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My 5 year goal!
So, I haven't been great with money lately and my spending has got the better of me, coupled with the fact I took my eye off the ball and didn't budget for my tax payment this month 😬. I have managed to get it covered, but I need to pay attention to sort out my debt. In about 5 and a half years, my mortgages will be paid…
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The Cutting Down Alcohol Challenge for August & 2026 :)
Welcome to the Cutting Down Alcohol challenge for the month of August and for 2026! This challenge is all about helping people cut down or even give up on their alcohol consumption, mainly for health reasons, but it can also save a lot of money, because the cost of buying alcohol really mounts up over time and sometimes…
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Accountable
September! It always feels like the start of a new year to me, I'm not sure why, perhaps its the new school year that's embedded in me (even though that was a long time ago!) I've decided to keep my own debt free diary, to hold myself accountable. I'm not even sure if anyone will read my diary, but bonus if someone does…
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Hustling My Way to Debt Freedom. - Take 2
Hi, I'm a semi-regular who has created a new account as the thread I started this morning on my old account got locked and I didn't appreciate that. So here's take two on my new account. Hi everyone I'm back again, still trying to clear the debts. I won't go into a long explanation as to where I've been (no excuses - I've…
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Moving on
Welcome to my new thread: my old one is here: Cherry takes the reins — MoneySavingExpert Forum and my very old one is here: Coffee and chocolate — MoneySavingExpert Forum Quite a lot changed in 2023, and now it's time to move on. I left the job and career path I'd followed for many years and don't feel I can or should go…
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Turning Straw into Gold: Creating Long Term Security & A Solid Home
Hello, I am joining you on the debt free journey, for a couple
of loans that are giving me anxiety and also my mortgage. I have been reading
these diaries for inspiration and it’s time to start my own. I hope to get to
know many of you as time goes on. I moved into my home last April and I have some
loan repayments that…
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A new chapter, An empty nest, Drama school & Last year of Uni
I've been on these boards for many years and a long time ago did start a diary when we'd had a windfall and cleared some debt and I'm not sure what happened but 'life' got in the way. Today starts a new chapter of my life as my youngest has just left home (albeit temporarily) for her to access a drama course in a different…
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Debt, Endo but now Pregnancy and a now Reno-d rental
Hi! I’ve been reading different diaries for a while and think I need to hold myself accountable! I have a slightly odd set up as I live with the boyf, but have a house that’s now a holiday let/buy-to-let that I need to finish and get let out. I know evil landlord and all, but don’t want to put all my eggs in one basket…
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My Off-grid and need to be frugal diary
New year, new start - trying to save in 2025.
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YNAB robber needs help to execute the plan
Right, I am going to finally start a diary on here. I am being supported financially by my OH to allow me to help my sister care for my 90 year old father. I have an expensive event in Feb that I need to save for. I have been using YNAB since Feb so I have an accurate record of my spending for 6 months. It's not pretty. I…
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Spendy Wendy to Saver Savvy
After lurking for what seems an age, I have finally created an account and started to interact this forum :) For years I feel that we have been flying by the seat of our pants, not planning in advance, using savings and investments to pay for holidays and other luxuries and just not really having control on our finances.…
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Three years to get debt free
Morning, I have had a diary on here before but had to close it down. I am a single mum with an 8 year old DD. I have found myself in debt since the age of 18 when I went to university and have been in it ever since. I decided to change this in 2017 and then found myself a single parent in 2018 and having to attain more…
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10 years later yikes
Hello all Here again for round 2… my first diary https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4529627/can-i-do-it/p1 I’ve just looked back at this and as much as I really thought I knew what I was doing, it’s crazy to now see 10years later here I am. I was in my 20’s and ambitious and honestly looking back on it now how…
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Teetering on the brink
Where to start! My life has not been without challenges and I have had times where I’ve had a lot of debt, and times where I have had none. I always felt proud to say I have never missed a payment and always managed to get out of a sticky situation myself no matter what. But this time, I am not convinced I will find a way,…
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From debt to freedom...
For a couple of months I have been lurking and reading diaries which have been helpful and inspiring. I thought that I would start a diary to keep myself focussed on getting rid of the debts. I am a working mum, recently separated from my husband. I have a large family which makes for an interesting and busy life! I have…
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Overwhelmed Bumbling
Third time lucky? Third diary for me - definitely sticking to this one!! The fact that I've not stuck with the previous ones pretty much sums up why I am in such a mess - so unorganised and easily side tracked. When it gets hard I stick my head in the sand and do my very best impression of an ostrich, this has probably…
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The 6 year plan!
I've had diaries before that have for various reasons lost their purpose. Last few years have had big changes in my life, I now have 2 children, I've completed my academic studies and now have a more driven passion for career progression. With this it feels like we have come to the top of our debts and now want to bring…
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Turning Debt Darkness Into Power
Good morning all, happy Tuesday! Long time lurker, first time poster here. I've had a DMP for about a year and a half and tend to be terrible at saving, but that is going to change! I'm currently paying token payments of about £12 per month with the aim to create an emergency fund, I'm up to about £200 saved now thanks to…
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My DMP diary - 2026 (year 1)
Well… inspired by others I intend to chronicle my own journey through the DMP maze. This is the year I turn 50 and I can't juggle these plates any longer. I earn enough to pay my bills and my debts but there is nothing left for contingency, household or family emergencies, holidays, days out, gifts, car repairs, vet bills…
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Fresh Diary for 2025! & Carrying on for 2026
Hello those who follow along! Last year goals; - Get debt gone (didn't complete) - Buy my house - COMPLETE - Meal plan/prep - Sort of - Cut out Coffee (I gave this up on 22nd November 2023) - Didn't complete - Have savings of at least 2k! - didn't complete Am I annoyed I didn't complete some goals? no. I can try again!…
