Have an adventure in August with the NSD challenge

IF

Evening NSD'ers :hello:

Spoony got my 1st NSD in the bag!!




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!

dannie

Hi folks, may I join you with this challenge? My goal is 18 NSD this month which will just include food and drink (to beat a previous 17 via a Grocery Challenge). It will be great to "beat the system" by quitting acquiring more and hence value what I have got already.
Anyhow today is 1st NSD.

Thanks.

Lula-Hula

I've achieved my first - have reserved a hedge trimmer but don't collect or pay until tomorrow so will make sure I do as many other spends as I can on the same day.

Dee5565

First NSD for me:)


Dee

bottleofred

A spend day for me today due to the joys of direct debits!

Lily_The_Legend

Had my first NSD today.

DH met me from work and we both fancied going out for dinner. I had the urge for a Pizza Express tuna nicoise salad! But I talked myself out of it and came home and made us a lovely tuna salad instead. :T

iwanttogoonholiday

had a spend day today and then went and left all my shopping in work thus defrosting definate baby brain i think ( am 4 months preg!)

The_Dragon

Claiming #1 please , which is a great start to the month :rotfl:

suzitiger

Hey guys, so good to see so many people on the thread already.

THANK-YOU SPOONY
For starting us off so well. I didn't do very well last month, I only managed 2/5 in the end. But this month I am starting as I mean to go on! :money:
Please put me down for 10NSDs. I have already done 1 today Plus I have managed to get myself some extra hours at work, so a very good day for me.

I wanted to say HI to any newbies too, I am still a relative newbie myself. This month I am not counting DDs or SO for rent and things, but EVERYTHING else counts as a spend so I hpe it will make me think and be more organised this month.

I want to try for 5 NSDs in a row too and see how I get on with that, need to check the diary to see when I will be doing that. Anyone got tips on how to get a few NSDs on the trot? :A

rictus123

Im going for a whole no spend month.

SO 31 NSDs for me please!!!

And signing in at 1/31 already!


Just 30 to go and challenge is complete. Challenge is in this board, im trying to not spend a penny unless its aboslute needed - digs etc.

So im not going to count it as a spend ifs its NEEDED. Iv already noted down in my thread how i will be spending my money. Should be a shock to see bank balance at end of month.