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

BlushingRose

ooooh, how do you post pictures (not emoticons) into your post?

We have had some NSDs this month but I'm not going to join the challenge until Jan, when I shall make it all official at this end with a chart on the wall here at home...*is a bit anal like that*

IF

Afternoon NSD'ers :hello:

Knitting_Nora

*wanders in*

NSD #5 for me today please...

*wanders out feeling a little smug to have finally got another NSD*

Nora.x

Hiddenidenity

NSD number 15 here. Im not going anywhere today as Im terribly hungover :rotfl: It was free alcohol tho :rotfl:

solventsoon

jintyb wrote: »

Good morning all!

Lots of black ice around here this morning - slipping all over the place with doglet this morning!

Had a great time with Mum at the Christmas market. We had a lovely lunch and then spent a couple of hours toddling around the stalls and watching the kids on the ice rink and at the fair! My Mum had never been into see all that at Christmas as my Dad cant walk too far, so it was great to see her enjoy it!
Treated each other to a lovely Christmas decoration - not really expensive but worth every penny!

Today I plan to have a NSD - OH is working so I am going to get stuck into the housework and finish my wrapping. Not much to do now, but it will be good to get it finished!



I've noticed Spoon hasnt been around much lately - I hope you're ok? Not the same without a wee post from you!




Have a lovely day everyone

Hi jinty and everyone :santa2:
I'm fine thanks jinty, just mega-busy, work has gone mad over the past couple of weeks and I seem to be meeting myself coming back.

I do pop in and keep an eye on you all to make sure you're behaving yourselves though:D and I have managed to rack up 13 NSDs so far (although I seem to have forgotten to actually join up this month, ooops:o:o).

Glad you enjoyed the market and be careful on that ice x


I've nicked.. sorry "borrowed" this from the NTN thread, a Tigger wiggle for a Saturday:D:D

Will be back soon, miss you all

spoon xxx

bottleofred

Good Afternoon folks,

I hope everyone is enjoying the weekend so far, although wrap up well if you're going out, as it is very very cold. Just popping in to declare NSD14 please:beer:

Cherryjack

Good Morning everyone, im back to declare NSD NO 8:j:j

zafiro1984

Managed 5 NSD's this week which takes my total to 10. Should have another one tomorrow, delivery from Tesco's Tuesday and then I don't intend going out until Fri/Sat. I'll probably do my bits and pieces on Friday and make sure I have everything, Saturday is when I go to Sainsbury and spend my Nector points on bargains £46.00 plus this year. No doubt it will be a bit of a bun fight this year. Can't remember if I got Bargains before Christmas or just after last year.

IF

BDINI got my 11th NSD yesterday thank you x :A

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!