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

[ifwisheswerehorses...]

Originally Posted by freebyfifty

Hi lovely NSD gang
As you can see there is lots of activity on this challenge at the moment and it's difficult sometimes to see how many NSDs you're all declaring on posts.
Could I ask you to highlight your number of NSDs in a colour and in bold so that I can see them easily when I whizz through the posts - red would be best but I don't really mind as long as I can see the numbers easily.

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!

[ifwisheswerehorses...]

Big Thank you to Freeby for doing December's NSD thread xx





Thanks to all who do the updates too, you are all stars

Could you put me down for 15 NSD's please

Thank you
IF...x

[choppy34]

Hello

This will be m first challenge so am keeping it achievable!

Put me down for 9 NSD with 3 in a row

Good luck everyone x

[phoenix_dragon]

Hi, please can I sign up for 20 NSDs? I'm going to be more successful in December than November, if only because I barely have a penny to my name.

[laura16]

Can you put me down for 10 NSD, thought I would go for 10 seen as I haven't had a go before but my new years resolution is to sort money out and get fit so thought i better get into some good habits now

[HeadAboveWater]

Please don't laugh, but sign me up for 10 NSDs. AGAIN!!!!!!!

Maybe next month I'll actually hit target. Third time lucky and all that

[Piquant]

Please may I sign up for 15 NSDs and 3 in a row. Not sure how easy it will be in December, but I'll give it go...

[The Dragon]

A starter of 10 and 4 in a row please

[Lucyv]

Hi, I've never done this before so would like to start with 5 NSDs please

[Rainbow Chaser]

Hi

I'm new to all this but keen to get started - please put me down for

10 NSD in total, 3 in a row

Thanks!

[artnoble]

I want to join in

It will be a tough month for me so I'm going to start with10 days

[liltdiddylilt]

Hello all

First time I have tried this. With the help of my little accounting app on my phone, I may even be able to count up how many NSD's I have actually had in December...

Please put me down for 20 NSD's and 4 in a row!!

Good luck everyone

[stardrops42]

Hi all

Can I go for 10 NSD's and 3 in a row. I love a challenge

[beanielou]

Massive thanks to freeby & all those good enough to do the updates
Prizes are fabarooni.

Im going to sign up for 11 this month.
We are in the email this week

[p0lly]

Hello all can I have 20 NSD for december please I think I am going NSD crazy. P0lly x

[CandyCupcake]

Hi

Can I put myself forward for 20 NSDs please

Candy
x

[EverTheOptimist]

Hi Freeby

I'd like to come back and have another go after being awol in November please.

I will go for 10 please, will try and be more organised and achieve more NSD's and post more regularly.

I guess it will still come down to whether i actually fancy the food i have in or whether i have to buy my meals daily. I'm hoping baby will settle soon, i keep being told it gets easier in the 2nd trimester, well at 15 weeks it hasnt happened yet.

Good luck everyone.

[JAMIEDODGER]

Can I be put down for 20 NSD for December please x

[freebyfifty]

Good Morning

Everyone so far has been added to the front pages. Good luck to us all and welcome to all the newbies - you are gonna be addicted in no time. As usual check I have got you right (it is very early in the morning )

I am going for my usual20 NSDS but with 7-in-a-row


Thank you for all the thank yous and I'm glad you like the snowmen. It is always a relief when you like the prizes

Have a great hump day

[Munchin]

Morning everyone,
Please put me down for 8 NSDs this month and 3 in a row