The “how many paydays ‘til Xmas” November NSD challenge

rising_from_the_ashes

Frodobaggins wrote: »

Spend day for me as I had to have our dog put to sleep. Feel really sad but I know I did the right thing for her, but that doesn't make it any easier.:(

Ahhhhhh Frodo, I'm so sorry - it's heartbreaking when we have to let the wee loved ones go (((hugs))). It never gets easier but I'm still glad we can make the decision that the time has come and stop any suffering.

RIP wee one, run free in the sunshine at the bridge with your new pals xx

The_Dragon

Hugs Frodo - that's not a nice thing to have to do, but as you say at least there is no more suffering

IF

Frodobaggins wrote: »

Spend day for me as I had to have our dog put to sleep. Feel really sad but I know I did the right thing for her, but that doesn't make it any easier.:(

Frodo, so know how you feel big hugs and you did the right thing

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!

beanielou

Frodobaggins wrote: »

Spend day for me as I had to have our dog put to sleep. Feel really sad but I know I did the right thing for her, but that doesn't make it any easier.:(

Oh sorry to hear that.
Take care.

lotti379

Hi everyone -

Just popping in to declare I'm off the starting blocks! NSD Number 1 is in the bag!

Umming and ahhing about today - have been paid the last bit from my old uni job, so can afford some christmas shopping. Currently trying to think of what I can make for stockings to bring the cost down a bit! Currently thinking sloe gin (need to buy some little stocking-sized bottles though), cookies and florentines, homemade chocs. Still need to pay for ingredients. I'm also thinking of making a photo-puzzle for Mr L, and IF my knitting improves significantly I might make some mini hot-water bottle covers for little hand warmers, for my ma. I saw some online, £5.99 each, and then the hand warmers with no cover are £4 for two.

Debating whether to get my pa anything. I might make him a hamper/box of treats. Not sure whether he would like it though. :cool:

blindtoast

Have had 2 nsds so far! :j Very proud of myself.
Think the week might go downhill from here though as I might be going out tonight and then I'm going to a concert tomorrow and bowling on Saturday so thats already 2 maybe 3 spending days although i will try to fit shopping into one of those days so I don't have to add another spending day for that.

I am enjoying this challenge a lot - its making me think much more about buying things on a whim and is giving me much more incentive to make packed lunch for work

LittleMissHappy_2

Hugs are being sent your way from me frodobaggins :grouphug: x

Butti

Is my logic as bizarre as others on here.

Not taking my library book back today as haven't finished reading it BUT ALSO won't manage an NSD if I have to pay my fine on it. Seems a bit bizarre!

Right off to sign up to CAB.
Couldn't find my passport but followed my logic of the last time I had it, at interview. Sure enough, in the envelope with the certificates.

Logic - a marvelous thing.

B x

zafiro1984

May I join in,
I've read the Oct and Nov postings and think it may help me to stay within budget as hopefully there would less impulse buys. I've worked out my weekly and annual budget and feel that NSD's will help to keep me on track, also it's six miles to the nearest supermarket so it should help with saving fuel if I only went once or maybe twice a week. I'll count everything I do, DD's and STO's included, shopping on the net and cash. Unfortunately, on the 1st Nov it was a supermarket shop, and both yesterday and today there have been DDs so I'm going to be realistic and try for 12 this month. I have just looked back over my records for Oct and I only (shock) managed 5 NSDs last month, so anymore NSDs days would be a huge improvement.
I have also worked out that the time saved not shopping, could be put to better use and perhaps keep me more focused on jobs that need to be done - maybe even get ahead of them??? whoops there goes another pink thing flying overhead!!