Hi, it’s great that you realized you have something to work on. It’s not yet an addiction, so you can do your best and shift your focus towards something else. What about that PC upgrade, did you actually want it?
It may be good to talk to your parents about your new interest. They probably already guessed, because of your Christmas gift request. You should keep in mind that the probability to win big money in a lottery is very low. We all dream about it, but most of us lose money. So you’d better spend that pocket money on lasting things, like going somewhere with your classmates or buying a new book / app. You can start with limiting yourself to one lottery ticket per week. Make this a rule and don’t break it. With time, you’ll see that this game is not worth your time!
Your friend is right. You’ll always lose money gambling, it’s designed that way. On the positive side, your pocket money is probably no more than a dozen bucks, so you haven’t wasted too much money so far. You did the math yourself, and you see that your winnings are much smaller than what it has cost you on the whole. It will always be like that. Use this as a learning lesson to not gamble your savings away. Especially if it’s your lunch money!
I have a friend who lost $5000 on betting in one go. He’s got two jobs and a mounting debt, I honestly don’t envy him. Don’t be like my friend. Take steps to control your lottery frenzy. Nurture good habits at a young age, and they will carry into adulthood and could save you a world of hurt.
@djamal abdel kereem Yeah, we wanted to buy a new graphics card and something else my father said will be needed. My PC was my father's and it’s ancient. Some games crash on it, so I wanted either to upgrade it or to ask for a laptop. I got the laptop and 5 tickets :D One ticket won me $10 again.
Is it the fantasy of winning or the process itself that you enjoy? I thought most boys play online lotteries now. Anyhow, you can divert your energy to something as exciting but much more productive. There are many activities that are challenging but that can make you real money. If you like pets, you can look after your neighbor’s dogs when they’re out. We paid our neighbor’s 14-year-old daughter $100 to come water our plants and look after the hamster. She was very excited :) I’m sure you’ll think of something much cooler than lottery tickets, something that will make your parents proud of you.
You are more than capable of putting a stop to this, with the right attitude and a bit of effort! My advice is to find some videos on gambling and addictions that will help you get the right perspective. Search for documentaries. It may seem that the risks and the sums are small now, but it’s about the habit. You’re wise to address the addiction early, your future you will thank you for that. Wish you luck!
We can only suggest some methods to avoid or prevent it. It’s totally up to you to decide if you want out of this. Think about the joy of spending money on clothes, books, games. Your parents are loving and generous people, but they won’t be able to give you money forever. So if you find the strengths to give up on lottery now and start saving that money instead, you can start your own business at 18. Wouldn’t that be nice? Think of all the opportunities you are losing because of this habit of yours.
@Nancy Idk, the process is kinda exciting, I like to scratch the ticket off and see what’s inside. It’s much more fun than online stuff. When we did it with my father, it felt like bonding, he’d buy me an ice cream and a ticket, was good. Now I do it alone, and it’s not the same.
@wobblesnest I see! So you enjoyed it most when you were doing it with your father. I think it’s the missing piece of the puzzle. How about thinking of other ways to spend time with your dad? Tabletop games are a popular pastime now. Perhaps you can find DnD and other meetups in your area. Both you and your father will love it! These events are usually free.
The first step of acknowledging and accepting that your interest may turn into addiction itself shows that you have understood and want to stop yourself before it becomes a significant problem.
To cope from this you need to first identify your trigger. identifying your trigger make it easier to find effective coping mechanisms. Like you said you bought these tickets to do something with your father? was it to get attention from your father you started doing it? was it for spending time with him? or is approval or to get compliments from him? do you want to prove something to him? If it is attention then do you feel is that lacking in your relationship with your father? is there any other way to address this issue and gain his attention and time?
You can also replace this habit by distracting yourself. Try new hobbies or interest which gives you an adrenalin rush in your body and releases endorphins. Yoga, art or diy projects, reading.
see if there is any activity which you can do with your father.
You need to write down what are the advantages of stopping this. Read those reasons loudly and keep reminding yourself why are you doing this. This will you sheer will power to stop this habit of buying tickets. Then try not to walk towards the shop for atleast few days. Try to tell yourself lets wait for 20 min or an hour and not pass that shop. keep making your mind wait and distract it. As you wait urge to buy tickets may pass or becoem weak. just try for a week and see how does it feel at the end of each day and then after a week, applaud yourself if you have been determined and not gone to that shop. It will take time but by putting it a practise the urge of going to shop will reduce. You just need to understand the urge and what tempts you to do this. Then only you can address the issue from the root.
talk to your parents and close family members or friends who can help you in this journey.