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!

All change for 2025

13031333536153

Comments

  • EssexHebridean
    EssexHebridean Posts: 24,556 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Oh I keep meaning to look at The Island - although it needs a time when I will concentrate properly on it due to the subtitles!

    I went right back to the beginning on Casualty a while ago - the early seasons are available via various TV channels now as “classic Casualty” - wuite good fun harking back to characters who I loved at the time but had forgotten, and also seeing where now household names popped up early in their careers. Another oldie but goodie for me is Spooks which I loved and have re-watched a couple of times, plus you get gr bonus of Rupert Penry-Jones and then Richard Armitage! 😆 We also watched Line of Duty way later than everyone else seemed to have done and loved that too. 

    Great that it appears the news on your job is good - and yes to enjoying some peace too - although I don’t have small people around MrEH does have a tendency to have the TV on most evenings so sometimes it really is nice just to sit in the quiet. 
    🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
    Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
    Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
    Balance as at 31/08/25 = £ 95,450.00
    £100k barrier broken 1/4/25
    SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculator
    she/her
  • beanielou
    beanielou Posts: 96,396 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Academoney Grad Mortgage-free Glee!
    Great pad. 
    I am a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Mortgage Free Wannabe & Local Money Saving Scotland & Disability Money Matters. If you need any help on those boards, do let me know.Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any post 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 & not the official line of Money Saving Expert.

    Lou~ Debt free Wanabe No 55 DF 03/14.**Credit card debt free 30/06/10~** MFW. Finally mortgage free O2/ 2021****
    "A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of" Jane Austen in Mansfield Park.

    ***Fall down seven times,stand up eight*** ~~Japanese proverb.
    ***Keep plodding*** Out of debt, out of danger. ***Be the difference.***
    One debt remaining. Home improvement loan.
  • jwil
    jwil Posts: 22,349 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Oh I keep meaning to look at The Island - although it needs a time when I will concentrate properly on it due to the subtitles!

    I went right back to the beginning on Casualty a while ago - the early seasons are available via various TV channels now as “classic Casualty” - wuite good fun harking back to characters who I loved at the time but had forgotten, and also seeing where now household names popped up early in their careers. Another oldie but goodie for me is Spooks which I loved and have re-watched a couple of times, plus you get gr bonus of Rupert Penry-Jones and then Richard Armitage! 😆 We also watched Line of Duty way later than everyone else seemed to have done and loved that too. 

    Great that it appears the news on your job is good - and yes to enjoying some peace too - although I don’t have small people around MrEH does have a tendency to have the TV on most evenings so sometimes it really is nice just to sit in the quiet. 
    I love going back to old favourites, it's nice revisiting.  DH has some of the Spooks series on DVD though I've never watched it.  I've not seen Line of Duty either, so all sound good!

    Yes, fingers crossed I'm ok now, just waiting for the final confirmation.  

    beanielou said:
    Great pad. 
    Thank you :)
    "Good financial planning is about not spending money on things that add no value to your life in order to have more money for the things that do". Eoin McGee
  • savingholmes
    savingholmes Posts: 29,057 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I thought Spooks was really well made but got too invested and then couldn't watch it... 
    Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
    1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £172.5K Equity 36.11%
    2) £1.8K Net savings after CCs 13/9/25
    3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £26.8K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.2K) = 32.6/£127.5K target 25.6% 13/9/25
    (If took bigger lump sum = 54.5K or 42.7%)
    4) FI Age 60 income target £17.1/30K 57% (if mortgage and debts repaid - need more otherwise)
    (If bigger lump sum £15.8/30K 52.67%)
    5) SIPP £4.8K updated 13/9/25
  • Sarahwithlove
    Sarahwithlove Posts: 3,406 Forumite
    Seventh Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I struggled to get into spooks, don't know if it's because I'm watching it many years later. 
    *Dad loan - £5300 - £7200
    *Virgin Credit Card - £3552.50 - £0
    *Natwest - £1828.35 -£0.00

    Barclaycard - £2315.25 - £0.00

    Creation Finance - £960.32 £840
    *Total debt - £8040/£11641.17*


    Savings
    *Savings Buffer - £100/£1500
    *Emergency Fund - £1500/£1500


    New diary- https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6474943/the-three-cs-coffee-clothes-credit-cards/
  • ladyholly
    ladyholly Posts: 4,004 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I loved Spooks except what I think was the first episode. The one with the chip fryer which still makes me shiver if I think of it. 
  • jwil
    jwil Posts: 22,349 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I thought Spooks was really well made but got too invested and then couldn't watch it... 
    I struggled to get into spooks, don't know if it's because I'm watching it many years later. 
    ladyholly said:
    I loved Spooks except what I think was the first episode. The one with the chip fryer which still makes me shiver if I think of it. 
    Ooh I'm getting intrigued :D 
    "Good financial planning is about not spending money on things that add no value to your life in order to have more money for the things that do". Eoin McGee
  • Spendywendywoo
    Spendywendywoo Posts: 282 Forumite
    100 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    I’ve been a lurker for a while and have read most of your diary, I just want to say how amazing you’re doing with your PAD! 😀
    Mortgage (MFD 04/2053) (Jan 25) £238,983.71. Overpayment set to £200 per month. Current: £235,066.98
    Car Balloon Payment £12,243.60, due Nov 25. Saved £10,800 (88%), £1,443.60 (12%) remaining

    2025 goals:
    23 / 25 books
    5 / 24lbs lost
    £1000 / £1000 EF 

    DFW Diary: Spendy Wendy to Saver Savvy — MoneySavingExpert Forum
  • jwil
    jwil Posts: 22,349 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I’ve been a lurker for a while and have read most of your diary, I just want to say how amazing you’re doing with your PAD! 😀
    Aww thank you :)  That's really kind.  Don't feel you need to be a lurker, and well done for getting through my waffle!
    "Good financial planning is about not spending money on things that add no value to your life in order to have more money for the things that do". Eoin McGee
  • jwil
    jwil Posts: 22,349 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    PAD (Payment a Day)

    Today's PAD - £5

    Jan - £73
    "Good financial planning is about not spending money on things that add no value to your life in order to have more money for the things that do". Eoin McGee
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 351.9K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.5K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 454.1K Spending & Discounts
  • 244.9K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 600.3K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177.4K Life & Family
  • 258.6K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.