Have an outstanding October with the NSD challenge

wannabehermit

Hi everyone, I'd like to join in please. I don't think I spend on that many days but have decided to ease myself into it and go for 10 nsds this month. Lets see how I go.

WelshWoofer

Morning!
I used to join in with this challenge but fell by the wayside but would like to rejoin if that's OK?
I'm debt free now :j but need to stay that way as I'm also now getting divorced so although money isn't supertight I can't afford to go bonkers with it;)

So put me down for 8 NSDs to start please - 2 a week to start with should be doable.
Thanks!

jintyb

Hi everyone - big thanks to LMH and BDINI for cheering us along in Sept and to Spoon for getting us going this month! Spoon, you've surpassed yourself with the prizes this month - genius!

A big bouquet to you all!




I am going for 16 this month, should be doable!

Had a wonderful night out last night at the World Vision do, Carrie Grant is a brilliant motivational speaker and very funny and uplifting. I feel full of va-va-voom today - look out everyone!;)

Have a lovely day everyone!:)

rising_from_the_ashes

Morning everyone - thanks to everyone who looks after the thread..... I really have no idea how you manage to keep track of us all :huh:- you are all :A

I'm a big Winnie the Pooh fan too with a very big soft spot for Eeyore so also loving this month's prizes

Now, to business - will be housebound for about 1/2 the month and then hopefully out and about again so ..... I think I'll try for 15 NSD again.

Good luck everyone:D

Frodobaggins

Hi Spoon,

hope you are well.:)

Can you put me down for 16 NSD's please and 4 in a row.

Hope everyone has a good weekend.

Frodo x.

donna_dynamo

Hi all can i please sign up for 15 NSD's this month. Planning on trying to be more organised and sorting out the house before the cold weather sets in. Also going back to my diet and trying to squeeze in some exercise as you can tell there simply are not enough hours in the day or days in the week. I going to take my plans slowly and do a bit at a time instead of going all out like i would normally.;)

Betsie2010

Ok - managed 8 nsd for Sept, so will try for
9 NSD for October please

Lewby

Thanks for the shiny new post! I was one under my 10 in Sept so will be going for the full 10 NSD's this month. Determined to have a frugal month with lots of menu planning and 'do i really need it' conversations with myself!

Good luck everyone.

IF

Morning all :hello:

IF

solventsoon wrote: »

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!