The jubilant July NSD challenge

jaffacakegal

Happy Birthday to those with celebrations!!

I got another two NSDs Sunday and Monday so total now 12 NSD

Feelin a bit *sigh* at the mo. Was feeling ok then someone was saying this morning about how defeatist I am with things like the gym - I will just give up if things get too hard. They are right so I'm not angry that they said it but it's just got me thinking how much happier I would be with my lot if I was a bit more positive! Not sure how you teach yourself something like that tho!

beanielou

Birthday wishes to the birthday girls :j

IF

Big big hugs to Jinty, BDINI and SF :A:A:A

Happy Birthday positivelypurple xx

Written by solventsoon aka Spoon our inspirational mentor:-

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!

Nargleblast

Happy birthday to Boultdj & positivelypurple!

I've hit my target!!! 12 NSDs in the bag!!!! Might even scrape together the odd one or two more before the month end, fingers crossed.

suzitiger

Hi guys, well it's looking gloomy for those no spend days, I haven't had one today but I am hoping to get one in tomorrow if i put aside the money for my metro ticket today, then I won't count it as a spend!

[QUOTE=jaffacakegal;45567882
Feelin a bit *sigh* at the mo. Was feeling ok then someone was saying this morning about how defeatist I am with things like the gym - I will just give up if things get too hard. [/QUOTE]

Just wanted to say jaffacakegal that it really isn't easy to motivate yourself with things like the gym, personally i find the gym a bit boring. Have u tried other forms of excercising that might be more fun? Z*mba is supposed to be really fun, and social..or maybe a walking group? I have signed up to do the Great north Run and believe me I DON'T do running, but because I have a target deadline to work to and people are sponsoring me for a charity it spurs me on, how can I let them down? It's bloody hard to motivate going running in the cold and wet tho Keep at it, you can do it, I believe in youuuuuuu lol :T

boultdj

:bdaycake:Happy Birthday Positively Purple

and to day make's no 14 for me.

bottleofred

Evening folks,

Happy Birthday to Boult and Positively Purple. I hope you both have had a fantastic day. I'm declarning NSD18 today and my 3rd target has now been reached. I'm hopeful of another day or 2 before the end of the month, but we'll see how it goes.

Learning2Budget

Food shop today so NSD went out the window. Payday tomorrow and I'm on a course, so need to make some pack-up, otherwise I'll be tempted by deli sandwiches and crisps. Must be strong, must be strong!!!!! I want at least 2 more NSD's before the end of the month!
L2B.xx

kerri_gt

Evening all! Just a quick stop by from me atm, went out for lunch today and I'm actually feeling a bit icky now _pale_ might go and put pjs on and lie down for a bit.

Happy birthday and belated birthday wishes to birthday peeps :beer:

jaffacakeangel - some wise words from suzitiger , gyms aren't for everyone, that's why I do pole instead, there's many a week I'd rather just come home from work and plonk myself down, but I know I've already paid for the class so that motivates me to go - then I love it when I'm there. Also doing something with a friend is a good idea so you can motivate each other. x

Well NSD # 12 for me :j nearly at target, but seem to have done my usual again, started off really well then stalled a bit near the end of the month. Was hoping for far more but bargain/couponing have got in the way a bit.

Off now...feeling decidedly green around the gills.....

SillyBlondie

I've kept out of mischief today and reached my second target of 12 NSDs. :j

Not sure if I will get any more, but I will do my best.