A ginormous jump into 2012 with the January NSD challenge

solventsoon

:jWELCOME TO THE JANUARY NSD CHALLENGE:j


January: the beginning of the new year and the month for making resolutions that (usually) don’t last beyond the first week - I’ve stopped counting how many times I’ve given up chocolate and alcohol:o and I’m sure you all have your own to confess. Why not make a different type of resolution this year? Come and join the NSD challenge and resolve to keep your hard-earned cash safe, loved and cossetted with you rather than being used and abused by those nasty retailers.


We are a happy (and some might say mildly insane) bunch doing battle with those retailers - and there’s plenty of temptation at the moment with all the sales on. We are seriously committed to saving money, but nobody said it can't be done with a smile on your face - so we organise riotous nights out and gatecrash any function going - all without leaving the comfort of our own imaginations or armchairs!

On a slightly more serious note, we are here to help each other avoid spending for the number of days we feel we can manage to try to take back some control over our hard-earned money. What you class as a "spend'" is entirely your choice; some people will try to shop on the days DD/SO etc are paid, whilst others will not include essentials such as rent. Have a look for a post from our sponsor (and godmother of this challenge) BigMummaF, this contains some guidelines and ideas for starting you off on the challenge.

It’s amazing how inventive you get when you’re determined NOT to spend - from weird menu ingredients to surprising DIY solutions - but you know what? 99% of the time those wacky ideas work.


There are lots of things for us to celebrate this month, apart from the obvious New Year, some ideas are below:

10th - The London Underground began operating in 1863 - anyone for a party on the Piccadilly Line
18th - A.A. Milne was born in 1882 - and that’s my excuse for the prizes this month
25th - Robert Burns was born in 1759 - now there’s a reason for an NSD outing if ever I heard one
26th - Australia Day - hmm.. is it possible to do Scotland and Australia in one day?


The link to our December thread is below so you can see what a friendly group we are. New recruits are joining up all the time - everyone is welcome so please don’t be shy, come and join us, the more the merrier.


:)Good luck everyone, our lucky mascot is joining us again for January




Here are some threads to help keep us on the straight and narrow, if you know of others, please post. Many of the lunch box ideas are aimed toward children and are great ideas now that everyone’s going back to work or school.

March Grocery Challenge, with lots of recipe ideas.
Tinned Food Recipes.
Leftovers? Don’t Throw It..
Exciting Sandwich Fillings on a Budget.
Lunch for Work.
Laptop Lunchbox Ideas.
Packed Lunches.
Cheap Healthy Snacks
Cheap Snack Ideas to Stop Buying Crisps.
Homemade Snack Ideas…contains further links for ideas.
Sprouting Seeds to Eat.
Really Quick & Alternative Snacks.
Easy Homemade Biscuits.
Muesli & Cereal Bar Recipes.
Weetabix Cake.
HM Popcorn.
Smoothie Recipes.
Yoghurt Without a Yoghurt Maker.
Ham Economics.
Low Carb Kids Lunches...contains advice for diabetics.
Kids Lunch Box Ideas.
Back to School Lunches.
Healthy Kids Snacks.
HM Lollies.
Ice Lolly Ideas
Cheap Healthy Playground Snacks.
Homemade Fudge.
OS HM Sweets.
Forgotten Puddings.
Making chocolates or sweets

Link to last month's challenge is below so any newcomers can see what we get up to (hmmmmm... on second thoughts, that might put you off:D...)

solventsoon

Hope you like the prizes this month, they're in honour of the anniversary of A.A. Milne's birthday.


I know we had Winnie the Pooh prizes in October but we have some different characters to aim for this time and I know a few of you are as fond of Winnie and his friends as I am so I hope you'll forgive me this little indulgence



target met =target no 2 met =
target no 3 met = target no 4 met =
target exceeded =




