A ginormous jump into 2012 with the January NSD challenge

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!

zafiro1984

Trying hard but failing. I just feel I want to download a book tonight, bury my head in it and read but that's will blow a NSD - decisions, decisions -where has the will power gone!!!

jaffacakegal

marmiterulesok wrote: »

Feeling a bit thick here,but I think that I follow you.:oThey have actually taken the money out of my account,so it isn't 'on hold' as far as I can see.The transaction is dated for this Monday.This happens quite a lot with me when I have DDs that are due out on a Monday(or if it's in the week,for the next day).Hope that makes sense.

At least it hasn't put me in the red.It's a first time that my rent's been taken out before I've been paid though.

Anyway,enough of that!Off to watch an episode of 'Rising Damp'...

I've had that happen to me before but the other way round! Showed my pay had gone in but it hadn't cleared, boss had definitely set it up for the day after but because it's within the same bank (Natw3st) it came through as if I had it already! I would count it as a spend on Monday

Today was NSD 17 :j

Supposed to be updating my CV but it's not happening!

JCG x

Delilahh

Managed it again today - two in a row (not that I've set a target for how many in a row), but I guess that puts me up to 9/10 NSD!! Or is it 8?? I've lost count!

Have run out of lunch stuff, and am working tomorrow so will be a spend day for me - food shopping on Sunday, so hopefully Monday I will be able to get to my target!

solventsoon

marmiterulesok wrote: »

Feeling a bit thick here,but I think that I follow you.:oThey have actually taken the money out of my account,so it isn't 'on hold' as far as I can see.The transaction is dated for this Monday.This happens quite a lot with me when I have DDs that are due out on a Monday(or if it's in the week,for the next day).Hope that makes sense.

At least it hasn't put me in the red.It's a first time that my rent's been taken out before I've been paid though.

Anyway,enough of that!Off to watch an episode of 'Rising Damp'...

Hi marmite

My understanding of DDs from personal and business experience is:

Money for DDs is requested from your account x days before it's due to go out, the "x" depends on your DD agreement. Some companies request the money 5 days before, some nearer to the payment due date.

Once that request is accepted by your bank, the money is allocated to the payee. It can still show as available on the account balance, this depends on the bank.

x days before the payment is due into the payee's account the money is taken from your bank account, the "x" depends on how long the banks take to transfer the money between themselves. Mostly this is the same day but when the payment is due on Monday it can be taken out on the Friday before to ensure it hits the payee's account on the date it is due.

The DD agreement(s) you signed should give you the numbers for the "x" figures.

Hope that helps and hope you enjoyed "Rising Damp". That is one of my favourite programmes ever, it never fails to make me laugh:D

spoon xx

solventsoon

zafiro1984 wrote: »

Trying hard but failing. I just feel I want to download a book tonight, bury my head in it and read but that's will blow a NSD - decisions, decisions -where has the will power gone!!!

I thought my nose was twitching.... now I know why !!:rotfl::rotfl:

zafiro - we do not "fail" here.... that word is not allowed:D

You have nabbed 13 NSDs so far this month, so have only spent on half of the available days. A lot of the lovely peeps on here would be delighted to reach 13 so be proud of what you've achieved and hold your head up high.

Maybe set yourself a slightly lower target next month and then when you achieve it (note I said "when", not "if") you can increase it.

Small steps - or "slowlee slowlee catchee monkey" :D

Hope that's cheered you up

spoon xx

solventsoon

Richy23 wrote: »

Could I join this thread please? Seems like a brilliant set of people and I love a challenge! Would love to see how many days I could go without spending! Especially as I work in a supermarket...buying things during break/after work is a problem for me sometimes!

:hello:Hi Richy and welcome

Yes, of course you may join, it would be great to have you on board.

We're a lovely friendly bunch - and very modest to boot - and all newbies soon feel at home here.

All you need to do is let me know how many NSDs you would like to aim for - there will be a new challenge posted for February within the next couple of days - and make yourself at home. Feel free to join in with the chat and you can post as often or as seldom as you want to.

There is only one rule here.... we don't fail.... ever :D

Welcome to the club

spoon xx

solventsoon

kerri_gt wrote: »

Honestly you two, you could give a girl a complex you know :rotfl::rotfl:

Oops... sorry Kerri :rotfl::rotfl:

kerri_gt wrote: »

Oh and Spoony, our second rule is NEVER EVER eat or drink anything cooked (or uncooked) by Igor on one of our virtual outings ... actually, that brings in rule 3 - never give Hubert (Poohbear59, he's our donkey) anything cooked or uncooked by Igor - there have been some disasterous consqeuences including me copping a cleaning bill for a (virtual) NY taxi after SOMEONE (Spoony) left me behind to break Hurbert out of jail....that's on NSD outing I don't want to repeat - I think the FBI have taken me off their most wanted list at last :cool:

Ahhh... now I've just remembered rule no 2....

Err..... are you sure it was me who left you in that taxi, I thought it was Nargle:D:D:D

solventsoon

Hi lovely gang:A

Well I seem to have been busy chatting tonight again:o:o

The update is done and I will post it tomorrow - I need my bed now..

