The "Cripes, Christmas is almost here" December NSD thread

Frodobaggins

I'm afraid today is going to be another spend day. Not a good day to have to go out shopping, its cold, raining and very windy here!

elfen

NSD no 5 for me please....ill again

wannabehermit

Morning all, I'm coming in early and declaring nsd3 :j.

I have no plans whatsoever to spend today. I'm not going to buy anymore Christmas presents until Amazons cyber Monday week is over, and have nothing to buy today so I'm happy with how they're coming in so far - one every other day. If they came like that all the time, that would be very welcome indeed. Yesterday was shopping day, need to go and add that up but was only about £56 in total, tomorrow I'm going to do an Iceland shop and get that delivered, and hopefully Friday will be non-spendy as although there is money to send to school it has already been allocated last week when there was (yet more) money being sent into school.

I was very impressed with Amazon delivery actually. The books that I ordered on Monday afternoon, with Free super saver delivery, arrived yesterday morning. :T Yay for Amazon and efficient service.

IF

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

Afternooon all :hello:

Declaring my 4th NSD early today BDINI and thanks for doing the December thread too x :A

marmiterulesok

ifwisheswerehorses... wrote: »

Afternooon all :hello:

Declaring my 4th NSD early today BDINI and thanks for doing the December thread too x :A

Thanks for the above,very amusing.I can't add an exclamation mark as the cat is lying on my left arm.It's more than my life's worth to disturb her........Until she decides to stalk off in feline indignation at some pathetic human misdemeanour.Happens a lot in this house.

I've managed #3 today.Hopefully another tomorrow.

jaffacakegal

Hey,

Monday was NSD 2

Went to H0bbycraft and A$da Tuesday. Spent money which I didn't intend on spending! Oh well!

Got 1 exam outta the way yesterday, another next Tuesday, and a couple of concerts between now and then! Be glad when these out of the way, and can concentrate on other stuff in my life!

JCG x

slowlyfading

Yesterday was number 4 and today is number 5

donna_dynamo

Hi all managed an NSD yesterday and today. That makes a new total of 3 NSD's. Just found out i have one days holiday left at work to book so i now have no worries about who will pick up DD1 next week. Thats a load off my mind and i will also get the extra time to wrap the kiddie winks presents.

Keiss_21

((((((Hugs)))))) to everyone feeling ill and under the weather, or just needing cheering up.

Woohoo, picked up NSD #4 today :j

Thought I was going to have to spend today, but decided not to in the end. Things can wait until another day...Friday hopefully!!

Hope you have all had a good day x