We Are Decking the Halls with NSDs December Chall...

[Fae]

NSD 4 for me today

Fae

[The Dragon]

I hope you feel okay today Freeby, more hugs coming your way from me!

[solventsoon]

Originally Posted by freebyfifty

Not a good nights sleep I kept going over and over it in my head. The insurance company are coming to take the car away today and it is touch and go whether it is a write-off or not The lady I hit was lovely, she actually couldn't have been nicer, she said she saw me coming down the hill and knew I had hit ice and couldn't stop She was fine with (to my eyes) very little damage to her car, it looked like I had just knocked a wheel trim off. Thankfully we are all okay, it could have been worse.
Thank you rising

(((hugs))) Freeby, losing control of a car on ice is really frightening. I'm pleased you're all OK albeit shaken up which is understandable. What a lovely lady though, that's quite unusual these days unfortunately.

Hope you can take a day or two off to rest and recover, even though you're not injured physically something like that is a shock and you need to look after yourself and DD2.

Take care (((hugs)))

[suzitiger]

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

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 & 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 )
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....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 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 New York, Edinburgh & Brighton have been a couple & Spoon 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!

[suzitiger]

Gosh it is snowing really heavily 'oop north today. I resisted putting the heating on until just now, my hands are numb and I'm wearing so many layers so on it goes!
Freeby, I hope you are OK today, glad that it was just a little crash but so sorry to hear about how scary it must have been! Glad it was no worse. Big ((((((((HUGS))))))))) to you xxx

[solventsoon]

Originally Posted by ifwisheswerehorses...

Morning all

Brilliant, thanks If, it made me smile

Originally Posted by marmiterulesok

We've had a mixture of snow and rain since Sunday night in the town,so not much snow left.They've forecast more snow at the end of the week.I am glad to have my long sleeved Damart vests and woolly socks though!

marmite, I hope you don't get too much more snow, I bet you are glad of the Damarts

Originally Posted by marmiterulesok

Thanks for the mega update!

It's a pleasure

Originally Posted by marmiterulesok

Hopefully I'll nab no. 4 today.

Fingers crossed

[beanielou]

Oh freeby , so sorry to hear that.
It gives you such a fright.
Take care xxx

[silvasava]

NSD No 3 today please.
Hoped I'd get one yesterday but the bulb went on my sewing machine (only had it about 25 years!!) & needed to get another. Looked round the local shops......but I did get a very nice LBD for a christmas function with 40pct off! Going to bling it up with what I've already got.
Finished the doorway curtain for my utility & mended some old overalls for DH. I got him to get down my fabric stash from the loft when he did the decorations - WOW - I'm going to have to get cracking on some of that - too nice to sit in a poly bag in the loft

freeby so glad you are OK- it does shake you up & I can empathise with that feeling of 'what could have happened' but it DIDN'T and you and the other lady are unhurt

[blindtoast]

Hmmm this month is proving harder than I thought it'd be - little spends keep creeping up on me and I seem to keep losing NSDs because I run out of pet food - this time its the cat - tho I've bought some rabbit food at the same time so it should be a while before I have to buy any more! At least I've stopped buying lunch every day and all the little bits which all added up. don't mind so much if its essential things.

Fingers crossed for tomorrow - don't think I have anything planned so I should be ok - tho thats what i thought yesterday!!

Well done to everyone who is catching their NSDs!

[liltdiddylilt]

Hello all

Just popping in to declare NSD #4

Freeby that is terrifying, very glad you are ok but such bad news about the car.

[young_un]

Just a quickie to report NSD #5 and now 5 in a row yay
Xx

[ModestyB]

Freeby, I'm glad you and your DD weren't hurt. Hope you get good news about the car. Please take care.

NSD 2 for yesterday.

[abundant1972]

Hi everyone... managed another NSD today thanks to some lovely kind people who laid on a free lunch for us... I'm very grateful!!! The Universe rewards us in unexpected ways sometimes!!!

Today = NSD number 4

:rudolf:

[fedupandskint]

NSD 3 for me today - I paid for my haircut using money I drew out yesterday for this after getting a bit of food and the last pressie yesterday

Aiming for NSD tomoz

[freebyfifty]

Thank you to everyone for their thoughts and hugs. You are all lovely
I now have a brand new 62 plate courtesy car sitting at my front door. I won't want to give it back
I had to go to work today because I was at a training event I've had a splitting headache all day that just won't shift but apart from that we are all fine.

Thank you again, you are all truly a brilliant support

[MummyRivett]

Looks like today is #5 NSD can't believe I've held out so long. Half way to my target

[beanielou]

NSD no 5 today.

[laura16]

NSD number 2 for me today

[marmiterulesok]

Originally Posted by freebyfifty

Thank you to everyone for their thoughts and hugs. You are all lovely
I now have a brand new 62 plate courtesy car sitting at my front door. I won't want to give it back
I had to go to work today because I was at a training event I've had a splitting headache all day that just won't shift but apart from that we are all fine.

Thank you again, you are all truly a brilliant support

I hope that the headache disappears soon.Have you taken any analgesics?Could you take a day off tomorrow if you've still got a headache?If it continues,maybe you should see your GP?You might just need a day or two to yourself.
to the 'new' car!

spoon I went out today in my long-sleeved damart vest,cashmere jumper,woollen coat etc. and was too hot after a while!I hadn't worn the long-sleeved vest before,but it makes such a difference.Roll on winter,I'm ready for you!

I also got #4 today.I was going to go to the cinema with a pre-paid ticket,but can't face going out again now.

[rising from the ashes]

Originally Posted by marmiterulesok

spoon I went out today in my long-sleeved damart vest,cashmere jumper,woollen coat etc. and was too hot after a while!I hadn't worn the long-sleeved vest before,but it makes such a difference.Roll on winter,I'm ready for you!

I'm debating with myself whether to buy some more thermals .... I did buy some recently but they were short sleeved, thinner ones for work (where it's a lot warmer than my house!).

I have enough extra thick (long sleeved & bottoms) to do "normally" (ie cover Sat & Sun & dog walks during the week) but being in the house all the time just now, I'm struggling to keep them washed / available to wear.

Looks like I could be stuck in the house a while yet so may have to buy another set


Yesterday wasn't one of my better ones - managed to knock my iron off the shelf in the kitchen yesterday and it smashed (my fault) and I forgot to collect a prescription from the Drs when I had to go to town for an Appt .... meaning I had to drive there again today (8 miles each way) .... *sigh* - memory is like mince just now!

Not doing well on the money saving front this week!

So ... no more NSDs to add yet - will try hard for one tomorrow! (and still not started the C shopping it's looking more & more likely everyone will be getting a bottle from the SM!