We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
The MSE Forum Team would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas. However, we know this time of year can be difficult for some. If you're struggling during the festive period, here's a list of organisations that might be able to help
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Has MSE helped you to save or reclaim money this year? Share your 2025 MoneySaving success stories!
Get a grip woman!
Comments
-
If it is conservative it may not have gone down as much as you think then.I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Debt free Wannabe, Budgeting and Banking and Savings and Investment boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
Click on this link for a Statement of Accounts that can be posted on the DebtFree Wannabe board: https://lemonfool.co.uk/financecalculators/soa.php
The 365 Day 1p Challenge 2025 #1 £667.95/£667.95
Save £12k in 2025 #1 £12000/£150001 -
B****y password!
Like so many others I just got a password expiry and have had to go through the rigmarole of retrieving and changing only to see no subscribed threads so apologies in advance if I drop people or their diaries - a warning saying I must change it in x days would have been nice!
Anyhow. Good news is that our plus net bill was only £21.50 this month - because there are no work calls on it. Very happy with that!Save £12k in 2025 #2 I saved £14,660.97 of £6000 or 244.35% of my target. The 2026 Save £12k in 2026 thread is here
OS Grocery Challenge in 2025 I finished the year at £2880.99/£3000 or 96.03% of my annual spend so I am sticking with a £3000 annual budget for 2026
I also Reverse Meal Plan on that thread and grow much of our own premium price fruit and veg, joining in on the grow your own in 2026 discussion thread
My keep within our budget diary is here1 -
Oh thats good! A big difference.2023: the year I get to buy a car1
-
:dance: just had a look in the bank account while taking a little work break and the money from DH's DC pension pot arrived, so I despatched it to the mortgage account immediately :dance:
Our mortgage balance is just under £76k. Next stop under £75k. I might have to stretch my target for MFiT4 now!Save £12k in 2025 #2 I saved £14,660.97 of £6000 or 244.35% of my target. The 2026 Save £12k in 2026 thread is here
OS Grocery Challenge in 2025 I finished the year at £2880.99/£3000 or 96.03% of my annual spend so I am sticking with a £3000 annual budget for 2026
I also Reverse Meal Plan on that thread and grow much of our own premium price fruit and veg, joining in on the grow your own in 2026 discussion thread
My keep within our budget diary is here1 -
Wow, fantastic news! You must be so pleased to see those numbers coming down.Trying to figure out a whole new life. Trying to figure out a whole new budget.
Divorcing, unclear on final debt total right now, but focusing on building a financial buffer zone.1 -
Yes, such a relief. We were going to wait until DH actually retired but as this is the "up to 25%" tax free portion we can take as a lump sum, and with the stock market a bit jittery, we thought we would do it now and reduce the amount of interest we are paying (it was just over £80 per month). I will update how much extra that frees up when they update it on the BS site (I never agree with their calculations when I do mine).Save £12k in 2025 #2 I saved £14,660.97 of £6000 or 244.35% of my target. The 2026 Save £12k in 2026 thread is here
OS Grocery Challenge in 2025 I finished the year at £2880.99/£3000 or 96.03% of my annual spend so I am sticking with a £3000 annual budget for 2026
I also Reverse Meal Plan on that thread and grow much of our own premium price fruit and veg, joining in on the grow your own in 2026 discussion thread
My keep within our budget diary is here1 -
Brilliant news! Such a great feeling to lessen the outgoings and own more of the property you live in.2023: the year I get to buy a car1
-
Off to stretch our legs this afternoon - hope it isn't too muddy - near Leith Hill on the South Downs. I was pleased to see the scales recognise my efforts to shed the last bits of Christmas chocolate this morning, after being much stricter with myself this last week. I really need to treat weight-loss more seriously as it is a back-burner long-term aim to lose another two stone before I retire.
Shopping is more under control this month and the freezer drawers are starting to run as a single drawer feature, rather than all pulling out together because they are so full (Queen of Tetris status passed on). Just the flour barn and the wine lake to think about...Save £12k in 2025 #2 I saved £14,660.97 of £6000 or 244.35% of my target. The 2026 Save £12k in 2026 thread is here
OS Grocery Challenge in 2025 I finished the year at £2880.99/£3000 or 96.03% of my annual spend so I am sticking with a £3000 annual budget for 2026
I also Reverse Meal Plan on that thread and grow much of our own premium price fruit and veg, joining in on the grow your own in 2026 discussion thread
My keep within our budget diary is here1 -
Oh gosh, am I one of the ostriches?Debt Jan 2017 = £42kMay 2022 = £15k1
-
Oh gosh, am I one of the ostriches?
No you are not! It was a reference to people merely freeing up enough to make minimum payments and treating that as the complete journey. There is a moment for many of us when we realise that passing the monkey from one to the other, to keep it above the crocodiles' reach, is not the same as draining the swamp and killing the crocodiles, if you get my metaphor.
It is about paying off the debt, not only managing the paymentsSave £12k in 2025 #2 I saved £14,660.97 of £6000 or 244.35% of my target. The 2026 Save £12k in 2026 thread is here
OS Grocery Challenge in 2025 I finished the year at £2880.99/£3000 or 96.03% of my annual spend so I am sticking with a £3000 annual budget for 2026
I also Reverse Meal Plan on that thread and grow much of our own premium price fruit and veg, joining in on the grow your own in 2026 discussion thread
My keep within our budget diary is here1
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 352.9K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.9K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 454.7K Spending & Discounts
- 246K Work, Benefits & Business
- 602.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177.8K Life & Family
- 259.9K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.7K Read-Only Boards