2025: A Year in Review
A Year of Growth and Learning
Continuing my annual tradition, it is time for another year in review. I like doing these because they provide a structured way for me to acknowledge my accomplishments and identify the lessons learned over the past twelve months.
Professional Evolution: Navigating Change at Moneyhub
The start of 2025 was a period of uncertainty. Moneyhub underwent a series of redundancies, which naturally led to concerns regarding job security. It was difficult to see many talented colleagues depart, and the atmosphere was undoubtedly challenging.
However, since that period of restructuring, the company has gone from strength to strength. The focus has shifted towards profitability and sustainable scaling. As we remain in the startup phase, the goal is to reach profitability by the end of the 2026 financial year. I am grateful to have remained with the team to contribute to this next chapter.
Expanding my Technical Skillset
A major highlight this year was the opportunity to build my first React Native app. I have detailed the technical hurdles and triumphs of this experience in my previous post, React Native for Frontend Developers: What I Wish I’d Known. Building an internal application from scratch was a steep learning curve, but one that has significantly broadened my development capabilities.
I also built a bunch of fun new playground projects which you can see by taking a look here. We've got some liquid thermometers, a new charades generator (literally just posted) and a few other fun projects as well as my first invoice generator which was immensely popular.
Freelance Growth
Parallel to my full-time role, I have focused on expanding my freelance business. It has been a successful year for client acquisition, with several new projects added to my projects page. My objective for 2026 is to continue this on a similar scale, taking on more projects and growing my business.
Personal Milestones and Reflections
2025 Highlights
On a personal level, the year was filled with a few holidays. Ross and I visited Budapest and spent a relaxing period in Kos, enjoying the exceptional weather and hospitality. We also took the time to explore more of the UK, visiting York, Cambridge, and Oxford. As I hadn't visited these cities before, it was a wonderful opportunity to immerse myself in their history and architecture.
At home, the cats are doing well. Amber was diagnosed with stage 2 kidney disease earlier this year, which was a worry. However, after a successful transition to a specialised diet, she is back to her usual self. Meanwhile, Maisey remains as relaxed as ever, usually found asleep on her heated mat.
2025 Lowlights
While much of the year was positive, I also faced some difficult professional lessons in the freelance space. I made mistakes regarding the boundary between friendship and management—a distinction that is vital for long-term success. While these moments were uncomfortable, they provided the most significant growth. True development rarely happens within one's comfort zone.
Reviewing my 2025 Objectives
In my 2024 wrap-up, I set out four key goals. Here is how they progressed:
| Goal | Status | Reflection |
|---|---|---|
| 3D Web Development | In Progress | I still want to master Three.js, but other priorities took precedence. |
| Internal Design System | Paused | Company direction changed, so this is currently on hold. |
| New Web Technologies | Achieved | AI tools and React Native have pushed my boundaries significantly. |
| Gym Momentum | Maintained | It is now a firm habit, though frequency fluctuated this year. |
While I didn't tick everything off the list, the progress made in React Native and general web development has been substantial.
Looking Ahead: Goals for 2026
For the coming year, I am focusing on a mix of lifestyle improvements and professional consistency:
- Travel further: Continuing to explore new destinations and cultures.
- Physical Strength: Transitioning my fitness focus to becoming a kettlebell queen.
- Health: Prioritising consistent weight loss and nutritional discipline.
- Logistics: Upgrading to a new car.
- Creative Technology: Finally dedicating consistent time to 3D web development and continuing to build fun projects to showcase my skills.
- ???: To be revealed...
Some of these might be a little far fetched, but I'm going to give it a go!
In the meantime I wish you all a happy and healthy new year and I hope to see you all in 2026!