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

IF

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!

InaPickle

Hey guys - I'm a bit late, but can I sign up for 7 NSDs this month? I would really like to hit 10, but we shall see. I've already done 2. Actually, I think it is 3, but I forgot to note them down so I'm going on memory.

Thanks!

Yorkielass

Had a quiet weekend at home and have hardly been on the computer, the advantages of now having a phone with internet where I can check email, twitter and facebook quickly so 2 more NSDs for me!

Total now 4 NSDs

niccatw

kerri_gt wrote: »

I don't drink a lot of coke/diet coke, but I can tuck away an alarming number of cups of tea a day - it's not unusual that I get into double figures :eek: The worring thing is that I have noticed sometimes I get splitting headaches and think that this could actually be from lack of caffeine - do any of you guys suffer in the same way? I've had three such headaches Wed - Fri afternoons this week - same time each day which has got me wondering whether I should try to cut down? (also wondering if it is eye strain from the computer but I don't feel any pain/headache around my eyes at all)

I had to go cold turkey when I was off sick last year for that reason kerri. Now all the tea in my house is mostly natuarally caffeine free tea (I'm sure I've more flavours than your average cafe!) and I only drink caffeinated tea at work in the mornings. It has helped with the headaches and with the sleeping patterns!

Tixy wrote: »

To be fair Spoon, these were the first ones I have bought this year......:undecided

:rotfl: My kind of excuse Tixy! If you are not careful Mistress Spoony will be keeping a NBB (no boot buying) count along side your NSDs!

solventsoon

Hi lovely NSD gang :A:A
Another quick roundup for tonight, loads of NSDs rolling in again. Well done everyone:j:j

Welcome to:

:hello:thriftyfairy - hi and welcome. Signing you up for 10 NSDs now and well done for your first today:j:j

:hello:martafdz - hi and welcome. Yes of course you may join, it’s never too late to join our merry band. I’ll add you to the front page now for your target of 7. You don’t have to do 7 in a row though, that’s just an additional challenge for anyone who wants to try that, it’s 7 in the month. Does that make it easier for you? If you need any advice/help or kicks up the bum please ask, we’re very friendly and helpful and feel free to join in with the chat and general mayhem.

:hello:dollybeads - hi and welcome, good to have you on board. Signing you up for 10 NSDs now and well done for your first two. As above, feel free to ask any questions and join in with the chat, we’re very friendly (and sane most of the time)

:hello:InaPickle - hi and welcome, great to have you on board, it’s never to late to join us. Signing you up for 7 NSDs now and well done for your first two:j:j. As above, if you need any help/advice/kicks up the bum, just ask and feel free to join in with the chat


Lots more NSDs rolling in today, well done everyone:

:j:jjintyb - for no 5. You definitely are getting there. Hope Monday back at work goes well

:j:jehallett - for nos 6 and 7. You’re doing brilliantly, keep going

:j:jAmethyst68 - for no 7. Busy day ahead of you, hope you managed to get everything done

:j:jmummyroysof3 - for no 7. Good thinking re the tatco delivery

:j:jcandyapple - for no 6. Hope you had a good day, loving the free lunch yesterday

:j:jWee Pilsbury - for no 6. Good luck for this week, lots of NSDs rolling in hopefully

:j:jSuziQ1962 - for no 5. Hope you enjoyed the walk

:j:jhoney - for no 3. Fingers crossed for today. Hope your S.Dad is OK?

:j:jdonna dynamo - for no 5. Looking good, never mind OK

:j:jlotti379 - for no 2. Loads of time left, like the sound of the hair cut, etc, deal. Thanks for the groupon link, will have a look at that as well

:j:jsomethingsgottogive - for no 6. Hope you managed to get out for some fresh air today

:j:jpinkfluffybabe - for no 5. Hope you got everything done today

:j:jsofababe - for no 3. Good luck for the next couple of days

:j:jJES_F1 - for nos 4 and 5. Keep going

:j:jemiliah - for no 3. Good luck with getting organised for the next few days

:j:jelfen - for nos 5 and 6. Keep going, you’re doing brilliantly

:j:jromylou - for nos 5 and 6. Like the positive thinking for today

:j:jKeiss 21 - for no 5. Busy day again today for you, hope your back is on the mend soon. Well done on the weight loss

:j:jjedi82 - for no 4. You should be pleased, you’re doing brilliantly, keep going

:j:jboultdj - for no 8. Hope you’re feeling a bit better?

:j:jkerri gt - for no 5. Busy day for you, good luck for tomorrow

:j:jblissfullydebtfreewannabe - for no 6. Keep going. Yes, it is good to see everyone doing so well

:j:jmoneypenny2k - for no 6. Lots done today by the sounds of it, weekends - no idea, but it’s very annoying!!

:j:jTrinny - for no 6. You’re definitely on a roll - keep rolling!!

:j:jskaps - for no 6. You’re very busy with the decorating, hope you’re pleased with it

:j:jDecluttering - for no 3. Hope you survived OK!

:j:jkdenty - for no 6. Like the “volunteering” of your OH, that’s the way to get NSDs

:j:jkezlou - for no 8. Oh dear, sorry about the back to work/school tomorrow

:j:jbeanielou - for no 8. Oh dear, sorry about more snow

:j:jSbeth - for no 5. And well done for 5 in a row!