Loads of targets tumbling today, well done everyone:T:T

See you all tomorrow

spoon xx

solventsoon

Hi lovely gang:A Friday's update finally arrives... better late than never..:o

Loads of NSDs rolling in today and more targets tumbling, well done everyone:

:j:j:jAllie Ballie Bee - well done for no 7, one more to get now, you can do it!

:j:j:jbeanie - well done for no 22 and target no 3 smashed now, that’s brilliant!:j:j:j
Your third prize is headed your way now, hope you like it
Increasing your target to 24 now, good luck with getting there

:j:j:jblindtoast - well done for no 14, target no 2 is within your grasp now keep going
Of course you can keep this up all year, we’re all behind you

:j:j:jRed - well done for no 21, you’re having a great month!
Hope you enjoy the retirement dinner - we’ll all be careful to whisper very quietly tomorrow morning

:j:j:jBroomstick - well done for no 23, target no 3 is within your grasp now keep going

:j:j:jbrummiebabe - well done for getting to no 14 one more to get now, you can do it!

:j:j:jBDINI - well done for no 16, target no 2 is within sight now, keep going
I’m really pleased you love your prize xx

:j:j:jCheryl - well done for no 16 and target no 3 smashed now, that’s brilliant!:j:j:j
Your third prize is headed your way now, hope you like it
Fingers crossed for a few more this month.
Hope you enjoy your meal out tomorrow x

:j:j:jDelilahh - well done for nos 8 and 9 and for all that resisting/ignoring, yay!!
One more go get now, you can do it!!

:j:j:jelfen - well done for no 13, one more to get now, you can do it!
I’m still intrigued as to why you’ve been so quiet.....

:j:j:jff - well done for no 17, that’s fab, keep going

:j:j:jfreebyfifty - well done for no 21 target no 3 is within sight now, you can do it!
Your spending plan is definitely working, well done you!

:j:j:jFrodo - well done for no 16 and your target smashed now, that’s brilliant!:j:j:j
Your prize is headed your way now, hope you like it
Increasing your target to 18 now, good luck with getting there

:j:j:jgreenanne - well done for no 12, not many to get now, keep going

:j:j:jJCG - well done for nos 16 and 17, you’re so close now, keep going
Glad you like the flying pigs x
Go and update your CV... you know it makes sense......

:j:j:jkaty721 - well done for no 12 and your target smashed now, that’s brilliant!:j:j:j
Your prize is headed your way now, hope you like it
Fingers crossed for some more this month

:j:j:jKerri - well done for no 12 and your target smashed now, that’s brilliant!:j:j:j
Your prize is headed your way now, hope you like it
Fingers crossed for some more this month
Oh dear to the shoes dilemma.. I had the same problem the first time I bought a pair of Cl@rkes shoes... they were incredibly comfortable though and lots of people years younger than me asked me where I had got them so that made me feel much better

:j:j:jNora - well done for no 15 and your target smashed now, that’s brilliant!:j:j:j
Your prize is headed your way now, hope you like it
Good luck with getting some more this month

:j:j:jLondonGirl252 - well done for no 11, target no 2 is within your grasp now keep going.
I’m glad you’re pleased with your prize, I have a soft spot for Eeyore as well

:j:j:jSazdaz - well done for getting to no 3, sometimes NSDs evade us no matter how hard we try. Keep going, you’ll get there

sirish1979 - well done for no 14, one more to get now, you can do it!

:j:j:jsf - well done for no 15 and your target smashed now, that’s brilliant!:j:j:j
Your prize is headed your way now, hope you like it

:j:j:jSuziQ1962 - well done for no 13, unlucky for some but not for you. Only 3 more to get now, of course you can do it!
Have a great weekend

:j:j:jThe Dragon - well done for no 18, target no 3 is within your grasp now keep going.



And hello to:

jinty - really pleased your mojo is returning, don’t let her get to you, you’re better than that!:A
Loving the shopping tales, I think Kerri might have a rival now - and you could be in line for a £1 million bonus next year if RB$ recognise your potential

chris - oh dear, sorry about the liquid gold but you can still make your target I’m sure:)

Kittikins - I’ve had my fingers crossed for you, hope you made it:)

rising - glad you’re pleased with your Eeyore prize, this is the second time you’ve tried to get him so it’s great that you’ve made it now!!:T
I’m in chatty mode again tonight so you’ll have plenty to read again tomorrow..:D
Well done for your spends today, that’s brilliant!! I reckon money transfers tomorrow and another 3 NSDs.. but then I would!!

marmite - pleased Kitty is OK after the trauma of her vet trip, hope you managed to get some undisturbed sleep. Glad you like the pigs:D

wannabee_in_credit - oh dear ...... sorry about the window cleaner. Maybe you could try the different pots that a lot of peeps here use, that might help?:)

ModestyB - grrrr to DH.. I’m with beanie, make him buy his own bread ....



And I'm up to no 24 now, only more to get for my Owl prize:j

Off to update the front page now then I might tackle Saturday's update:D

spoon xx