Have an outstanding October with the NSD challenge

beanielou

Been out for coffee today so not a NSD.

slowlyfading

Been to Mr T's today, so not a NSD for me.

IF

Evening all :hello:

Spoony, Doing well me, got my 19th NSD today :dance:

Third target prize!!!

Please increase target to 20 NSD's

Nargleblast

Well, that's it I'm afraid. A few days away meant money changing hands, what with petrol, odds and sods shopping, more petrol, then more odds and sods shopping today.

13 is my final number for October.
I am obviously doomed not to get the magic 15. Still, that is still 13 days of the moths being on house arrest, so not that bad. And there is always next month....

Been a bit full of busy lately, what with work and academic stuff as well (am trying to complete my degree before next summer) so not much time to chew the fat on here as usual. If you're planning a celebration tomorrow night, I'll try and drop in for a few minutes. Failing that, I'll send Igor round with a vat of Bat Korma and a plate of Cheesy Eyeballs.

fedupandskint

Not been anywhere today apart from hard work in the garden so I can proudly announce I have reached my target today of 15 NSD

I did it :j

I am increasing my target to 16 NSD and going for another one tomorrow

Frodobaggins

NSD#16 for me today. I am gonna up my game and try for NSD#17 tomorrow.

kerri_gt

OMG I ache after the gardening yesterday...so much so it actually hurts to sit down and if I do sit too long, when I get up I end up walking like John Wayne :rotfl: I really hope that tomorrow isn't 'second day is always worse' as I won't even be getting out of bed :eek:

However i did manage a spendy day today Took some items back to TK M*xx and while I was there bought 2 x xmas candle holders, 2 x xmas hand towels, the rest of my friends xmas present (OH thinks it's a bit random but I think it's v.her), some Jamie O wine glasses (the sturdy chunky ones), a coat for OH (though he's given me the £ for those) and some of the wine glasses for my friend (bought her some previously and the bottom fell off one, couldn't get hold of her to find if she wanted some more so will take them back if she doesn't)

Then went to Mr T and got totally trouted, they wouldn't accept my APG vouchers despite the policy not changing until Tues, so ended up spending £20-odd more than i should have had to :mad: email has been duely sent to HO. Also noticed that the SA only scanned 4 of the 5 vouchers I gave him for pasta sauce (despite me separating them all by turning the corners down) so one of those will have to go back tomorrow. So a bit of a mixed day shop-wise.

Well done Jinty on the fundraising :T Is it really monday tomorrow already

beanielou

Not only Monday Kerri but the last day of Oct.
How did that happen? :eek:

IF

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!

butdoineedit?

kerri_gt wrote: »

Any news on the house yet BDINI?

Nope kerri, not a sausage
Ouch to your foot & the acheyness :eek: really hope it isn't worse tomorrow!!

solventsoon wrote: »

BDINI - yay to the balance transfer, it's about time something went your way for a change. Maybe your luck's about to turn xx

Aww thanks Spoon

solventsoon wrote: »

Hi lovely gang:A

Update done but I'll post it tomorrow if that's OK with you all.

Been a busy week and I'm kernackered now....not sure I can cope with jumping smileys at the moment.

Back tomorrow

'night all
spoon xxx

Hope you're ok Spoon?

Marmiterulesok Ouch to your poor fingers

Jinty totally loved the pictures, please send those little men round to mine when you're done with them, i could definitely use a bit of a hand with the cleaning! :rotfl::rotfl:

Oh & no NSD's this weekend Small spend in the supermarket yesterday & today i had to get some more coldsore patches, as the one small one i noticed yesterday has turned into 3 big scabby ones :eek: Still at least tomorrow i won't need a Halloween costume as i reckon my scabby mouth will frighten all the kids that come trick or treating!!