Thanks to all the regulars and newbies who have joined up already:D

Aarghusername - 14 12
ab.da54 - 10 5
Alleycat - 4
Allie Ballie Bee - 8 8
AlyBaly - 10 4
andrinaperry - 25
arrowlili - 15 15 target increased: 20 20 target exceeded : 22

beadgirl87 - 12 4
beanielou - 15 15 target increased: 19 19 target increased again: 22 22 target increased again: 24 24
bear77 - 10 2
beemuzed - 12 12
bex2002 - 15
BigMummaF - 14 7
blindtoast - 12 12 target increased: 15 15
BlushingRose - 5
bottleofred - 15 18target exceeded : 22
Broomstick - 16 16 target increased: 21 21 target increased again: 26 26 target exceeded: 27
brummiebabe - 15 15 target exceeded: 17
butdoineedit? - 15 15 target increased: 18 18
Butti - 9 7
Byatt - 15 11

cally6008 - 1
camuk81 - 10 8
candygirl - 15 2
castri09 - 10 3
catslovelycats - 20 15
cazmax - 10
ceri1969 - 15 4
cherylelizabeth1 - 20 7
chickywiggle - 8 2
Chocolatedrinker - 10 10
chris81418 - 19 19 target increased: 22 21
chrissie57 - 10 2
CommitedToChange - 10 7
cuddlymarm - 14
cw18 - 10 10 target increased: 14 14 target increased again: 16 16 target exceeded : 19

debbiedebt - 15 8
debtfreefuture - 10
debtfreeju - 18
Delilahh - 10 10
dreamerbea - 10
dobs - 10
donna dynamo - 10 10 target increased: 15 15 target increased again: 20 20 target exceeded : 21
DorsetGirl - 15 5
dumpy - 20 20

ebayqueen - 12 4
eeeeeee - 16
elfen - 14 14
Elz190 -10

fedupandskint - 18 17
flying_fresian - 12 12 target exceeded : 19
freebyfifty - 16 16 target increased: 20 20 target increased again: 23 23 target exceeded : 24

freshair - 15 7
Frodobaggins - 16 16 target increased: 18

greenanne - 15 13

Hiddenidentity - 25 25
Hillilly1 - 8
his missus - 15 15
hollysmum22 - 20 3

ifwishes - 17 17
Igamogam - 10 10 target increased: 15 15 target exceeded : 17
iwanttogoonholiday - 15 14
Izzie Wizzie - 10

J4mes - 20 4
jaffacakegal - 18 17
Jazee - 12 9
JES_F1 - 15 15 target exceeded : 19
jintyb - 15 15
jjef - 15 1
julytex - 20 11
JustDave - 8 8

kalojac - 12
katy721 - 12 12 target exceeded : 13
kdalwayskint - 15 14
Keiss 21 - 18 18 target increased: 20 20
kerri_dfw - 10 10 target exceeded : 11
kerri gt - 12 12 target exceeded : 14
Kerry78 - 15 1
kersplatt - 15 13
kezlou - 18 8
Kittikins - 15 15 target exceeded : 17
Knitting Nora - 15 15 target exceeded : 18

Learning2Budget - 10 10
leikela - 10 3
Libretia* - 15 4
lilian1977 - 10 1
LittleMissHappy - 12 12
LondonGirl252 - 10 10 target increased: 12 12 target increased again: 14 14
lotti379 - 12 11
LouWise - 10
LuckyLouise - 10 6
lynnette78 - 10 3

Machine - 15
*Mari* - 14 14 target exceeded : 16
marmiterulesok - 18 18
mavvysmum - 15 11
mazzymoo3 - 15 1
mfmaybe - 10 10 target increased: 14 14
mfu1098 - 16 16
miss_t - 10 10 target increased: 15 15
ModestyB - 15 15 target exceeded : 16
Mooglet71 - 10 2
Mrs Good Life - 10 2
ms_night_ryder - 10 7
muffin man 7 - 10 9
mumofjusttwo - 13 13 target increased: 18 18
mumsiemum - 15 15 target exceeded : 16
mumto2monkeys - 20 6
Munchin - 14 2
mytimetoshine2012 - 12 12 target increased: 14 14

Nargleblast - 10 10 target increased: 12 12
Nikadi - 10

oldestgnome - 10 6
oldtractor - 25 19
one_hit_wonder11 - 12 4
one hot minute - 10 2

phoebesmum2105 - 15 15
Pink_Giraffe - 15 15
pinkfluffybabe - 10 10
pipersky - 10 3
PurpleJay - 15 1
Purplemumof2 - 20 7
purpleruby - 15 2

