Have an adventure in August with the NSD challenge

solventsoon

:jWELCOME TO THE AUGUST NSD CHALLENGE:j



Every day’s an adventure on the NSD thread, it’s just time we admitted it finally.
We share tales of how we’ve managed to avoid buying Whoopsies, shop-made sandwiches, chocolate and any other must-have purchases in an attempt to gain as many NSDs (and prizes) as possible. That’s without even mentioning the many virtual outings we go on (we visited the Moon in July). You too can join in with our adventures and become a superhero as you conquer your own challenges and win lots of prizes.


Some interesting dates for August:
2 August - the first roller skating rink opened in the UK in 1875 - anyone feel like a spin?
6 August - Jamaica gained independence in 1962 - that could be an outing for us
We also have the Edinburgh Festival, the Eisteddfod and the Notting Hill Carnival to visit, so it could be a busy month for us


For anyone who hasn’t joined us before, we are a happy (and some might say mildly insane:D) bunch doing battle with those retailers - and there’s plenty of temptation all around us. We are seriously committed to saving money, but nobody said it can't be done with a smile on your face - so we organise riotous nights out and gatecrash any function going - all without leaving the comfort of our own imaginations or armchairs!

On a slightly more serious note, we are here to help each other avoid spending for the number of days we feel we can manage to try to take back some control over our hard-earned money. What you class as a "spend'" is entirely your choice; some people will try to shop on the days DD/SO etc are paid, whilst others will not include essentials such as rent. Have a look for a post from our sponsor (and godmother of this thread) BigMummaF, this contains some guidelines and ideas for starting you off on the challenge.

It’s amazing how inventive you get when you’re determined NOT to spend - from weird menu ingredients to surprising DIY solutions - but you know what? 99% of the time those wacky ideas work.


The link to our July thread is below so you can see what a friendly group we are. New recruits are joining up all the time - everyone is welcome so please don’t be shy, come and join us, the more the merrier.


:)Good luck everyone, our lucky mascot is joining us again for August





Here are some threads to help keep us on the straight and narrow, if you know of others, please post. Many of the lunch box ideas are aimed toward children and are great ideas now that it’s holiday time and everyone’s out and about.

March Grocery Challenge, with lots of recipe ideas.
Tinned Food Recipes.
Leftovers? Don’t Throw It..
Exciting Sandwich Fillings on a Budget.
Lunch for Work.
Laptop Lunchbox Ideas.
Packed Lunches.
Cheap Healthy Snacks
Cheap Snack Ideas to Stop Buying Crisps.
Homemade Snack Ideas…contains further links for ideas.
Sprouting Seeds to Eat.
Really Quick & Alternative Snacks.
Easy Homemade Biscuits.
Muesli & Cereal Bar Recipes.
Weetabix Cake.
HM Popcorn.
Smoothie Recipes.
Yoghurt Without a Yoghurt Maker.
Ham Economics.
Low Carb Kids Lunches...contains advice for diabetics.
Kids Lunch Box Ideas.
Back to School Lunches.
Healthy Kids Snacks.
HM Lollies.
Ice Lolly Ideas
Cheap Healthy Playground Snacks.
Homemade Fudge.
OS HM Sweets.
Forgotten Puddings.
Making chocolates or sweets

Link to last month's challenge is below so any newcomers can see what we get up to (hmmmmm... on second thoughts, that might put you off...;))

solventsoon

I've decided to go for a superhero theme for this month's prizes as I think we're all heroes in one form or another.

target met = target no 2 met =
target no 3 met = target no 4 met =
target exceeded =


Thanks to all the regulars and newbies who have joined up already. Hoping lots more of you will come along for the ride catching NSDs


Actress - 7 6
alibob - 5 4
always poor - 15 15 target exceeded - 18
Alybaly - 10 10 target exceeded - 11

babysteps24 - 15 8
BDINI - 18 18
beadgirl87 - 10 10
beanie - 14 14 target increased - 18 18 target increased again - 22 22 target exceeded - 23
bellkat - 12 10
bottleofred - 17 17
Butti - 8 4

chris81418 - 19 19 target increased - 23 23
cleggie - 10 4
cranbornekat - 10 8
cuddlymarm - 18 18
cuttingbackisitfun? - 15 1
cw18 - 12 11

dannie - 18 18 target increased - 25 24
debtfree future - 6 6
Dee5565 - 14 6
desperate+determined - 17
donna dynamo - 10 10 target increased - 15 15
DorsetGirl - 10 2

elfen - 16 16 target exceeded - 18

fakeplastictwee - 10 4
fedupandskint - 15 15 target exceeded - 16
FrodoBaggins - 15 15 target exceeded - 17

