The jubilant July NSD challenge

kerri_gt

Phew! well was planning to pop to HB today to get some logging as it's 10% off but instead ended up cleaning the bathroom (and downstais wc) including attacking all the 'orrible limescale round the taps and build up in the sink (esp bad in downstairs sink as two drippy taps - on list to be fixed next w/e). Lots of limescale remover and elbow grease involved but now two sparking basins and very clean bathroom to boot. Also attacked the limescale round the kitchen tap. We live in an area where the water is unbelievaably hard so it doesn't take much for it to build up.

Totally pooped now and enjoying a well earned cuppa. Thinking of sorting out my wardrobe later and doing a bit of hemming on some clothes (the iron on kind mind you as I don't have a sewing machine)

beanielou

No 10 for me today & 10 in a row.
Amazing how being mucho skint focusses(sp) the mind.
DS has also got a wee part time job for the summer which really really helps.


Rain here today is just awesome & amazing.
The T in the Parkers will be very very soggy indeed :eek:

rising_from_the_ashes

beanielou wrote: »

No 10 for me today & 10 in a row.
Amazing how being mucho skint focusses(sp) the mind.
DS has also got a wee part time job for the summer which really really helps.


Rain here today is just awesome & amazing.
The T in the Parkers will be very very soggy indeed :eek:

Wow! that's great beanielou!

Odd day here today, torrential rain & flooding a few miles up and down the road but beautiful here - dark clouds are looming tho' so don't think it's going to be long:(

Anyway, No 3 (Friday) and No 4 (today)

Will have to have a very tight week - spent over £120:eek::eek::eek: yesterday (fuel, dog food & then popped to Mr A for a few bits & came out over £50 poorer:(, however, loads of offers on cleaning stuff so stocked up & should have enough for ages)!:D

Enjoy the rest of Sunday everyone.

TizerCat

Well I have successfully booked my sun holiday so no more buying papers everyday. From tomorrow I shall be attempting to get my NSD's. and as i write this I remember I have get new keys cut for the students so it there wont be one tomorrow:(

Still i only have 9 more to get and 20 days to collect them so even I must be able to do that

IF

Evening all :hello:

Spoony got my 7th NSD today, thank you x :A







Written by solventsoon aka Spoon:-

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 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!

redapril

nsd number 4 for me today

kerri_gt

Yikes! Turned on our outside tap earlier to water the plants and couldn't turn the thing off :eek: Its always been a bit drippy, need to give it an extra yank to fully turn it off, but today it just kept running (not on full but enough) - managed eventually to get it turned off - phew!! Hopefully it's just a washer...

Just had home made fish cakes for dinner - first time I've made them, had some haddock (whoopsied) in the freezer so had some last night with some left over, plus had some salad onions (from BOGOF in Mr T) to use up... boil up a spud, mix it together with some djon, seasoning, flour and egg - make into fish cake shapes, brush with egg and roll in breadcrumbs. Stick in fridge for an hour or so to firm up and then cook in the oven (along with some home made over chips from the freezer too) ... verdict...YUMMY! Cheryl - you'd be proud of my whoopsied freezer rummaging

I can also declare NSD #6 :j:j There are a few bits and pieces I need to get in town this week, including tap washers - must do a list so it can hopefully be done on one day

SillyBlondie

Another NSD today, taking me to 5.

bellkat

It's number 7 for me today please.

I'm really pleased with how well this month is going up to now!

Hope everyone's enjoying the weekend

psychopathbabble

#4 today for me! Busy weekend, went up to the middle of Norfolk for a bbq with MrS's friend yesterday, drove up to Cannock this afternoon to see my friends week old baby girl and then back to Essex this evening. Yawn!!