Have an adventure in August with the NSD challenge

squeeeek

Hugs to everyone that needs them
AlyBaly & Cheryl hope the doggies are feeling better.
Spoon- skin is feeling much better thanks
Congrats to everyone who's met their targets over the last few days :T

solventsoon

Good morning lovely gang, are we all prepared for our Carnival outing today, outfits all ready, sequins sparkling, feathers dusted and, most importantly, thermals on:D

Just off to do some final preparations on the tardis and make the feather headdresses for Hubert and Igor and I'll be sorted. What time are we off?:D

solventsoon

Me again, sorry:o

A few things I didn't get round to mentioning last night after that mammoth round-up:

BDINI - pleased your gran is on the mend and hope the infection clears up soon. She has definitely been through a lot and fingers crossed she'll be up and dancing around before much longer xx

If - thanks for the lovely group hug on page 53 what a cute picture xx

Cheryl - like everyone else, I'm really sorry about the problems with your chap, he does seem to be pretty set in his ways and want you to go running after him all the time (figuratively speaking). You deserve much better than that. Hope you get some good news about the dog this week. ((hugs)) xx

BDINI - thanks for the new thread:T:T - love the name:D:D (first time I've had anything named after me:o) xx


Have a lovely Bank Holiday everyone, despite the weather

spoon xx

IF

Afternoon all :hello:

September's thread - Click here


Could I ask you to highlight your number of NSDs in a colour and in bold so that BDINI can see them easily, thank you :A



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!

bottleofred

Good afternoon folks from a cold and wet NI:j,

Today was a spend day for me due to buying some Christmas pressies. And before people shriek with horror and disbelief, there are 17 weeks this sunday until Christmas day:eek:! Besides, I like to be organised:D!
Solvent, I'm happy enough to let my target go and see where I finish up for the month, as tomorrow will probably be a spendy due to the joy of direct debits and am not sure about Wednesday.
Enjoy the rest of the bank holiday:)

Red

ms_night_ryder

very spendy weekend for me, i wont make my target of 10 but i will try, today is my 6th nsd

iwanttogoonholiday

A spendy day for me - might make a nsd 2mor but then im not sure i can do wed - think i will be one short for my target!

kerri_gt

solventsoon wrote: »

Good morning lovely gang, are we all prepared for our Carnival outing today, outfits all ready, sequins sparkling, feathers dusted and, most importantly, thermals on:D

Just off to do some final preparations on the tardis and make the feather headdresses for Hubert and Igor and I'll be sorted. What time are we off?:D

I decided to kill two birds with one stone, so have sewn my sequins, diamontes and feathers to my thermal long johns.... :rotfl::rotfl:

Nargle, did Igor finish the jerk chicken?

dannie

NSD22 today. More foraging freebies acquired today - keeps the shopping "urge" away somewhat alongside keeping busy/focused.

Frodobaggins

NSD#16 for me today. Will be shopping tomorrow, but will try for no 17 Wednesday.

Frodo x.