The "Just Keep Swimming" July NSD Thread

freebyfifty · 20 June 2013 at 7:12AM

Welcome to the July No Spend Day (NSD) thread!!

We are a happy (and some might say mildly insane) bunch doing battle with those retailers - and there’s plenty of temptation out there at the moment. We are seriously committed to saving money, but nobody said it can't be done with a smile on your face - so we organise riotous nights out and gatecrash any function going - all without leaving the comfort of our own imaginations or armchairs!

On a slightly more serious note, we are here to help each other avoid spending for the number of days we feel we can manage to try to take back some control over our hard-earned money. What you class as a "spend'" is entirely your choice; some people will try to shop on the days DD/SO etc are paid, whilst others will not include essentials such as rent. Have a look for a post from our sponsor (and godmother of this challenge) BigMummaF, this contains some guidelines and ideas for starting you off on the challenge.

It’s amazing how inventive you get when you’re determined NOT to spend - from weird menu ingredients to surprising DIY solutions - but you know what? 99% of the time those wacky ideas work.

Link to last month's challenge is below so any newcomers can see what we get up to (hmmmmm... on second thoughts, that might put you off...)

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=4623419

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freebyfifty · 20 June 2013 at 7:12AM

I am afraid that I haven't been very imaginative with the prizes this month - sorry. Enjoying a nice cold drink in the hot July sunshine is the theme (fingers crossed)

1st Target Met bth_bud_zps61efdd2b.gif?t=1371709187

2nd Target Met bth_03-wine_zpscfd1b242.gif?t=1371709432

3rd Target Met bth_drink45_zps39f2568d.gif?t=1371709286

Target Exceeded bth_co91_zpsb116626a.gif?t=1371709260

The July Challengers

Allie23 – 15/6
Beanielou – 14/14 Target Met 2nd Target Met 16/16 Target Exceeded 16/17
Beach-holiday – 10/2
Bottleofred – 14/14 Target MetTarget Exceeded 14/16
Busybumble – 12/4
Cally – 8/
Candlewick – 14/14 Target Met
Cardi80 – 10/10 Target MetTarget Exceeded 10/11
Charleybear - 15/1
Debtfreefuture – 15/15 Target Met
Evertheoptimist – 12/10
Exharris – 3/3 Target Met
Fedup – 20/20 Target Met 2nd Target Reached 27/27
Flowerofscotland – 12/12 Target Met Target Exceeded 12/13
Freeby – 15/15 Target Met 2nd Target Reached 19/20
Gettingthere – 12/12 Target Met
Hanb – 7/3
Headabove – 14/9
Helyonnaise – 15/8
Heyjude – 14/1
Hummingbird – 5/
If – 17/17 Target Met
Jaxsmar – 12/11
Jedsonack – 15/
Jelly biactol – 15/15 Target Met
Kathy40uk – 12/7
Kerri – 14/14 Target Met Target Exceeded 14/18
Kirstybean – 9/
Knit Witch – 10/10 Target Met 2nd Target Met 20/20 3rd Target Reached 22/22Target Exceeded 22/23
Lilian1977 – 14/11
Liltdiddy – 15/5
Lizzie Bennet – 15/12
Lovefull – 15/15 Target MetTarget Exceeded 15/17
Lurkerderp – 7/7 Target Met 7/11 Target Exceeded
Marmite – 18/18 Target Met
Mismatch -15/13
MissE - 15/15 Target Met
ModestyB – 10/10 Target Met 10/18 Target Exceeded
Motoko – 12/9
Muffin Man – 15/12
Nargle – 15/15 Target Met
Oodnood – 22/5
Purplesarah – 20/3
Sazzie – 23/23 Target Met
Shellyosborne – 10/2
Slowlyfading – 17/17 Target Met
Sparkles – 20/
Spoony – 15/15 Target Met 15/26 Target Exceeded
Stripeygirl – 10/10 Target Met Target Exceeded 10/12
Suzitiger – 12/9
Tiggy – 15/14
Wildcherry – 15/15 Target MetTarget Exceeded 15/16
Zenshi – 20/4

freebyfifty · 20 June 2013 at 7:13AM

Just in case we need it

freebyfifty · 20 June 2013 at 7:14AM

This is for anyone who wants to set themselves a target for a number of NSDs in a row. We had some impressive numbers on this over the past few months so if anyone would like to have a go at this, I'll add you here

The In-a-Row'ers

Bottleofred - 3-in-a-row Target Met
Busybumble - 3-in-a-row
Candlewick - 4-in-a-row Target Met
Heyjude - 4-in-a-row
Jaxsmar - 4-in-a-row
JellyB - 3-in-a-row Target Met 4-in-a-row 5-in-a-row 6-in-a-row 7-in-a-row
Knit witch - 3-in-a-row Target Met
Lilian1977 - 3-in-a-row Target Met
Liltdiddy - 3-in-a-row
Lizzie Bennet - 3-n-a-row
Lovefull - 3-in-a-row Target Met
Marmite - 4-in-a-row Target Met 5-in-a-row
Muffin Man - 5-in-a-row Target Met
Oodnood - 5-n-a-row
Purplesarah - 7-in-a-row
Sazzie - 5-in-a-row
Zenshi - 4-in-a-row

freebyfifty · 20 June 2013 at 7:14AM

Hi lovely NSD gang:A
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 :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

& 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 SIZE=2]Weds mornings[/SIZE in the cracked teapot & Ben's £1 coin for the gym locker SIZE=2]Friday lunch[/SIZE 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 & 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!

kirstybean · 20 June 2013 at 9:32AM

Hey, can I join July's challenge? Gonna aim for 9 NSDs in July. Work are putting me up in a hotel and paying for food at the min so hopefully I can achieve (or even better, beat) this target

The_Dragon · 20 June 2013 at 10:32AM

Hmm away for a bit in July so I will try for 10 and 3 in a row please!

Jelly_Biactol · 20 June 2013 at 10:34AM

My July targets are

15 NSDs

and

3-in-a-row

HeadAboveWater · 20 June 2013 at 11:24AM

Thanks for the new thread

No idea if we will have any sort of summer weather in July, and no idea if I'll manage to get away for a holiday (still! :mad:), so may as well aim for my 14 days please

Aim for the moon, and even if you miss you'll land among the stars

Have a great month everyone!

lilian1977 · 20 June 2013 at 11:42AM

Hi - I will join this month please. Target 14 days, with 3 in a row.

IF · 20 June 2013 at 1:58PM

Another big thank you to Freeby, Spoon, Marmite, Cheryl and Sazzie for keeping us all in line :A

Please put me down for 17 NSD's

Thank you
IF

The "Just Keep Swimming" July NSD Thread

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