buy cheap personal finance books at Goodwill. Reading and learning is a cheap while rewarding past time.

I suggest you find these books:

The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

The Automatic Millionaire by David Bach.

You will get a better picture for an financial plan by reading books. Seeing real results will feed your desire to win.

Hey thanks for the book recommendations! I read a lot of books on personal development but not so many on personal finances (although I do have a degree in Finance) - that's a good idea though.

Day 2: $34.54 - Gas (necessary expense)

[Ima saver]

Good going on day 2!! ( I hate that gas prices are going up again)

[wanttogetbetter10]

Originally Posted by Ima saver

Good going on day 2!! ( I hate that gas prices are going up again)

You and me both!

DAY 3 - Had to go to and from Dallas in the same day! It was a long 20 hour day - all expenditures are reimbursable. The downside to it is that I don't get reimbursed until the first of the following month. In April I've had to fork out almost $3K in reimbursable expenses that I'll see in June 1.

Rental Car + Fuel + Parking: $32.92
Meals: $16.81
Kinkos: $28.51

DAY 3: $78.24 (REIMBURSABLE)

It might seem silly to track my expenses that come back to me - but the idea is to track every dollar that leaves and comes in - daily. So I'm doing it anyway!

[Ima saver]

I think it is a great idea to track every dollar. You have inspired me! I am going to start writing down my money spent daily too!

[wanttogetbetter10]

Day 4

Weekends - this is where tracking my expenses is going to show me where I need to change - because my girlfriend and I enjoy getting coffee, sushi, books, etc. So it's a matter of doing other things that cost less, or cost nothing at all.

DAY 4: $23.36 (Unnecessary)

Sushi and a Redbox movie. Day 4 is the first day I've incurred an unnecessary expense.

[Ima saver]

May 1st, I had a no spend day!!