Have an adventure in August with the NSD challenge

solventsoon

TwelveStopsThenHome wrote: »

I've got a VERY lean September coming due to a load of bills, debts and I need to save up spending money for my holiday to Benidorm in mid October.

Obviously the 27th the day after pay day it's my partners birthday and I am treating him to a meal, so I hope to start this from bank holiday monday or the tuesday when I come back to work.

Hi TwelveStopsThenHome :hello: and welcome to the NSD challenge, good to have you on board.

Feel free to join us whenever you like, we'll have a new thread starting soon for September, the link will be on here so you can see it, but in the meantime please make yourself at home here, there are some comfy chairs in the corner and lots of good books to read:D

If you want to know anything, please just ask, we're very friendly, more or less house-trained and we don't bite (well, not normally anyway:D).

Good luck with saving your spending money, there's a good incentive for you I reckon.

spoon xx

solventsoon

Hi lovely gang :A
Halfway through another week, this time next week will be the last day of August:eek:


Lots more NSDs rolling in yesterday and today, well done everyone:

:j:j:jLoobeyloop - for no 10, and yay to double figures, that’s fantastic! See, I told you that you could do it!! Pleased the encouragement helped x

:j:j:jchris - for no 16 on Monday.. and the mini-roll continues, you’re doing brilliantly!!
And no 17 on Tuesday, only 2 more to get now, keep going!!

:j:j:jL2B - for no 9, only 3 more to get now, keep going, you can do it!
Hope you manage to get your car fixed at a reasonable cost, well that doesn’t sound bad to me - and well done for getting the cashback for the used parts. Hope the car behaves for a while now x

:j:j:jLily - for no 13 and 7 in a row on Monday, that’s fantastic, well done you!!
And no 14 and 8 in a row on Tuesday, that’s brilliant. Are you on the same chocolate mini-roll as Chris, it’s working well this month!
And no 15 and 9 in a row, woohooooooo... well done you!! Prizelet on the way for your 9 in a row - I think that may equal our best ever
I’m deliberately ignoring the caterpillar incident as I once ate half of one and still feel queasy thinking about it

:j:j:jKeiss - for nos 12,13 and 14, you’re doing brilliantly, only 4 more to get now, you can do it!
I’m so sorry about your tooth, fingers crossed the anti-biotics start working to clear out the infection asap, it sounds painful (((hugs))) xxx
And no 15 in the bag today, nearly there now!
Really pleased you’re feeling a bit better today, good news about the scrabble, sounds fun.

:j:j:jelfen - for no 14, only 2 more to get now, keep going, you can do it!

:j:j:jiwanttogoonholiday - for no 7, that was a hard-earned NSD by the sounds of it, nothing worse than being hungry and trying not to spend, well done!!
And no 8 in the bag, that’s brilliant. Only 2 more left now, you can do it!

:j:j:jdannie - for no 17, one more to get now, you can do it!
And you did, no 18 in the bag and your target met, that’s brilliant!:j:j:j
Awarding your prize now, hope Superman arrives safely!
Would you like to increase your target now and give yourself another goal to aim for?

:j:j:jRed - for no 14, only 3 more to get now, keep going, you can do it!
Not good news about the weather, I wish it would stop raining!!
And no 15 in the bag for you today, one step closer!

:j:j:jWee Pilsbury - for no 11, target no 2 in within sight now, you can do it!
Well done for exceeding your target for the first time, that’s brilliant!

:j:j:jSpendSpendSpend - for no 14, target no 2 in within sight now, you can do it!
Hope the MS went OK today?
Fingers crossed for the lottery ticket x

:j:j:jbeanie - for no 19, target no 2 exceeded now as well, that’s brilliant!
Would you like to increase your target again?
Wow.. that’s a lovely amount of money to win on a lottery, that would do me nicely

:j:j:jsqueeeek - you’re doing brilliantly, hope the encouragement helps. Fingers crossed for no 4 on Tuesday, hope you made it. And you did, no 4 in the bag for you now, that’s fab. You’re over halfway now, you can do it!
And no 5 as well, nearly there now, keep going!