QueenB. - 15 15

Rachel021967 - 8 4
Raspberrysauce - 12 9
Rebeccalb - 10
Redouble - 25 25
reevy - 10
RhiBi - 10 5
rhood - 8
risingfromtheashes - 15 15 target exceeded : 18

salkunh - 15
sammey90 -10 1
Sammy_Squirrel - 18 4
Sazdaz - 12 3
SeduLOUs - 15 1
shezam - 8 6
SillyBlondie - 15 15 target increased: 18 18 target increased again: 20 20
silvasava - 12 12 target exceeded : 13
sirish1979 - 15 15
slowlyfading - 15 15 target exceeded : 17
solventsoon - 20 20 target increased: 25 25 target exceeded : 26
Sox77 - 21 4
SpagBol - 10 5
Spendaholic Chick - 10 10
SpendSpendSpend - 15 4
spookybuffy - 8 5
Standingtall - 15
stardrops42 - 15 11
SuziQ1962 - 16 14
swarovski - 10 1

The Dragon - 10 10 target increased: 15 15 target increased again: 20 20 target exceeded : 21
thrifty fifty - 10 10
Tink_04 - 8
toottifrootti - 20 8
TwelveStopsThenHome - 10 10 target increased: 15 15 target exceeded : 18
thrifty fifty - 10 9
twirly09 - 16

wannabehermit - 10 8
wannabe_in_credit - 12 12 target increased: 15 15 target increased again: 18 18
WelshDreamer - 16 16 target exceeded : 18
wit40iwtwan - 20 10

yasmin2 - 12 10

zafiro1984 - 20 16

solventsoon

This is for anyone who wants to set themselves a target for a number of NSDs in a row. We had some impressive numbers on this over the past few months so if anyone would like to have a go at this, I'll add you here:D

Sox77 - 7 in a row


chris81418 - 6 in a row - made it woohoo
Redouble - 6 in a row - made it woohoo


Standingtall - 5 in a row
The Dragon - 5 in a row - made it woohoo
mfu1098 -5 in a row -made it woohoo
and increased to 7 in a row - woohoo
toottifrootti - 5 in a row
muffinman7 - 5 in a row
greenanne - 5 in a row
arrowlili - 5 in a row -made it woohoo
and increased to 6in a row

freebyfifty - 4 in a row - made it woohoo
and 8 in a row now - woohoo
Frodobaggins 4 in a row - made it woohoo
rising from the ashes - 4 in a row made it woohoo
debtfreeju - 4 in a row
marmiterulesok - 4 in a row
Machine - 4 in a row
Keiss 21 - 4 in a row - made it woohoo
QueenB. - 4 in a row


flying_fresian - 3 in a row
bottleofred - 3 in a row
debbieindebt - 3 in a row
beemuzed - 3 in a row
Chocolatedrinker - 3 in a row - made it woohoo
twirly09 - 3 in a row
Igamogam - 3 in a row
lynnette78 - 3 in a row
miss_t - 3 in a row - made it woohoo
dreamerbea - 3 in a row
Sazdaz - 3 in a row
Jazee - 3 in a row
RhiBi - 3 in a row
oldestgnome - 3 in a row - made it woohoo
brummiebabe - 3 in a row
CommitedToChange - 3 in a row
beemuzed - 3 in a row - made it woohoo

solventsoon

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

Thanks Spoon for doing the January thread, could you put me down for 17 NSD's please x :A

Spoony x

chris81418

Hello everyone! :wave:

Thanks for January's thread Spoon! You're a star! :starmod:

I'd like to pledge my usual 19 NSDs, as well as my regular 6 NSDs in-a-row in the Hall of Fame please - thanks again Spoon! :money:

Good luck everyone with collecting NSDs in 2012 - in keeping with the 2012 Olympics coming to our shores, lets see if we can break some MSE NSD records!!

Frodobaggins

Hi Spoon, hope you are well. Thanks for running this thread, you are a star.:T
Could you put me down for 16 NSD's and 4 in a row please.

freebyfifty

Hi Spoon and thanks for the new January thread.

Can I be put down for 16 NSD's with 4 in a row , please.

Ooops......I'm not copying you Frodo - honest

Pink_Giraffe

Hi there, can I join in please?

I'm going to aim for 15 NSDs this month, I think that sounds do-able!

Pink

thrifty_fifty

Morning!

Not feeling as brave as the others on here, so may I join up for 10 NSDs please? Proud to say I haven't bought anything in the sales this year. Wahoo.

mooomin

I've managed my 10 NSDs for the last two months, so think it's time to up it to 12 NSDs please with 3 in a row :eek:

I don't count direct debit days as breaking NSDs as I have a separate account for this and transfer the money to it on payday. I have no idea what days my direct debits come out, just that they're all taken care of by the time I get paid again!