Flying solo

twiggy86

Ok, so I thought I'd do a separate post for a bit of annual round up of how 2025 has gone...

Let's start with the debt... I've paid £3,505 off my debt this year - which equates to 23% of the total starting debt. Meaning I've paid £10,300 off altogether, or 66%. At the start of the year I had set the target of paying off £5,000 over the course of the year - but this year has taken many twists and turns and my approach changed. OH losing his dad (and then subsequently his mum) and us getting engaged meant he was insistent on me paying the minimums and then him clearing my debt when his inheritance comes through. Neither of his parents had savings, so this is in the form of OH's share of their properties when they sell. So this has meant that since August I have only been paying small amounts towards my debt. 

However, despite paying various amounts towards the wedding already, I currently have just over £7k in the bank! So if I completely wiped out my savings, I could clear the debt entirely! Those savings are a mix of emergency fund (currently have £1,500), wedding/ house move savings (£2,120) and then various sinking funds (including the pooch who has £900 saved towards any vet emergencies). Oh and I'm also nearly at the end of the Monzo challenge where it saves a penny more each day, leading to a total of £667 saved at the end! This will be shuffled towards house move savings when it completes (I was debating what to use it for but seems like it's timed the end perfectly!) Christmas has been paid for out of the sinking pot I've been adding to over the year, so that is all covered! 

So although I was a long way off my target, overall I feel in a good financial position to deal with the coming year! I do feel like I need to reign in my spending slightly, as have definitely got more frivolous and get back to being focussed to have as much savings as possible to deal with the upcoming expenses. Will have the benefit of the pay rise from the end of January and then at some point later in 2026 I will FINALLY finish paying back my student loan! 

Sarahwithlove

Sounds like you are going to have a wonderful 2026 and be in a much better and happier place financially and in life. Congratulations on the house, fingers crossed for a smooth house sale. 

liselle

Well done, you’re doing brilliantly! Excited for you for the future.

satchmo1

You've done amazingly well, and should be rightly proud of yourself! 2026 will be Twiggy's year.