:j:j:jNargle - for no 9, you’re doing brilliantly, keep going!
Eek to the dentist appointments next month, hope they go OK

:j:j:jTizerCat - for nos 9 and 10 and yay to double figures!! Only 2 more to get now, you can do it!
Hope everything’s going well at the allotment?

:j:j:jSillyBlondie - for no 16, target no 2 in within sight now, you can do it!

:j:j:jjinty - for no 14, one more to get now, you can do it!
Yay to a day off today, hope you enjoyed it - and hope you can walk tomorrow after the zumba class, great fun but it’s easy to get carried away!!

:j:j:jcranbornekat - for no 8, only 2 more to get now, keep going, you can do it!

:j:j:jfedupandskint - for no 12, only 3 more to get now, keep going, you can do it!

:j:j:jjaffacakegal - for no 15 and your target tumbles, that’s fantastic, well done!:j:j:j
Awarding your prize now, hope Superman arrives safely!
Increasing your target to 18 now, good luck, you can do it!!

:j:j:jIgamogam - for no 13, target no 2 is in sight now, you can do it!

:j:j:jsf - for no 9, only 3 more to get now, keep going, you can do it!

:j:j:jmarmite - for no 14, only 3 more to get now, keep going, you can do it!
Hope you’re not roasting in Switzerland, has it cooled down at all? x

:j:j:jdonna dynamo - for no 14, target no 2 is within sight now, you can do it!
Well done for paying more of the CC, that’s brilliant!

:j:j:jFrodo - fingers crossed for no 11 on Tuesday, hope you made it
And you did and no 12 on Wednesday, well done, that’s brilliant! Only 3 more to get now, you can do it!

:j:j:jkerri - for no 11, one more to get now, you can do it!
I think I’d rather eat another caterpillar than Igor’s Jamaican jerk chicken - it might be self-catering in the Tardis, I think

:j:j:jBDINI - for no 12, your target is getting ever nearer, you can do it!
Good news re the cheap night out on Tuesday, sounds good!

:j:j:jbabysteps24 - for no 8, you’re over halfway now, keep going, you can do it!


No 18 in the bag for me yesterday :j, mega-spendy day today and I think I may have to spend tomorrow as well :mad:

Off to update the front page now, see all you lovely people tomorrow

‘night everyone

spoon xx

solventsoon

Hi everyone
Sorry, I seem to have been a bit chatty tonight, sorry for all the posts:o:o

spoon xx

chris81418

Good morning everyone! :wave:

Chin up SF! 9 NSDs are better than none! :T

Well done to your son Beanie! These things have a way of working themselves out in the end! :T

Popping in to report that yesterday was NSD number 18, so I'm now just one NSD away from reaching my target! :j

Have a good Thursday everyone!

jintyb

beanielou wrote: »

Ds has an offer, and now also has been offered a college course.
So its decision time for him now!

That's brilliant news Beanie - what a relief after all your worry the last couple of weeks, really pleased for you!:j

solventsoon wrote: »

Hi everyone
Sorry, I seem to have been a bit chatty tonight, sorry for all the posts:o:o

spoon xx

Dont be sorry Spoon, we love the chat!:T

jintyb

Good morning all!


Well, no NSD to report as I stocked up on my groceries yesterday.
I am feeling a wee bit sore after the zumba, but I absolutely loved it! Brilliant fun but I was puffing a bit! I didnt realise JUST how unfit I am! Anyhoo, I'm going back next week as I really enjoyed it!

I have my weigh-in today so I will report back later.

Have a great day all!:)

desperate+determined

Hi all,
I didn't pledge a number of NSD's but on checking my spending diary this morning I have 17 NSD's this month.

shezam

My NSD's are rapidly slowing down. Won't get one today getting eyebrows done at 6pm, won't get one tomorrow as have a birthday night out. Hoping to get at least one over the weekend, probably Sat and then HOPEFULLY Mon & Tue aswell bringing me up to my target before starting all over again on Wed.

Well done & good luck to everyone xxx

squeeeek

Spendy day today, the cat is getting castrated and we need milk!!

IF

Good morning all :hello:

Sorry been AWOL, went on holiday then needed a break to get over it!!

Spoon I'm up to 13 NSD's Thank you :A





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!