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

LittleMissHappy_2

rising - really sorry about Ben It's devastating when you lose a much loved pet x thinking of you :kisses3:

Glad your friend is on the mend also x

LittleMissHappy_2

Today *should* be an NSD as I was going to go stocking filler shopping today but DS1 is off sick (although have since found out that he appears to be in pretty fine health :eek: cheeky monkey!) so spending the day at home tidying and doing some studying Keeping my fingers crossed that I can refrain from internet shopping today

My ear is feeling much better today so I am thinking about not bothering with the Drs - I hate going to see them even though they are always lovely!

Frodobaggins

rising so truly sorry for you on your loss of Ben. I had to get my old girl put to sleep 2 weeks ago when she became ill very suddenly. Our house is so quiet without her. In time when the sadness passes we will remember the happy times with them, their funny antics and ways. Sending you big hugs,
Frodo x.

Frodobaggins

NSD#7 for me yesterday and 2 in a row.

myteeduck

Hey all. Yesterday was NSD number 13.

Not sure about today yet. Monday was a spend day as I though £3.40 on car parking and £16 in primani. I got the 2 pairs of pajamas, a Xmas pressie for a friend and a pair of socks - so although I got more than I went for it was only £4 extra!

I had an offer on a flat accepted on Monday as well - just waiting for it all to go thought the solicitors and hopefully will get the keys around Xmas. At the mo my NSDs are because mum pays for everything - but only I move out it will be a different story and I'll be on here begging for tips to help me save money on all household goods. I know I'll be joining the grocery challenge every month.

Rising - soooo sorry to hear about your Ben. I'd be devastated if anything happened to either of my dogs - one is also called Ben! Hope your ok (((((xxxx))))) x thinking of you

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!

IF

rising, I'm so sorry too and know just how your feeling!! Sending big hugs

freshair_2

Sorry about your furry friend rising, not a nice feeling.

have 2 more NSD to report though, Friday, and Sunday, not doing so well since then, but tomorrow and Friday are looking good

so 5/15 for me now plodding along

solventsoon

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

Anyway, I really hope I never have another day like yesterday & today in my whole life - very mixed feelings, huge relief that DF is going to be OK almost overwhelmed with losing Ben.

I'm so sorry to hear your news, rising, life is just so unfair sometimes. It is heartbreaking to lose a much loved pet, I really do feel for you.

Sending you lots of thoughts and
spoon xxx

blindtoast

solventsoon wrote: »

blindtoast - don’t beat yourself up so much, you’re over halfway to your target now, keep going you can do it:T

Thanks Spoon :beer:
Although it was a slightly annoying way to have a spend day it didn't turn out an expensive spend day yesterday so at least thats one thing and I think thats finally the last Christmas present for my OH bought! Nearly ended up with takeaway last night but indecision (because our usual Chinese is shut on Tuesdays) meant that it was actually quicker just to cook so I'm pleased - we didn't spend anything and ate much healthier food than fish and chips! :T

Today is looking good for a NSD. I've had lunch, got leftovers for dinner, got enough petrol for at least today and tomorrow and I don't want the deal of the day!

Thinking about future months as well - a lot of my spend days have gone on Christmas presents so when Christmas is over I will need to spend much less often!

Sorry to hear about your dog rising - my thoughts are with you x