GeorgieFTB - 10 8

ifwishes - 17 17
Igamogam - 12 12 target increased - 15 15 target exceeded - 16
iwanttogoonholiday - 10 9

jaffacakegal - 15 15 target increased - 18 19
jintyb - 15 15 target exceeded - 17

karen is trying - 12 11
kathy40uk - 15 15
Keiss 21 - 18 18 target increased - 20 20
kerri gt - 12 12 target exceeded - 13
kjp - 10 8

laura2481 - 8 3
Learning2Budget - 12 12 target exceeded - 13
Lily_The_Legend - 20 17
LittleMissHappy - 8 8 target increased - 16 13
Loobeyloop - 15 11
lotti379 - 8 1
Lula-Hula - 16 7

*Mari* - 10 4
madhatter90 - 4 3
marmiterulesok - 17 17 target exceeded - 18
MattSS - 10 2
meersy22 - 10 1
mrs.butler - 16
mrsdwhite - 10 10 target increased - 13 13 target exceeded - 15
ms_night_ryder - 10 6
muffin man 7 - 15 15 target exceeded - 22

Nargle - 15 12
Natty 68 - 15 15
niccatw - 15 6

painted lady - 10
phoenix_dragon - 15 8
pinkfluffybabe - 15 15 target increased - 18 18 target exceeded - 21
Pips Mum - 15 6
positivelypurple - 12 9

Queen.Bess - 14

rictus123 - 31
rising from the ashes - 9 9
robedha - 14 14
RonniesMummy - 2 2

shezam - 8 5
sibles - 5
SillyBlondie - 15 15 target increased - 18 18 target increased again - 20 19
slowlyfading - 12 12
SpendSpendSpend - 6 6 target increased - 15 15 target increased again - 18 18
spoon - 20 20 target increased - 22 22 target exceeded - 23
squeeeek - 7 7 target exceeded - 9
suzitiger - 10 4

The Dragon - 10 10 target exceeded - 15
timbstoke - 10
TizerCat - 12 10
toothfairybuttkicker - 13 2
toottifrootti - 20 20
TwoOfShdi - 10 7

Wee Pilsbury - 10 10 target increased - 12 12
wouldbequalitymoneysaver - 10 1

And a special prize to BMF for just being her and for getting 25 NSDs

solventsoon

This is for anyone who wants to set themselves a target for a number of NSDs in a row. We had some impressive numbers on this over the past few months so if anyone would like to have a go at this, I'll add you here:D


chris81418 - 6 in a row - woohoooo... made it
and 8 in a row now

Lily_The_Legend - 6 in a row - woohoooo... made it
and 9 in a row now
The Dragon - 5 in a row - woohoooo... made it
and 6 in a row now
suzitiger - 5 in a row
muffin man 7 - 5 in a row
Keiss 21 - 4 in a row
Learning2Budget - 4 in a row
FrodoBaggins - 3 in a row
Wee Pilsbury - 3 in a row - woohoooo... made it
and 4 in a row now
beadgirl87 - 3 in a row - woohoooo... made it
Actress - 3 in a row - woohoooo... made it
Igamogam - 3 in a row - woohoooo... made it
alibob - 3 in a row - woohoooo... made it
marmiterulesok - 3 in a row - woohoooo... made it

solventsoon

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!

IF

Your a Star, for doing
the NSD thread xx

Please could you put me down for 17 NSD's thank you x :A

solventsoon

Awwww..... thanks, If. And you're a star for posting the reminders and all the pictures to keep us amused xx

IF

solventsoon wrote: »

Awwww..... thanks, If. And you're a star for posting the reminders and all the pictures to keep us amused xx

Your welcome xx :A Love the prizes too :dance:


target met = target no 2 met =
target no 3 met = target no 4 met =
target exceeded =

jintyb

Spoon you're a star!


The prizes are brilliant!
Please put me down for 15 again this month - I'm def going to meet it this time!;)

cw18

Many thanks for keeping us in check for another month Spoon :T

Please can you put me down for my normal 12 NSDs
I seem to be finding it a lot tougher these days which I don't totally understand
The only difference I can see is having a chap in my life, but as best I recall I've only 'lost' a couple of NSDs because of that in the last few months
Guess I'm just not thinking as hard about this due to the 'distractions'


And I've another celebration to add to your list........
24th August is day 1,000 of no alcoholic beverages for me
Can't claim to be tee-total though, as I still eat foods with alcohol in them one in a while

meersy22

Hi, I'll give this challenge another go, could you please put me down for 10 NSD this month.

Thanks

always_poor_2

HI, i'm new to this thread - could you put me down for 15 NSDs and i'll see how I get on :-)

Thank you