A ginormous jump into 2012 with the January NSD challenge

wannabee_in_credit

Looking forward to hearing the baby news Cheryl. How very exciting.
I knew that once I was back at work the nsd's would start again. Reporting
#14 today. Yes!

Aaarghusername

No spend day 12 for me! Woo!

kerri_gt

Hi-de-hi campers! Just a whistle stop by from me tonight, working late so v.behind this evening, on the up side... NSD # 10 :j Not spent a bean today, did take some more clothes to 'The Wardrobe' so fingers crossed they will sell when it opens this weekend, saw some of the other things I'd taken priced and if they do sell I'll be quite pleased

Happy Birthday ms_night_ryder, and Cheryl, looks like you might get your b'day wish after all (though if baby arrives after midnight that will be my OH b'day )

sorry to hear about the trip to the vet cats - sometimes the kindest thing for our pets is the hardest thing for us xx

Had a lovely chicken casserole for dinner tonight, cheated a bit using a packed casserole mix, but did use frozen casserole veg that I'd bagged up last time I made a beef one, and used chicken leg portions (cut them between the drumstick and the thigh) to be frugal, so tender it's falling off the bone - nom nom nom. So got some shepherds pie and now this to freeze up.

Tomorrow won't be a NSD, got a b'day at work (so somehow I'm getting the cake and card, and I wish some others who I think are giving to the collection would cough up, they are being very evasive atm) and as a surprise going to make fajitas for OH as they are one of his favs (even splashing out on some chicken breast for it). Thankfully its payday this week, but cupboards looking pretty well stocked atm so prob no need for grocery shopping until the weekend and even then I need to plan to use what we have in the freezer.

Sorry, waffling....

JES_F1

NSD #16 today!

And payday tomorrow - at last!

:j

SillyBlondie

NSDs for yesterday and today please, taking me to 15 and I've reached my 1st target. :j

Please can I up my target to 18?

jintyb

Just popping in to catch up with you all!

Cheryl - how exciting - hope your birthday wish comes true and all goes well!


Frodo - so sorry to hear about ur guinea pig hugs.


Got #11 today - bought a season tkt for train, but that doesnt count under my rules, plus its MSE as it saves money.

Also - drum roll - I picked up my Kindle! Have loaded a couple of free books to try it. Havent got my cover yet, so I wont be going anywhere with it yet. It feels very strange and it will take a bit of getting used to - but really exciting. I do like my "real" books though, and I feel a bit guilty using the "shiny new thing". Does that sound daft??

Off to bed now, feel knackered after first day back at work and a zumba class.

Night night campers!:)

Chocolatedrinker

Got my 3 in a row today!!! and 8/10 for January!

Keiss_21

Happy Birthday Cheryl and ms_night_ryder...hope you have had a great day. What fun having a GC born on your birthday Cheryl...a marvellous present!! Your fella certainly sounds like a good 'un, what a lovely thoughtful present!!

A spendy day today...and maybe tomorrow too. I'm meeting up with my client (only one so far!) to discuss what other IT work she wants done. I haven't seen her since the beginning of November due to various things happening in each of our lives. I am going to mooch through her sales stuff at the shop, so may well be buying a few bits!! She is buying me lunch, so that's good...and giving me my latest pay-cheques too! :j So if I am really good, I could make it an NSD. Just remembered I have a parcel to send to my nephew, so that'll scupper the NSD! He is 16 on Thursday, so it really should be posted tomorrow

Oh well, I'll just have to make the rest of the week NSDs to make up for it all!! :rotfl:

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!

Frodobaggins

NSD#14 for me today please.