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

suzitiger

Thanks BDINI for your lovely updates Well the gales are blowing strong here too but not as bad as over the border I'm sure..nearly got blown away several times today though :rotfl:

Despite having been out of the house twice I have managed a NSD, I did post something for my Dad today but he had already given me the money so if it is OK with you guys I would like to bank NSD #3 :T

Sorry to hear about ur heating beanie lou, hope it gets sorted soon, u must be freezing!

Hope you are also ok Rising, and everyone else in Scotland. Well done for being super prepared.

Nargle you make me laugh lots too, love ur posts. Sorry that u didn't get ur NSD but at least you got a lovely cardi, I am wearing my superwarm xmas jumper today, charity shop bargain from last year!!

sirish1979 Good luck with your exam, I think you deserve a treat after that! And having to travel into Reading at peak time, ouch! I used to live in Thatcham so i know how that feels. Least u know u'll get a seat in ur exam :rotfl:

LittleMissHappy_2

Just quickly popping on to say no NSD for me (as expected) as it is DH's birthday so we went out and spent some of his birthday money and I got him a couple of extra treats too
Going away tomorrow and don't know if I will be back here before Tuesday but I'll try

To all those lovely NSD'ers up North, stay safe and I'm keeping everything crossed for the hideous weather to ease asap xxx

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!

solventsoon

LittleMissHappy wrote: »

Just quickly popping on to say no NSD for me (as expected) as it is DH's birthday so we went out and spent some of his birthday money and I got him a couple of extra treats too
Going away tomorrow and don't know if I will be back here before Tuesday but I'll try

To all those lovely NSD'ers up North, stay safe and I'm keeping everything crossed for the hideous weather to ease asap xxx

Have a lovely time LMH and pleased you're feeling better xx

Thanks for the good wishes re the weather, it's awful up here, the wind is hideous:(



Hi everyone:A

Really sorry I haven't been around, not enough hours in the day. Will try to catch up with all your doings over the weekend and total up my NSDs as well.:)

'night everyone
spoon xx

rising_from_the_ashes

A big sigh of relief as the winds have dropped significantly this morning (from about 3am!).

Now ..... just the forecasted snow, blizzards and ice to contend with!:eek:

Roll on spring .......

jintyb

Good morning all!
Well things seem to have calmed down weather-wise here, thank goodness! Yesterday was a challenge to say the least!

Hoping for a low spend day today, zumba this morning then I'm doing a mystery shop. Have to go into town for that, so I will have a mooch around, do the visit and meet OH and get a lift home with him. I have some High St vchrs that I got for doing a survey so I can see a book purchase happening!

Just reading through the posts and I cant believe the amount of NSD's we're racking up, esp in December when there is a lot going on! Arent we clever little NSD'ers? :T:T:T

Have a great day everyone!

mooomin

Jinty, I love the smiley you used for your mystery shopping :rotfl:

I may well catch another one today. I'm going to a friends after work for dinner, but think she's doing Dine In For £10, so shouldn't have to spend. The weather is a lot better here this morning, last night the curtains in the living room were swaying because of the wind - and we've got double glazing :eek:

wannabehermit

Morning. Off to Iceland in a bit and to try to get birthday presents for niece, dad and one last thing for DD. Got to pop into the nursery that DD will hopefully be going to first, fingers crossed they can manage the days that I will be working.

Hope all of you are ok who suffered with the wind last night. Beanie, hope DS got home safely.

Here's something to cheer you all up, I haven't stopped laughing, I love it!...http://news.stv.tv/scotland/286149-omg-trampoline-storm-video-becomes-internet-hit/

his_missus

Are you all sitting down? This may come as a bit of a shock to you all BUT I have finally managed a NSD, my first one of December:j mainly due to the fact I am a) virtually completely skint and b) Hubby paid for cat supplies yest at Mr A's because he was buying himself some clothes.

Keiss_21

Well done his missus! :T:T

Spendy day today, posting parcel to Canada as well as wrong shoes sent for DS2 (though getting postage refund on that).

Also DS2 has an eye test this afternoon, not needing glasses, just a check up as he is diabetic. Will be going shopping afterwards though. Hope to get him a pair of new trousers...his large musculatr rugby-thighs makes this quite a challenge!! :) Calm down ladies...he's only 18! :rotfl:

Better get the wrapping finished. Have a great day...and keep wiggling!!