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

IF

Just bumping BigMamma’s and Spoon’s posts x

solventsoon wrote: »

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

BigMummaF wrote: »

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!

Money_Fritter

Hi folks,

Well managed my first NSD of Jan and the New Year today.

so 1/12.

Money Fritter

IF

slowlyfading wrote: »

I’ve had a talk to Spoon and we’ve decided that I am going to help out on the thread – starting with today! So, I’m going to go through who’s gained a NSD today, like Spoon normally does…

Thanks SF, for helping Spoony.....I can see were in good hands :A

Happy Birthday Elf/Emma x

Happy Birthday Kdenty x

MINMOL

NSD #2 for me today woop woop, only 8 more to go to jan target!!! We all got to start somewhere!

When i think back to before i started the challenge, i think i spent money every single day! No matter how inexpensive, i am now thinking before i spend!!!! and trying not to!;)
So thanks everyone your posts are helping me make the right decisions!!!

Nym_Mcfroglet

Minmol I was the same, I'm quite amazed already as I thought ten NSD's may be a little bit of a challenge but I'm on three already, it's quite clever what you can do when you empty your purse and put your debit card away!
I used to spend a fortune on a bottle of water most days. Or a paper instead of getting the free one. Ridiculous.
New Year new start!

solventsoon

boultdj wrote: »

And today make's #5 cause my cold's hijacked my head,and the only thing I'v done is sleep.
And seeing as I'm nearlythere anyway, can I say I'm going for my 6 in a row.
And [hugs] to Hazel,not a nice start to your year.

Oh dear, boult, hope you find your head soon, life's not good without your head intact.... hope you feel better soon.

Just added you for the 6 in a row.. good luck for tomorrow:)

spoon x

solventsoon

Hi lovely NSD gang:A
I’ve updated all the totals on the front page from sf’s two updates and added all the night owls as well now so we’re up to date as of tonight.:j

As you’ve seen, sf has kindly offered to help me run this challenge as it’s getting so popular - thanks to you lovely people. Sf will be doing two updates a week, usually Wednesday and Friday, and I’ll be doing two, Sunday and either Monday or Tuesday. I’ll be popping in to have a chat every day and making sure you’re all OK and will welcome any newbies on the days we’re not posting.


Speaking of newbies - a warm welcome to all of you joining up this month - and there are lots of you. It’s great to have you on board, if you’re not sure about anything please ask, we’re very friendly and there’s usually someone around to help. BigMumma has put some draft guidelines on one of the pages and I’ve copied this onto the front page. Have a look at it and if something’s unclear put it on a post and we’ll have a look at it. Good luck with your first NSD challenge.:D

Newbies joining up today are:

:hello:Sbeth - hi and welcome, good to have you on board, good luck with your target
:hello:SeasideEm - yes, of course you can join, good to have you on board. Great start, but no bankcard definitely helps
:hello:antonia1 - yes, of course you can join, you’re very welcome, we’ll help you with your resolution, plenty of support available here. Good luck

:hello:Welcome to HeadAbove who’s joining “unofficially” today. You’re very welcome to join “officially” if you’d like to and you’re definitely welcome to post/ask questions/join in with the supremely intellectual chat on here. Well done for NSD no 1 and good luck with getting lots more:j:j:j


Well done to:

sf (who’s missed herself off her roundup), on no 3.. yay!!!!:j:j:j

Brown_suga - off the mark now, don’t go mad in Ikea now:j:j:j

3Dogs - for no 4 - surprise NSDs are definitely the best:j:j:j

SarahNeedle1872 - for no 3, doing well, keep going:j:j:j

The Dragon - for no 5 and your 5 in a row, you’re doing brilliantly:j:j:j

katenut - for no 4, you need some veg, can’t have you getting scurvy!:j:j:j

buddiebabe - for no 3, hang onto your money, you’ll protect it better than those nasty shops:j:j:j

meersy22 - for no 2, don’t beat yourself up, you’re doing well. NSDs sometimes take a bit of practice to get, keep posting and we’ll give you loads of encouragement:j:j:j

Money Fritter - for no 1, off the starting blocks now, well done:j:j:j

MINMOL - for no 2, you’re doing great. Good to see we’re helping with your NSD quest:j:j:j

Just off for a wander around the forum now

'night lovely peeps

spoon xx

solventsoon

A huge THANK YOU to sf for your help, it's made a massive difference today.

You're a star:staradmin:staradmin:staradmin

spoon xx


And a big THANK YOU to everyone who's offered advice/hugs over the past couple of months when I have struggled a bit to keep this going. You're all stars :staradmin:staradmin:staradmin

solventsoon

MINMOL wrote: »

When i think back to before i started the challenge, i think i spent money every single day! No matter how inexpensive, i am now thinking before i spend!!!! and trying not to!;)
So thanks everyone your posts are helping me make the right decisions!!!

Nym_Mcfroglet wrote: »

Minmol I was the same, I'm quite amazed already as I thought ten NSD's may be a little bit of a challenge but I'm on three already, it's quite clever what you can do when you empty your purse and put your debit card away!
I used to spend a fortune on a bottle of water most days. Or a paper instead of getting the free one. Ridiculous.
New Year new start!

Hi MINMOL and Nym
Its really good to see that you're getting some benefit from this challenge so early. :T:T

There have been loads of positive comments from all the newbies joining this month which is brilliant, glad you're finding this helps. If any of the "oldies" can help, please just ask, we're more than willing to give you any advice/guidance or kicks up the bum that you need.

Great to have you all on board.

spoon xx

solventsoon

Hope you have a lovely day :j:j:j:j





More cake everyone, it's like Christmas all over again:D:D