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2026 - consolidation and calm
jwil
Posts: 23,270 Forumite
I've decided to start a fresh diary for 2026.
2025 was a bit of a rollercoaster year for us:
I feel that I'd like 2026 to be a year of calm and consolidation. Hopefully we can continue to build on all the great progress we've made in the last few years.
In 2026 I'd like to:
2025 was a bit of a rollercoaster year for us:
- My post being put forward for redundancy at the end of 2024, though it was then reinstated thankfully
- Restructure at work meaning many great colleagues (and loads of knowledge) going
- DH's redundancy at work, then finding a new job
- My car dying whilst we were on holiday in Wales
- DH's car being written off just before Christmas
- Little jwil fracturing his wrist, followed by a full on arm break needing pinning 5 weeks later
- Little miss ASD/ADHD diagnosis, plus some struggles at school.
I feel that I'd like 2026 to be a year of calm and consolidation. Hopefully we can continue to build on all the great progress we've made in the last few years.
In 2026 I'd like to:
- Continue making a Payment a Day (PAD) to savings and debt
- Continue to reduce my car debt
- Increase savings
- Reduce fritter spends
- Overpay mortgage
- Continue decluttering
- Continue weight loss and improving fitness
- Continue working towards early retirement or at least reducing hours at 55 (7 years)
- Read plenty of books
- Get plenty of time at the seaside
- Enjoy plenty of quality time with family/friends
- Embrace slower living
"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
16
Comments
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Carried over from 2025:PAD (Payment a Day)
Today's PAD - £2
Jan - £129
Feb - £63
Mar - £103
Apr - £149
May - £79
June - £145
July - £157
Aug - £81
Sept - £268
Oct - £83
Nov - £100
Dec - £151Car balance Sept 25 - £11,031 - now £8,853
PAD total for 2025 - £1508! That's an average of £125 a month
"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 McGee6 -
2025 Declutter totals:
Magazines/papers: 154
Other: 1380Total: 1534
Ebay listings: 191
Ebay parcels: 163Survey/other earnings:
Amazon: £25
Paypal/cash: £201.62
Other vouchers:£0"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 McGee4 -
Happy new diary and wishing you a Happy and prosperous New Year.1
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You can’t get away that easily 🤣 Happy new diary and here’s to a fabulous 2026 🥳I get knocked down but I get up again (Chumbawamba, Tubthumping)1
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Still following and lurking
LTotal Debt Dec 07 £59875.83 Overdrafts £2900,New Debt Figure ZERO !!!!!!:j 08/06/2013
Lucielle's Daring Debt Free Journey
DFD Before we Die!!!! Long Haul Supporter #1241 -
Ha, was just reading your old diary and was wondering if you would change the title of it to 2026. Subscribed and will continue to follow your journey.:j Debtfree and and staying that way.:j3-6 month emergency fund, No.61 £140.001
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Happy shiny new diary. Will follow you on your journey.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.
One debt remaining. Home improvement loan. 20 months left.1 -
Happy New shiny 2026 diary.
"My Life Is About The Journey Not The Destination"1 -
Happy new diary @jwil, looking forward to following your continued brilliant progress in all areashttps://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6466032/an-in-between-phase/p1
'self-blame can be as egotistical as self-praise... any work worth doing is greater than we are... we must not overrate our importance to it, either for good or ill' Margaret Kennedy Lucy Carmichael1 -
Happy new diary jwil 😊 I look forward to seeing your Pads in 2026❤️Mum 2018
0% credit card £1360 & 0% Car Loan £7500 ~ paid in full JAN 2020 = NOW DEBT FREE 🤗
House sale OCT 2022 = NOW MORTGAGE FREE 🤗
House cash purchase completed FEB 2023 🥳🍾 & left work. 🤗
Retired at 55 & now living off the equity £10k a year
❤️Dad 2025
Previous Savings diary https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5597938/get-a-grip/p1
Living off savings diary
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6429003/escape-to-the-country-living-off-savings/p11
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