The Solvent September NSD Challenge

IF

Good 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



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!

sparklysaver

:wave: Hello all, well I ended up with an unexpected NSD #3 today, mainly because the weather was so unrelentingly foul that I couldn't face going out.

So, it'll be a spendy day on groceries tomorrow instead, then I'm out for lunch on Wednesday. Still hoping to beat my target for my first month though.

BDINI, that's grim, sorry to hear about that.

solventsoon

butdoineedit? wrote: »

Nope, the council won't do anything at all - they won't even give me a forwarding address for her as they say they are only there to protect the tenants & ensure rent is paid wherever she wants it, regardless of the fact that she illegally left the tenancy :mad::mad::mad:
Oh yes & the insurance won't pay out either as apparently they won't cover malicious damage :mad::mad::mad:

Time to get that soggy paintbrush out me thinks!!

Bl00dy hell, BDINI, that is appalling. You rent your house out to someone who practically destroys it ..... she escapes because the council are "protecting the tenant" and you're left to repair your property at your own expense ..... unbelievable!!!!!

I know tenants need protection but there should be some assistance available to someone in your position, that is just not on!!!!

The world has gone mad :mad:


Sorry everyone, rant over:o:o, I just saw red there!!!

LittleMissHappy_2

BDINI - sorry to hear about your house That is really bad x
jinty - hope your DH is feeling much better very soon xxx

No NSD's yet this month (I'm starting my month from today as I got back from my holidays today)...I've got a Mr T order paid for today and need to get the children their school shoes tomorrow...maybe Wednesday will be my first

solventsoon

Frodobaggins wrote: »

Another spend day for me today, I think I better lower my September target before I have to think about the F-word.:(

Now then, Frodo........ it's 5th September today, what's all this talk about lowering your target.

You've got loads of time left to get your NSDs, we can't have that sort of comment so early in the month, you'll be demoralising all the newbies:rotfl:

Chin up, purse firmly left at home, cards frozen in the freezer... you can do it!!!:j:j:j:j:j:j

spoon xx

solventsoon

LittleMissHappy wrote: »

No NSD's yet this month (I'm starting my month from today as I got back from my holidays today)...I've got a Mr T order paid for today and need to get the children their school shoes tomorrow...maybe Wednesday will be my first

Welcome back LittleMissH, we missed you.

I'm pleased you had a lovely holiday xx

LittleMissHappy_2

Thank you spoon

plzhelpmesave!

10 target for me please = need to get serious about saving money seriously!!!

jintyb

solventsoon wrote: »

Bl00dy hell, BDINI, that is appalling. You rent your house out to someone who practically destroys it ..... she escapes because the council are "protecting the tenant" and you're left to repair your property at your own expense ..... unbelievable!!!!!

I know tenants need protection but there should be some assistance available to someone in your position, that is just not on!!!!

The world has gone mad :mad:


Sorry everyone, rant over:o:o, I just saw red there!!!

Spoon, I totally agree with you there!:mad::mad: It's a bloody outrage!:mad:

I cannot believe ( well, I can unfortunately) that you are getting no support from anywhere BDINI! I feel terrible for you and really angry om your behalf!
I just wish we all lived near you - we could all rally round and give you a hand!
We are all here for you, rant away m'dear! Also as we all know, what goes around comes around, so she will pay somewhere down the line. ( Small consolation for you ATM, I know)

In the meantime:

jintyb

Good morning chums!

#3 in the bag for me please!

Thanks for all the kind words re OH. I think you're right, Nargle, once he gets on holiday and a bit of relaxation I'm sure he'll be able to unwind a bit. I also am a wee bit irritable so yes, the holiday is needed! We go off next Friday for two weeks. We are going to a lovely cottage on Skye, so there will be acres of peace and quiet!

OK, must go and get ready for work, going in a wee bit later today (i.e. starting at my proper time of 9am:rotfl:)

Have a lovely day all!:)