Learning to walk before I run

greent

Ooh - what a lovely, positive round-up for the year! And - yes - it's all about the numbers on here! 

Happy new year to the Edinburgh clan! X

Rhyddid2026

I too love the numbers. I'm visiting from DFW land but I like reading about where I could be in a few years time.
I'm glad you had such a great 2025, here's to a fantastic 2026 🥂

debtfreewannabe321

Nice round up, what a great year for you! And I live for numbers on this forum, it helps to spur me on to reduce some of my numbers and raise others, when I see other people's success!

edinburgher

Thanks all - particularly well done to @Rhyddid2026 on the debt clearing. You don't realise until you're out(ish) of it, but debt is extra pernicious as it means every remaining pound has to work twice as hard! Even reaching zero is a brilliant achievement

I am hiding upstairs as Mrs E introduced DD2 to Hungry Hungry Hippos Making a pie with leftover post-Christmas turkey and ham for dinner, and we have a little of our Christmas caviar waiting to be nommed. That + a free bottle of champers from a box of Virgin wine, and we have a party. 

Going to Edinburgh for National Museum of Scotland, lanterns at the zoo, and a wee hotel overnight tomorrow. It looks baltic! 

£309.63 moved to the Home Maintenance budget thanks to the wonders of virement, no more OPs as I can do better in savings.

*Edit: Had a depressing text from bank to explain that our mortgage DD won't go down until February. Thanks a lot, bank

beanielou

Enjoy your wee break in the capital.

Merlin's_Beard

Definitely another one that loves the numbers - no-one in the real world ever talks about these things and it's nice to put a real context to everything that people do and tangibly see the results and celebrate success!

ladybird1106

Our family loved hungry hippos, in fact we managed to break 2 games through our enthusiasm.
love 🐞

Baileys_Babe

Your reflection on 2025 was lovely to read. I'm another that likes seeing the numbers, they make me reflect on what changes we could/should make.

Enjoy your mini break.

Wishing you and the family a year full of love and happiness 🤗

Suffolk_lass

CMI with the number appreciators - I wasn't sure if I would but I might - I won 5.8% on PBs this year, which is most satisfying. Keeping our Grocery budget at £3000 for 2026 after remarkably coming in under budget for the year, and starting 2026 with no debt. Just the headlines here. Well done ed - lovely positive post. Happy and healthy 2026 to you all

edinburgher

Thank you and happy new year all - well done to @Suffolk_lass for very much beating the PB averages!

Our mini break was very enjoyable. Somewhat expensive but a) Edinburgh and b) holidays. The National Museum of Scotland was overwhelming TBH, loads of child friendly events that had hundreds of children in an albeit wholesome froth of excitement! I spoke to a sibling who regularly attends who shared the belated tip that you really want to be there for opening to avoid the madness... The lanterns at Edinburgh Zoo were fantastic - much much better than I'd have expected for an apparent catchpenny event. We would do it again. The Holiday Inn next to the zoo was a little grim, somewhat made up for by decent food and the generally friendly staff. A 6/10 if ever there was one. The pool existed and the girls burned off some breakfast, but the jacuzzi was out of order and the heating was broken in the changing rooms, which were baltic

Back now and returning to something close to our groove. I picked up some groceries including some bargainous smoked salmon (1.2kg for £7, now wrapped up in 100g foil packages in the freezer). 

Now that the new year has arrived, we're saving a hefty amount each month and I'm not currently OPing, I found myself lacking some of my usual enthusiasm for the Tilly Tidy type projects. I didn't really like the feeling, so have decided that I will redirect these to the Extension budget to keep me focused and full of endorphins It will also help to reduce the average amount to be budgeted very slowly over the next 5 years.

• £228.21 moved from my personal spends account to my cash savings account
• £4.64 to Extension budget
• £2.22 to EF