The Solvent September NSD Challenge

jaffacakegal

Evening all!

Thanks for comments re dress - would have preferred it in a size 12 or 14 rather than the 18 I am but hey maybe soon

Had a proper lazy weekend watching tv all day today so NSD 10

Trying to sort birthday card for my cousins baby - he's one on Wednesday. Was trying to get gift voucher for N*xt or somewhere off M00npig as then I can get it sorted and on it's way 1st thing tomorrow but doesn't look like they do it so may be a trip to shops after work - boo!

JCG x

Ed_from_beds

NSD 9 Sunday

chris81418

Good morning everyone! :wave:

Just very quickly popping in to report that I caught NSD number 15 yesteday! Yay! :j

Have a good week everyone!

marmiterulesok

Today is #12,which brings me up to my target.It's a Bank Holiday here which makes not spending a bit easier.

I'm going away on holiday this week and have lots planned these next few days,so I don't think that I'll manage any more NSDs this month...

Have a nice Monday!

BDINI Thanks for the Spooks reminder.Can't believe I've missed the first episode but I'll see the repeat.Was it any good?

honey

Saturday was NSD 5 for me.

I'm hoping to catch up with the thread later,

hugs to all,

honey x

runnerbean17

# 12 yesterday :j not going to get 1 today unfortunately and tomorrow isn't looking promising either

But really pleased with how I'm doing so far ...

Nargleblast

Bit of a spendy day looming as need various odds and sods that I have been putting off buying (rather do it all on one day than buy the same stuff over 3 or 4 days). However, it is still possible I might hit the target for the month, resident NSD saboteurs permitting, of course!

toottifrootti

Hi everyone

not sure if I reported on Friday but I had NSD friday and today will be as well so I am at 13/20
if I am careful I will manage to get my target next week.

good luck to all
toots x

Betsie2010

Number 5 NSD for me today!!
Next few days are going to be hard as shopping to buy etc ....

IF

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!