The Solvent September NSD Challenge

sparklysaver

Right, am tempted to pop to the supermarket because I'm making jammy dodgers and I've just realised that I've eaten all the raspberry jam and there's only strawberry or rhubarb left, but that's just ridiculous so I am declaring today NSD #2 and making strawberry jammy dodgers. With a little bit of mashing, it'll be FINE.

shezam

Very happy to report NSD 1 yesterday!! Didn't leave the house so made it so much easier not to spend!! Been to the shops already today to buy the ingredients for Steak pie which is cooking away in Slow Cooker right now. YUM YUM!

Well done everyone!
Sxxxxxxx

savingholmes

Can I join and put myself down for 10 NSDs for September please. I've made 1 of my 10 so far this month.

Igamogam

Its NSD number 2 please. Did go swimming but thats on a monthly membership already paid for Sept

solventsoon

SpendSpendSpend wrote: »

Thanks for the hugs Spoon. You're right, I was a bit down in the dumps but there was no real reason for it except being tired. I'm always the same when I get tired & I'm tired most of the time! Fortunately I got a decent night's sleep last night so I'm not too tired today & the sun's out & I don't HAVE to do anything today. There are loads of things I "should" be doing but I don't "have" to do them today, so I'm feeling much happier today.

I'm very pleased to hear that, Spendx3, hope you have a lovely day doing nothing much, we all need to have a rest from time to time. Enjoy the sunshine xx

Ed_from_beds

I would like to declare today as my first nsd this month please.


1 NSD

Thanks

slowlyfading

Number 2 for me today

elfen

NSD no 3 for me please

debbiedeejay

NSD number 2 for me too today plus just read an email to say I have won £50 of M & S vouchers through work:j - even better!

Now the problem is when I get them,do I either

a) use them to buy DD2 bday pressie in fortnights time
b) use them at Xmas to buy pressies/or nice food
c) use them after Xmas(sales) to buy pressies/or nice food/things
d) use them just on myself as part of the crazy clothes challenge


ahhhh too much choice - ten minutes ago I didn't have this problem and now I have - see what happens when I am given choice -

Am very happy though, to manage 2 NSDs already:)

IF

Evening all :hello:

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


BDINI and Spoon got my 3rd NSD today thank you x :A: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!