Out with the old, in with the new: the January NSD challenge

Sunnylooloo

Sorry very very quick pop in... and to add 13 in total so far Spoony.

Apologies for not having time to chatch up with everyone!!

xx

IF

Bumping BigMamma’s and Spoon’s posts x


Hi lovely NSD gang:A
As you can see there is lots of activity on this thread 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.

Thanks everyone:A
spoon xx

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 Solvent's (aka Spoon:rotfl:) first 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!

slowlyfading

Thanks for your concern everyone, feeling a bit better today. I got the swine flu jab on Tuesday and it's made me feel a bit yucky. Byt hey ho!

It's also number 14 for me today - I'll do another round up this evening

Got some bad news last night, posted on my diary about it.

slowlyfading

jintyb wrote: »

Good morning all!

Nice to hear from you Big MummaF, but sorry to hear about your Mammy and No2's ailments. An ulcerated cornea just sounds bloomin awful:(

Anyhoo , just for you, edited highlights - I'm sure others will be along with their version!

BDINI -has packed in the fags and is running about with a sledgehammer:eek: ( look out!)
Keiss - son is injured and is fed up cos he cant play rugby. They're off to God's Country this weekend;)
CW - is still the Queen of the Whoopsies, she's running a race on Sunday and we're all cheering her on (virtually). Also there's a little lurve interest :heart2: going on
Spoon - has been her usual diligent self, and in addition to keeping an eye on us has completed her tax return:T
SF - is a more than welcome "rounder upper" and is cheering us on admirably:T
Kerri - is in the US of A, but managed to fix her leaky washing machine before she left.:)

We have lots of wonderful NEWBIES this month, who are all doing splendidly!:T

Also, theres a shindig on the 25th for Burns Night, but I know that men in kilts skirling about wont be of any interest to you sonce you're such a shy wee soul:rotfl::rotfl:

Have a great day everyone!

I LOVE this highlights update :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Surfbabe

I can report that Tuesday and Wednesday were both NSD'S !! That will make a total of 8 so far

martafdz

NSD 5!!!

I avoided going out and/or topping up the mobile. I am leaving the spending for tomorrow. If any!!

kerri_gt

jintyb wrote: »

Good morning all!

Nice to hear from you Big MummaF, but sorry to hear about your Mammy and No2's ailments. An ulcerated cornea just sounds bloomin awful:(

Anyhoo , just for you, edited highlights - I'm sure others will be along with their version!

Kerri - is in the US of A, but managed to fix her leaky washing machine before she left.:)

Have a great day everyone!

Cheers Jinty for the name check not 100% convinced leak is fixed - kitchen roll under the suspect area still seemed to have a bit of dampness before I left - but only a bit so I'm not 100% sure whether it was just residual or whether the dishwasher inlet might also need a new washer ...anywhooo can't do anything about it atm so I'll just have to hope I don't get home to find ducks swimming in the kitchen :rotfl:

elfen

NSD no 12 for me please....only spending I need to do this weekend is food shopping, so should get my 14 Saturday, and maybe my 2nd 3 in a row!

donna_dynamo

Hi nsd number 12 for me today. I am going to treat myself to a sandwich tomorrow so that will be a spendy day. Hopefully i can clock two more days at the weekend.

Amethyst68

NSD number 14 for me today. :j:j:j