Lesson 4: Money & Dangerous Days
Protecting What's Yours
Welcome Back (1 minute)
Lesson 4. Respect for sticking with this.
We've covered sleep, understanding your brain, and riding out urges. But let's be real - when you've got money in hand, all that goes out the window.
Today we're talking about the hardest days: benefit day, paycheck day, any day you have cash.
Money Days Hit Different (3 minutes)
When money hits, suddenly everything wants a piece:
Casinos: "Free check cashing!" (Yeah, we know what that costs)
Dealers: Somehow they always know when you got paid
Betting apps: Push notifications like crazy
Online shopping: "Items in your cart are waiting!"
Everyone you owe: Suddenly remembers you exist
In Nevada, it's a special kind of hell:
Every grocery store has slots
Every gas station has scratchers
Casinos literally advertise on benefit days
24/7 access to losing money
One person said: "I went to cash my check. Three hours later I'd gambled half, spent the rest online, and had to borrow bus money to get home."
Another: "Soon as my benefits hit at midnight, my phone lights up. Sales, betting bonuses, everyone knows I got money."
This isn't about being weak. It's about an entire system designed to separate you from your money the second you get it.
Protection Strategies That Work (3 minutes)
Real things people in Nevada OTPs do:
"The Handoff"
"Soon as money hits, I give my debit card to my mom. She keeps it till bills are due. Can't blow what I can't access."
"Safe Spot Cashing"
"I pay the $3 at Walmart to cash my check. No slots staring at me. Worth every penny of that fee."
"Direct Deposit Lockdown"
"My counselor helped me set up direct deposit. Money never touches my hands. Goes straight to bills."
"The Timer Method"
"I set a 10-minute timer for any store. When it goes off, I leave. No browsing, no 'just looking.'"
"The Screenshot Budget"
"I screenshot my budget on my phone. Look at it before I go anywhere. Reminds me rent's due."
"Delete and Survive"
"Night before check day, I delete all shopping apps, betting apps, everything. Can't impulse buy if it's not there."
Don't have anyone to help? Start small:
Cash your check somewhere boring
Leave your card at home when you go out
Only carry the cash you need today
When You're Already Behind (2 minutes)
We get it. You might owe everyone:
Back rent
Phone about to shut off
People you borrowed from
Child support
Old dealers
Your brain says: "One lucky bet would fix everything" or "I deserve something nice after all this."
Here's the truth: Desperate money decisions in early recovery always make things worse. Always.
One person put it perfect: "I used to blow my whole check trying to double it. Now I pay my phone bill first. At least I can call for help."
Today's priorities:
Keep your phone on
Food in your stomach
Bus pass or gas to get to clinic
Safe place to sleep tonight
Everything else can wait. Even debts. You can't pay anyone back if you relapse.
Pick ONE Protection (1 minute)
Before your next money day, do ONE thing:
Easy:
Delete one tempting app
Find a boring place to cash checks
Screenshot this lesson to read that day
Medium:
Tell your counselor your money day plan
Ask someone to hold your debit card
Set up one bill on autopay
Harder:
Open a second account without a debit card
Have someone you trust be on your account
Self-exclude from casinos (it's free)
Tell your counselor which one you picked. They love hearing about money protection plans. Shows you're thinking ahead.
Remember This (30 seconds)
Every dollar you protect from impulse spending is a dollar for your actual life.
Casinos will still be there tomorrow. Dealers aren't going anywhere. But your rent money? That's a one-time thing.
Tomorrow we'll talk about finding one person who gets it. But today? Pick one way to protect your next money.
See you in lesson 5.
