Dear Annie:

My husband had surgery and was off of work for some time. As a result, we are behind on our mortgage, heat, personal loans, etc. We needed to borrow money, which has put us in an even bigger hole. This is where my problem begins.

This past weekend, my husband "had" to go out and spend money on those video slot machines they have at bars. He does this quite regularly and spends anywhere from $60 to $140 each weekend. I'm all for him being able to enjoy his hard-earned money, but not until we are financially solvent.

My husband knows how I feel, but he can't help himself, and if I say anything, it only agitates him. I realize he has a gambling problem. He's admitted it before, but only after the money was gone. I can't keep living like this. Can you help him see this is wrong? — Too Tired To Fight AnymoreDear Tired:

He knows it's wrong, but he can't stop. This is an addiction, and until your husband can face up to it, you must find your own ways to cope. You must be in charge of the family finances, and the majority of your husband's paycheck should go into an account that he cannot access without you. Then contact Gam-Anon (gam-anon.org) and ask for help.