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.
📨 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!
Learning to walk before I run
Comments
-
@Suffolk_lass - think 39% stings? I just received the auto-renewal price from the existing mob who wanted an increase of 173%!!!
5 -
Good grief! If mine is that much I will have to stop insuring I think. We could not afford £5k for insuranceSave £12k in 2026 #2 I have banked £9004.48 so far, against a £10k target The 2026 Save £12k in 2026 thread is here
OS Grocery Challenge in 2026 I am sticking with a £3000 annual budget for 2026 - currently £1111.79 and most of my May purchasing made
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 here6 -
Those kind of price increases are bonkers!
Well done on the OP. Are you still splitting new income between OP, Sipp and savings?Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £167.4K Equity 38% 3/4/26
2) £2.1K Net savings after CCs 14/5/26 (but owed £1.3K) so £3.4K
3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £42.5K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.7K) = 48.8K of £127.5K target 38.3% 24/5/26 (If took bigger lump sum = 71.K or 55.9%)
4) FI Age 60 income target min £17.1/30K 57% (may need more) If bigger lump sum £15.8/30K 52.67%
5) SIPP £5.7K updated 29/5/264 -
Ouch to the car insurance hike. I sold my London car once I moved a mile north in London and my car insurance hiked 500%!! Just a change in postcode - nothing more
DON'T BUY STUFF (from Frugalwoods)
No seriously, just don’t buy things. 99% of our success with our savings rate is attributed to the fact that we don’t buy things... You can and should take advantage of discounts.... But at the end of the day, the only way to truly save money is to not buy stuff. Money doesn’t walk out of your wallet on its own accord.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6289577/future-proofing-my-life-deposit-saving-then-mfw-journey-in-under-13-years#latest6 -
@savingholmes - not really - I suppose "new income" is what now constitutes the pittance that is adult pocket money
OPs are £3/day (paid monthly), savings is c. £150/mth and no SIPP payments. There is a small amount going into LISA (say £20-30) from overtime6 -
Work is pretty torrid at the moment, unlikely to be any interesting jobs on the horizon until the New Year. I should probably consider casting my net wider to include non- public sector. Had a bit of a wobble last night and bought 4 lottery tickets
It's ok (mentioning it here and said to Mrs E because there's nowt worse than hidden gambling) but it was £8 I could ill afford. It's funny how gambling affects us when we're down in the dumps! 1/2 an hour 'til the weekend 
8 -
Hi Ed, we too have had a month of going backwards; pensions and s&s ISA are our culprits, commiserations CM8
-
- Blech! Failed my first ever attention check in a Y Live survey and screened out of 2 others (since yesterday).
- Nothing doing on Prolific and £15 of earnings taking ages to clear.
- £7.50 gummint bonus paid into my LISA and invested (overtime contribution from 2? wages ago).
- Looks like I am getting a (forced) 6.05% pay rise after COSLA voted to enforce a pay deal that my union rejected and is involved in industrial action over. Backdated money will be nice but it's a **** move and suspect strikes will get worse now
Did 2 hours of gardening (cut the grass at the front, strimmed some rather large weeds and cut back honeysuckle and holly that had spread about a metre further than it should have). Second last gardening of the year - will cut back the big honeysuckle next to the front steps and give the large side border a massive spray of weedkiller to target the horsetail.Not got big plans for the weekend but there will be good eating. Roast beef cured with shio koji tonight and the first shot of our new fondue set tomorrow Planning fondue, wood burner in the back garden and hot chocolate for Guy Fawkes. Tried to get sparklers but rarer than hen's teeth around here.7 - Blech! Failed my first ever attention check in a Y Live survey and screened out of 2 others (since yesterday).
-
£6.26 sent from ZipZero to eight-limbed mollusc It all helps.
Did 2 hours overtime at 1.5x pay this morning, c. £72 before deductions 8 -
A pay rise helps even if you'd like more. I appreciate it's hard with the impending mortgage increase.
Well done on the overtime. Commiserations on the surveys.
Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £167.4K Equity 38% 3/4/26
2) £2.1K Net savings after CCs 14/5/26 (but owed £1.3K) so £3.4K
3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £42.5K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.7K) = 48.8K of £127.5K target 38.3% 24/5/26 (If took bigger lump sum = 71.K or 55.9%)
4) FI Age 60 income target min £17.1/30K 57% (may need more) If bigger lump sum £15.8/30K 52.67%
5) SIPP £5.7K updated 29/5/266
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 354.9K Banking & Borrowing
- 254.6K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 455.6K Spending & Discounts
- 247.7K Work, Benefits & Business
- 604.7K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 178.7K Life & Family
- 262.3K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.7K Read-Only Boards