This Is Not Another Boring Finance Blog

Real-life money tips for real-life people

If You’re Wondering Where All Your Money’s Going... You’re Not Alone

So… here we are. My very first blog post.

If you’ve landed here, chances are you’re trying to make sense of your money. Maybe you’re earning well, maybe not — but either way, you’re probably wondering why things still feel a bit… off. Like you should be further ahead by now. Or at least less stressed about it all.

I get it. Honestly, I’ve been there too.

I started The UK Money Coach to help people like you feel more calm, confident and clear about their money. Not in a “stop drinking lattes” kind of way — but in a way that actually makes your life better, not smaller.

This blog is where I’ll be sharing real stories, simple tips, and the kind of guidance I wish someone had given me earlier. No jargon. No shame. Just honest conversations about money, life, and how to make both work better for you.

From Almost-Doctor to Accidental Money Coach (Yes, Really)

I’m Vig — founder of The UK Money Coach, a dad, husband, finance professional, and someone who’s taken a slightly winding route through life (and money).

My story doesn’t start with a passion for personal finance. It starts with rejection.

Back in school, my plan was to become a doctor. I had conditional offers in hand, but missed the grades by a whisker. It was gutting at the time. So, in a bit of a panic, I chose to study Biological Cybernetics at university — partly because it sounded impressive, mostly because it reminded me of The Terminator. After only one term in, I realised I had absolutely no idea what I was doing!

I switched to Law. That, at least, felt sensible. I worked hard, graduated with a 2:1 and a distinction in my dissertation… and then spent months unemployed, struggling to land a training contract. Eventually, after some nudging from my mum (who’d always said I should go into accountancy), I joined a Big 4 firm as a graduate trainee in tax.

It was intense, but I loved it. After three tough years, I qualified as a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Advisor. Things were looking up — until the Global Financial Crisis rolled in and I was made redundant. Cue another spell on the dole.

That’s when I pivoted again and entered the world of investment banking. My first job was on the trading floor of a major bank, working closely with traders and reporting their P&L. Over the next 16 years, I built a career managing transformation projects, finance systems, and data — the kind of stuff that makes most people’s eyes glaze over, but which I genuinely enjoy (correction: manage to stay awake through).

From the outside, it probably looked like I had my money sorted. But on a personal level? I hadn’t given it much thought. I was earning well, spending comfortably, and doing what most people do — assuming that everything would just “work out” one day.

That all started to shift when I got married. My wife is naturally frugal, and she started gently questioning some of my spending habits. Not in a controlling or critical way — just with enough curiosity and calm logic to make me pause. It was the first time someone had really gotten through to me. For the first time, I started thinking about money as something I could use intentionally — not just something I earned and spent.

Then, on our honeymoon, I finally picked up the book my mum had bought me years earlier: Rich Dad, Poor Dad. My wife was reading novels on a sun lounger. I was furiously scribbling notes about assets, passive income, and financial freedom. I already knew most of the concepts from work — but somehow I’d never thought to apply them to my own life.

That trip changed everything. I came home with a new mindset and a clear intention: to use my money in a way that gave me choices. To buy freedom, not just stuff.

And when our daughter was born a few years later, the “why” behind it all became crystal clear. I didn’t just want to be good with money for the sake of it. I wanted to create a life where I had time, presence, and peace. A life that wasn’t just financially stable, but joyful and well-balanced.

I Didn’t Mean to Start a Blog About Money… But Here We Are

The UK Money Coach wasn’t born out of a master plan. I didn’t wake up one day with a five-year strategy or a perfectly polished vision. It grew slowly, out of all the little moments I just shared — the nudges, the wake-up calls, the books and breakdowns and realisations.

At first, it was just about getting my own money in order. Trying to be a bit more intentional, a bit less chaotic. Then it became about doing it well. I started seeing the difference it made in my daily life — not just in savings or net worth, but in how I felt. Less stress. Less guilt. More freedom to choose how I spent my time and energy.

Over time, people around me started asking questions. Friends. Colleagues. Clients. Other parents. “How are you managing all this?” “How do you make time for saving?” “Should I invest in a pension or pay off my mortgage?”

So I started sharing what I’d learned — first in conversations, then more formally through coaching. And now, through this blog.

This isn’t a place for financial jargon or spreadsheet flexing. It’s a place for real people who want to manage their money better, with more confidence and less overwhelm. Whether you're earning plenty or just getting by, if you want to feel more in control and more hopeful about your financial future — you’re in the right place.

This Blog Is For You If You’ve Ever Thought, “I Should Have This Figured Out By Now”

You’ve probably done some of the right things already. You earn a decent salary, you might have some savings or even investments, and you’re not exactly reckless with money. But despite that, things still feel tight. Or unorganised. Or just… heavy.

Maybe you’re in a long-term relationship and struggling to get on the same page financially. Maybe you’ve got young kids and feel like you’re constantly choosing between nursery fees and a good night’s sleep. Or maybe you’ve tried budgeting, spreadsheets, or money apps — but they never quite stick, because honestly? You’re tired, busy, and don’t want to feel like a failure every time you overspend by a tenner.

Sound familiar?

I work with people who are smart, capable, and quietly overwhelmed by their money. People who are craving more ease, more clarity, and more alignment between their income and the life they actually want.

This blog is for you if you want to stop feeling guilty, confused, or behind — and instead start feeling confident, supported, and in control.

What You’ll Get (Besides Slightly Better Sleep and Less Financial Stress)

New blog posts will land every couple of weeks — each one focused on helping you manage your money in a way that feels more calm, clear, and aligned with your actual life.

Topics will include:

• Budgeting without burnout

• Talking about money with your partner

• Planning for holidays, school costs and bigger life goals

• Investing for beginners (even if you're not a "finance person")

• Tax tips, emergency funds, pensions, ISAs and more — explained simply

  
  

Each post will give you something practical to take away. A new idea. A mindset shift. A small win you can implement straight away.

Wanna Keep Talking About Money Without Feeling Weird?

If any part of this blog made you feel understood, I’d love for you to stick around.

Subscribe below to let me know that you're interested in getting future posts straight to your inbox — no spam, just real money guidance every fortnight (I'm still working on building this feature out).

Follow me on Instagram @theukmoneycoach for bite-sized tips, stories, and relatable reminders that you're not alone.

Book a free call if you're ready to start working together. Yes, we’ll use spreadsheets — but not for the sake of it. They’re just tools to help you feel more confident, get organised, and live more of your life outside the spreadsheet.

Book a Free Q&A Call

Because managing money shouldn't feel like a full-time job.And you don’t have to figure it all out on your own.