The October NSD Challenge!

marmiterulesok · 1 October 2017 at 12:29PM

Join in people!It's a great challenge.

marmiterulesok · 1 October 2017 at 12:30PM

Some helpful suggestions and ideas to follow below from our sponsor and godmother, BigMummaF :A

NO SPEND CHALLENGE.

1. Have a good, long think about what YOU want to include in your Spend & Excluded categories.
Some of us count everything from Direct Debits & school expenses, while others do not include things like essential Bills or emergency medical costs. If you plan what is or is not a Spend for you now, it will help you decide on a realistic Target.
2. It is NOT a race!
We all have very different demands on our time & bank balance, so please do not think you have to buy everything on 1st January & make it last till 31st December! A few of us have been following this Challenge for a long...long...LONG time so have developed plans & ploys to help us along the way

3. Most important of all, WE..DO..NOT..FAIL!
Sometimes we can't quite reach our Target, but that is fine

Everyone knows how Life will try to trip us up, & that is when you will find us here to help you back on to your feet.

OK, an idea of how some of us do things.
1. What you will or will not include as a 'Spend'.
Some people are doing other challenges too, & don't include the money spent on those for this one.
Some will try to shop for other bits on the days their direct debits etc go out of their bank accounts; they're the real hard core of the bunch :money: & have been l-o-n-g time NSDers so don't panic

Some won't count those annoying last minute demands from school & collections as you can't plan for them in advance, likewise emergency prescriptions or visits to the vet

Personally speaking & providing I don't buy anything else, I don't count parking for hospital appointments.(..but then I usually do my shopping because I'm already out :whistle:)
General thoughts on €bay sales is the buyer has paid P&P so no cost to you

2. It takes Time to reach mega-numbers!
The First suggestion is the first, because a bit of planning will work wonders on your road to your Target. Have a look at thefirst posts each month for a hefty list of other threads that may be of help. For example, there's a few giving ideas for packed lunches so you can avoid standing in the queue at the bakers for 45mins of your lunch hour! A good incentive to tweak your healthy eating & the pounds you save will show in your bank balance AND your waistline

It helps to have various 'money pots' for the different costs that happen like Scouts, dinner money, yoga, window cleaner etc etc. The idea is you "spend" all that money in one hit by..:think:..let's say **putting the week's bus fares into the pretty coffee jar, Jo's tumble tots [Weds mornings] in the cracked teapot & Ben's £1 coin for the gym locker [Friday lunch] in the pocket of the changing bag, on Tuesdays every week when you've got some change from doing the food shop, so an already spendy day. At least four 'spending days' condensed into one

(**mine's jam jars for windows, milkman & a bit towards the bills!)
3. Any day the money stays in your pocket is a bonus!
If you look at it as a day you beat the system, you can't help but :j so don't fret it--ENJOY! If nothing else in here, we do manage find something to make us smile

We have virtual outings to wonderful places that never cost us a bean :rotfl:New York, Edinburgh & Brighton have been a couple & nargle usually pilots the Tardis but you can use your own transport; my personal favourite has been a sit-on lawn mower borrowed from the cricket club

The only thing to be aware of is Hubert the donkey who is partial to anything remotely edible but is not yet house-trained

And Remember;
there are no silly questions, so don't be afraid to ask us anything!

marmiterulesok · 1 October 2017 at 12:31PM

Here are our lovely prizes:

1st target achieved:

2nd target achieved: [IMG]http://i57.tiny pic.com/2uik5g0.jpg[/IMG]

3rd target achieved:

Target exceeded:

Consolation prize:

Shawn the Shark is here to gently encourage any over eager nsders not to use the 'F' word ie F-a-i-l.....Other deterents include the dreaded soggy paintbrush and a manky kipper breakfast lovingly prepared by Igor.You have been warned....

marmiterulesok · 1 October 2017 at 12:32PM

post your target and i'll add you to the list!

marmite 0/10

marmiterulesok · 1 October 2017 at 12:34PM

Post your target and I'll add you to the list!

The prize:

marmiterulesok 4

jenni_fer · 1 October 2017 at 1:07PM

Need to focus this month, new job means I didn't get paid in September so things are tighter.
Did a food shop yesterday and could do with eating out of the freezer for a bit so going to be ambitious and go for 20.
Exclusions will be (dd's), big food shop x3 and fuel x1, and any Christmas can't-miss bargains.

beanielou · 1 October 2017 at 1:44PM

Thanks for the shiny new thread Marmite.
YOu are a star.

Going for 15 this month.
Things are very very tight this month & I am also saving for a mobilty scooter.
It has taken me a while to get my head round this but needs must sadly.
I am trying to think of a way to do a wee bit of fundraising so any ideas are welcome. Many thanks

Reb2016 · 1 October 2017 at 2:13PM

Thanks for the new thread Marmite, I’m going for 17 this month, and 6 in a row
Reb

[Deleted User] · 1 October 2017 at 2:17PM

Woo hoo, new shiny thread.

Count me in for 10 NSD's again please

Good luck everyone and thanks Marmite xx

bowsandbills · 1 October 2017 at 6:37PM

Hi I would like to join, I have had a few months completely off track and I need to get my DFW mojo back up and running. Put me down for 10 NSDs please

beanielou · 1 October 2017 at 7:13PM

So today was no 1.

The October NSD Challenge!

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