Jane O'Gorman, the Daily Star's agony aunt, offers advice to readers facing difficult personal situations. In one letter, a woman describes her boyfriend's gambling addiction, which has left him £15,000 in debt on his current account alone, with additional credit card and loan debts. She caught him gambling online while working from home, leading to a row where he accused her of spying and claimed he was about to win back his losses. He is now sleeping on the sofa, and she misses the intimacy but fears he will pressure her for money.
Jane's Advice on Gambling Addiction
Jane says the man needs urgent help, noting that problem gamblers risk alcohol abuse, criminal activity, depression, and suicide. She compares gambling to an illness, where the addict believes one more bet will solve everything. She advises the reader to check the GamCare website or helpline (0808 8020 133) for support and to encourage her boyfriend to do the same. She urges the reader to consider her own welfare and whether she wants a long-term relationship with this man.
Another reader writes that her parents are downsizing and she and her boyfriend must move out at age 34, having lived in the family home all her life. They have no savings and nowhere to go, and she accuses her mother of being selfish.
Jane's Advice on Moving Out
Jane says the parents feel the reader has had it too easy for too long, and it's time to take responsibility. She advises exploring options, including moving to a cheaper area, and suggests the parents are giving a gentle but firm push toward independence.
