2026 Mortgage-Free Wannabes

julicorn

MFW 2026 - The annual challenge for everyone who would like to track their mortgage overpayments, mortgage payments, or even house-related savings. Feel free to join any time throughout the year.

A very warm welcome to the Mortgage Free Wannabe 2026 thread!

Over the last few years, this challenge has been providing support for everyone who wants to overpay their mortgage, whether it is by a big or small amount. Every little helps, and together we have been overpaying a fantastic amount of money every year over the last few years (even during the pandemic, cost of living crisis and everything else that's been going on in the world - well done everyone!)
Whether you're a brand new mortgage free wannabe, a veteran on the final stretch of the long slog, or someone who has cleared the mortgage and wants to provide some help and encouragement for others, this is for you. The challenge runs from January 1st-December 31st 2026, and you can join or change your target at any time up until December 31st 2026. And if you're expecting to be mortgage-free before then, you're still very welcome. Likewise if you're saving towards something house-related (extension, new OP allowance, etc.).

SPREADSHEET
See how we are all doing on the big MFW 2026 spreadsheet HERE. 

Links to previous challenges are here:

• 2025 mfw
• 2024 mfw
• 2023 mfw
• 2022 mfw
• 2021 mfw
• 2020 mfw
  
• 2019 mfw
  
• 2018 mfw
  
• 2017 mfw
  
• 2016 mfw
  
• 2015 mfw
  
• 2014 mfw
  
• 2013 mfw

TO JOIN
If you've participated in the last few years, please post in this thread by the end of December 2025 saying that you want to take part again and what your goal is for this year. Please also let me know whether you would like to keep your number or whether you don't mind. For everyone who's given an update in the last 6 months, I've reserved your 2025 number for now (unless you paid off your mortgage entirely, in which case well done again!).

For all the new participants, please post on the thread and I will allocate you a number - numbers will be first come, first served.

Bear in mind that the challenge runs for the 2026 calendar year when setting your target. You're welcome to track total payments, overpayments, savings, etc. - whatever motivates you!

UPDATES
To provide progress updates and/or change your target, just post on the thread - I will 'thank' posts when I pick up the update. I do make mistakes from time to time, so if I miss an update or get it wrong then please let me know.

A few requests from me to make keeping track easier:

• When providing updates, please include your MFW2026 number and the month(s) you are updating
• Multiple overpayments in a month are fine and most certainly encouraged, but it will really (really, really) help me if you include a monthly total when reporting updates (e.g. ...another OP of £200, which makes £600 in total for April...)
  
• It's fine to miss a month or two and then provide updates for several months if you prefer, but please make it clear what you want allocating where.
  
• It is helpful for me if you keep a running total for the year in your update post and/or your signature as I can cross-check the spreadsheet against your overall total, but this isn't required at all.

Updates also don't have to be limited to just your stats - a bit of chat and encouragement can be hugely motivating.

Finally: If you spot any mistakes, let me know, and I'll try and fix them ASAP. Similarly, if you have any requests for additional stats/features for the spreadsheet, let me know, and I'll see what can be done.

Jemma01

Is it ok if I take #44, please? I was #46.

Goal will be 50K this year too please.

turtlemoose

As my rate is going up, i won't be able to afford OPs next year, so you can release #20 . Good luck everyone! 

julicorn

Jemma01 said:

Is it ok if I take #44, please? I was #46.

Goal will be 50K this year too please.

Sure thing - #44 is all yours! Thanks for taking part again. 

turtlemoose said:

As my rate is going up, i won't be able to afford OPs next year, so you can release #20 . Good luck everyone! 

Thanks for letting me know, that's really helpful. We look forward to welcoming back whenever you can and want to re-join  

Jemma01

julicorn said:

Jemma01 said:

Is it ok if I take #44, please? I was #46.

Goal will be 50K this year too please.

Sure thing - #44 is all yours! Thanks for taking part again. 
 

❤️ Thanks to you for running this, it's been very motivational riding the journey to freedom with everyone 🤗

carboot_karaoke

Hi  @julicorn thank you so much for running this thread.  

I would like to join again please with my existing number #31.

If all goes according to plan we should be credit neutral (our happy place)  with only 6k remaining by June 2026. 

To achieve this l think we will need to OP by £17,500 

seventh88

Hi @julicorn I can't quite believe it's getting close to the end of the year and we're looking at 2026. This year has been my first of joining the MFW challenge and it's been so useful and successful for me - thank you so much for running it. I'd love to join again next year, please keep my number (#39) and my goal is £3600. 

Sammie_1985

Hi @julicorn can I join for 2026 please? This will be my first year so any number is fine. My goal will be £7000. Thank you! 

longestgame

Hi @julicorn, thank you so much for running this challenge. As a first timer last year, it has been super helpful. We are only at the start of our mortgage journey, but it all helps. Very grateful for all your work on this and your encouragement towards everyone. 

I was #34, and would love to sign up for another £6000 for 2026, please. 

Hettyhound

Number 21 signing up again.  I would like a target of £5,500 please.  This should see me in a single £K starting number towards the end of 2026 which is a great motivator 😁

stuartp2000

Thanks for all the efforts on running the @Julicorn, I had a good start to the 2025 challenge but emergency fund took some hits so had to focus on that.

But back at it in 2026 albeit a smaller and realistic target, but one I will endeavour to hit with all the small monthly savings and cash backs etc.

#06 with a target of 2,500