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Fresh Diary for 2025! & Carrying on for 2026

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Comments

  • FootyFanDan
    FootyFanDan Posts: 1,925 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Glad you had a great time, that's one long drive 
  • BlueJ94
    BlueJ94 Posts: 3,208 Ambassador
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Afternoon all,

    So I've been awol and literally lost all track of spending, I've taken out extra loans etc. Ive just been plain stupid.

    Im going to sit down later this evening and set a budget and plan, so I know what's going on and where I currently am with everything. I know I've increased my debt with loans etc, I've got 2 CC with 0% barclays runs out 09/03/26 and Capital which i haven't used at all yet runs out June 26.

    Im going to post every little bit and go from there. Anyone have any useful links to a budget tracker? 
     I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Debt Free Wannabe boards and spending & discounts 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.

    Debt owed;

    Admiral - £0/£8000

    DFW Challenges! 

    PAD #
    365 Day 1p Challenge 2026 #8 £31.65
    Pay off all your debts by Christmas 2026! #14 £74.77/£8000
    Make £2026 in 2026! £390.05/£2026

    Savings goal £91.50/£1000
  • 1stTimer
    1stTimer Posts: 527 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I haven’t used this one myself but it’s a MSE one so may be of help? 
    The 365 Day 1p Challenge 2026 #26 £288.45/£667.95
    Save £12k in 2026 #12 £2910.75/£7500

    Car Loan Dec 25- £14,114.74 (60mth)
                     Jan 26- £9857.07 (42mth)
                     Feb 26- £6438.83 (28mth)
  • BlueJ94
    BlueJ94 Posts: 3,208 Ambassador
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    1stTimer said:
    I haven’t used this one myself but it’s a MSE one so may be of help? 
    Thanks I've just tried to download it on my phone but it comes up with an error so ill get the laptop out now! 
     I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Debt Free Wannabe boards and spending & discounts 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.

    Debt owed;

    Admiral - £0/£8000

    DFW Challenges! 

    PAD #
    365 Day 1p Challenge 2026 #8 £31.65
    Pay off all your debts by Christmas 2026! #14 £74.77/£8000
    Make £2026 in 2026! £390.05/£2026

    Savings goal £91.50/£1000
  • BlueJ94
    BlueJ94 Posts: 3,208 Ambassador
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Morning, i feel like death!! Went to bath christmas market yesterday, it was pretty but way too busy for my liking! 
     I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Debt Free Wannabe boards and spending & discounts 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.

    Debt owed;

    Admiral - £0/£8000

    DFW Challenges! 

    PAD #
    365 Day 1p Challenge 2026 #8 £31.65
    Pay off all your debts by Christmas 2026! #14 £74.77/£8000
    Make £2026 in 2026! £390.05/£2026

    Savings goal £91.50/£1000
  • If 0% until June 2026 I would do the balance transfer quickly and then focus on paying off the high interest card that remains. Hopefully by time 0% ends you will have another offer if not at least you get a break in interest and more goes on the debt itself. 
    *Dad loan - £5300 - £7000
    *Virgin Credit Card - £3552.50 - £0
    *Natwest - £1828.35 -£0.00

    Barclaycard - £2315.25 - £0.00

    Creation Finance - £960.32 £0
    *Total debt - £7000/£11641.17*


    Savings
    *Sinking Fund - £800/£2500
    *Emergency Fund - £1000/£1000


    New diary- https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6474943/the-three-cs-coffee-clothes-credit-cards/
  • BlueJ94
    BlueJ94 Posts: 3,208 Ambassador
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I'm 50/50 on starting a new Diary but this one hasn't had much love, maybe on 1st Jan I will sit down and plan my finances etc.
     I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Debt Free Wannabe boards and spending & discounts 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.

    Debt owed;

    Admiral - £0/£8000

    DFW Challenges! 

    PAD #
    365 Day 1p Challenge 2026 #8 £31.65
    Pay off all your debts by Christmas 2026! #14 £74.77/£8000
    Make £2026 in 2026! £390.05/£2026

    Savings goal £91.50/£1000
  • Nothing wrong in giving yourself a fresh start! I'm staying with mine for now even though I only update it on an ad hoc basis but after looking at the 2025 numbers my budget is getting a total redo for 2026!

    Mortgage: £173,700 Sep 22  £157,700 Feb 26

    MF Date: Sep 52 Mar 52

    CC Debt: £15,250 Nov 25 £9,200 Feb 26

    NSD: Jan: 17/31 | Feb: 12/28

    2026 Challenges:

    MFiT-T7 #5

    DFbyXMAS #7

    Sealed Pot Challenge #022

    2026 Grocery Challenge: 20/01 - 19/02 £132.79/£200

    2026 Grocery Challenge: 20/02 - 19/03 £31.85/£200


  • BlueJ94
    BlueJ94 Posts: 3,208 Ambassador
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Right my fellow internet friends! I need your honest help and advice! 

    I can take a consolidation loan out for £5,800 to clear all my loan debts and combining them into one payment and paying £276 each month. Does anyone agree or disagree etc? 

    Im just looking currently so wanting help and/or advice! As I feel like Im getting no where.
     I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Debt Free Wannabe boards and spending & discounts 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.

    Debt owed;

    Admiral - £0/£8000

    DFW Challenges! 

    PAD #
    365 Day 1p Challenge 2026 #8 £31.65
    Pay off all your debts by Christmas 2026! #14 £74.77/£8000
    Make £2026 in 2026! £390.05/£2026

    Savings goal £91.50/£1000
  • First question, is it unsecured?
    secondly what interest rates are you currently paying and what would this be?
    how do the durations compare?

    Generally I would be wary as I failed twice by doing such a thing and ended up with a significantly increased mortgage.
    Mortgage at 01.01.14 £119,481.83:eek: today £0 Emergency fund £5.5/5.5k & £200/200 cash.:jWeight 24/02/19 14st 7lb now 12st 1lb determined to stop defining myself by my mistakes. Progress not perfection.:T100%through my 1% mortgage challenge. 100% through my pb challenge. I’m not perfect but I’m good enough.
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