:j:jDansMum - for no 5. You’re doing great, keep going

:j:jbella121984 - for no 1.. yay!!! Happy 3baying this evening

:j:jLittleMissHappy - for no 6. Fingers crossed for tomorrow

:j:jsavingcaz - for no 8. You should be impressed with yourself, you’re doing brilliantly!

:j:jBaileys Babe - for no 7 and for 6 in a row, you’re doing brilliantly!! I’m having problems keeping up with the thread as well......

:j:jkarom - for no 4. Busy day today, hope you got everything done

:j:jifwishes - for no 6. You’re doing brilliantly, keep going

:j:jBigMumma - for no 6. Love the whoopsies!

:j:jkatenut - for no 6. Hope you got everything done today

:j:jBDINI - for no 5. Oh dear to the hoover, what a pain

:j:jWelshWoofer - for no 3. You’re doing brilliantly, keep going

:j:jTixy - for no 4. Nearly halfway now - and you would be halfway if it weren’t for the boots

:j:jYorkielass - for no 4. You’re doing great, keep going


And ... I’ve managed to avoid the temptation of online spending, so I’m now the proud owner of 8 NSDs.:j

Off to update the front page now after that mammoth update. See you all tomorrow.

‘night everyone
spoon x

InaPickle

solventsoon wrote: »

InaPickle - hi and welcome, great to have you on board, it’s never to late to join us. Signing you up for 7 NSDs now and well done for your first two. As above, if you need any help/advice/kicks up the bum, just ask and feel free to join in with the chat

I'm so unfocused I ALWAYS need my bum kicking - feel free at any point! :rotfl:

solventsoon

niccatw wrote: »

:rotfl: My kind of excuse Tixy! If you are not careful Mistress Spoony will be keeping a NBB (no boot buying) count along side your NSDs!

Oooh nicca..... you're making me out to be some kind of ogre:D:D

moneypenny2k

kerri_gt wrote: »

I don't drink a lot of coke/diet coke, but I can tuck away an alarming number of cups of tea a day - it's not unusual that I get into double figures :eek: The worring thing is that I have noticed sometimes I get splitting headaches and think that this could actually be from lack of caffeine - do any of you guys suffer in the same way? I've had three such headaches Wed - Fri afternoons this week - same time each day which has got me wondering whether I should try to cut down? (also wondering if it is eye strain from the computer but I don't feel any pain/headache around my eyes at all)

Caffeinne can and does cause headaches. Many years ago I was very ill and couldn't go shopping. Ran out of diet coke and tea. Dr had to be called as I felt so ill. Headache, shakes, sickness... Mate came around and did a bit of shopping for me, gave me a cuppa, hey presto all sorted. That's when I switched to caffeine free. I drink normal tea during the day. Maybe 3 cups max. but then I switch to caffeine free. I feel much better for it.

suzie_wong wrote: »

Not sure I can cut back to 1- but 2 is a possibility!! There are specific times I have a can- mid morning, when I'm cooking the tea, and later in the evening. I need to break the habit of one of them first- I guess the evening one is the obvious one to cut out first. Will let you know how I get on!!
The only times I ever went off diet coke were when I was pregnant- and that's a bit of a drastic way to cut back! :rotfl:

Yes quite an expensive way too lol

solventsoon wrote: »

It's possibly the opposite, kerri, too much caffeine - there's a lot of caffeine in tea and, if you drink builder's brew, there's more caffeine in that than in coffee...


Re diet coke, I used to drink loads of the stuff... but cut down by watering it down slightly with sparking water. It tastes a bit odd to start with but I quickly got used to it and diluted it more and more. I used to add some lemon to it to disguise the slightly odd taste. I had a real caffeine addiction from it, now I can take it or leave it.

Hope that helps

I just started the challange. I buy as many bottles as I allow myself when I do my shopping. I'm not allowed to buy myself any others during the week. It's not very mse to buy them singly. £3 for 3 big bottles in Mr T, but £1 for a small bottle or 60p for a can in the corner shop.

I wonder how many people would sign up to a giving up diet coke or maybe a giving up caffeine thread.:question:

jintyb

Good morning all!

Just getting ready for work - not used to ths Monday morning lark!

Lots of newbies - welcome to all! :wave: Hi InaPickle - nice to see you from the "No Book Buying Thread":)
Nicca - that was a great day you had yesterday, its great to hear about everyone's NSD's, but it's also fun to share in each other's spendy days too!

Going for 3 in a row, as I'm working Mon-Wed. Should mange that, I hope!

Cheryl - missing your posts, hope all is well with you:question:


Well done Spoon, on your brilliant total so far and thanks for the great roundup:A

Off to make myself presentable -
Have a lovely day everyone:)

dollybeads

suzie_wong wrote: »

Not sure I can cut back to 1- but 2 is a possibility!! There are specific times I have a can- mid morning, when I'm cooking the tea, and later in the evening. I need to break the habit of one of them first- I guess the evening one is the obvious one to cut out first. Will let you know how I get on!!
The only times I ever went off diet coke were when I was pregnant- and that's a bit of a drastic way to cut back! :rotfl:

I should say, think of the spending involved in tha! diet coke is the only thing when I go shopping that I can't wait to open and consume, I feel so desparate that I have to open a can as soon as i get outside the shop, and then sit in my car drinking it before I drive home..............hadn't realised I have got it bad