The Solvent September NSD Challenge

Disenchanted

I'm fairly sure I have quite a few NSD each month but I don't make a note of it, so can I start out small with 12 please I should probably get a diary and starting writing all spends down!

ModestyB

Hi, I've just found you, can I join in too please. I'm a newbie so I'll just try for 10 at first.

IF

Thanks BDINI for doing September's thread xx

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



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!

Igamogam

Hi
Put me down for 15 please - thats 50% of September:) and I would like to try 4 in a row too please

donna_dynamo

Hi can you please sign me up for 10 NSD i am on holiday till next monday so i will probably start then.

webitha

hiya...not done this challenenge for about 3/4 months ( i know my bad)
but im back with a vengence and will aim for 15 nsd please

have been working hard on the debts and i want at least the overdraft gone by xmas, im only reducing it by £150 a month and if i come back here i might be able to whack more at it.

just checked online for my other debt and the CC is now under £2K:j:j:j:j
first time in years, and the mortgage is under £20k :j:j:j

my other 3 debts are all 0% for another year so just the minimum off them till OD and CC gone.

i am not counting debt payments but i am counting everything else

oh another thing to do for free in blackpool in sept is every friday is the world fireworks championshps, at the north pier

shezam

Hi!

If you could put me down for 8 NSD's please?? I will be starting on Thursday 1st as I'm still trying to reach my target for August!

Fingers crossed!
Sx

bellkat

I'll go for 12 again this month please.

Thanks for starting the new thread Bdini

squeeeek

Thanks for the shiny new thread Bdini :T
Put me down for 15 NSDs for September please!

Ed_from_beds

Hi, this is my first entry into the challenge.

Could you put me down for 15 please.
(I work most days so thought I would start with a higher number)

Thanks