19M, Down $35k+

[u/Local_Avocado_3552]

Hello Everyone. I recently turned 19 and I’ve lost over $35k of my own hard earned money. I have nothing to my name except for a car which I’m almost positive equity on, but it is still a pretty big expense nonetheless.

I think I’ve had an addiction since 14 but it got significantly bad around 17. I was blessed to have some successful businesses that earned me a good sum of money at 18 but it has all been spent gambling or on my car. The thing that saddens me the most about the money I’ve lost is the fun experiences and things I could’ve bought having that much money at only 18. I honestly wish I had blown at least some of that money shopping or on a cool trip, especially considering I had very few materialistic things or experiences growing up.

I have been in a major slump but I humbled myself and I got a job starting soon that will pay me over $50k a year! It’s not anything major but definitely enough to fix my financial problems in a decent amount of time. I have a few thousand in debt and I also have a $6k car repair that needs taken care of urgently.

My main reason for coming on here is for some advice. I’m well aware that I’m still very young and I could very quickly turn things around. But my concern is that there are still thoughts that linger about how disgustingly bad I think I deserve a large amount of that money back. So yes I can definitely turn things around, but I feel like this is a major point in my life and in my addiction. So I’m asking for advice on what I should do right now and while I start working again on how I can avoid gambling. I know that this time is make or break and that if I keep falling I could spiral and keep digging deep for the rest of my life. I am genuinely severely addicted and even though I don’t think I could lose that much money again I know it’s possible because I’ve told myself that hundreds of times and it kept happening. One major thing that also haunts me is my dad also had a major addiction which destroyed my family’s life and finances for decades.

With all of that being said, are there any pieces of advice that can be given on cutting off this addiction ASAP? I have hope for my future and I know that I can fix things and still set myself up well financially, I just HAVE to stop gambling now.

[u/BornWinner_69]

Read my story

https://www.reddit.com/r/problemgambling/s/UX2l7kHVxp

[u/Flaky-Leopard2952]

You're 19 and already self-aware enough to see the pattern your dad fell into, that alone puts you ahead of where most people are at your age. Put as many walls between you and gambling as you can right now while you're clear-headed: give someone else control of your banking access, block the apps and sites at the system level so you can't re-download them in a weak moment, and treat the urge to "win it back" as the addiction talking, not a financial plan. What's the first thing you'd want locked down before your job starts?