The Jubilant June NSD Challenge

ladymay

Slowlyfading, I have one too. Not many people read mine, but although it started out being all about money it's become my confessional I guess because everything's anonymous I can be a lot more honest on here. Not a single person in RL knows what's truly going on with my finances, and my diary, whether people read it or not, is my place to be completely honest with myself. So basically I guess it's about whether you find it useful or not...

What's the name of your diary? I'll subscribe

IF

Morning all :hello:

freeby, LMH and BDINI up to 10 NSD's thank you all xxx:A:A:A

Delilahh

Just clocking in with another one from yesterday:

4/13 NSD's!

jaffacakegal

slowlyfading wrote: »

Yes it is, even in my little car! :eek:

A question for you lovely people: I have a diary on the DFW board, but I just talk to myself mostly - is there any point in keeping it? I feel a bit silly talking to myself all the time, clearly my life is not exciting

I think if it is helping you then you should carry on. Not sure if I subscribe to yours? If I do then I'm a lurker, sorry! I used to have one, but I just felt like I was feeling sorry for myself and making promises I couldn't keep to myself Oh and I don't have time to update!

NSD 7 yesterday, exam went ok I think. 4-6 weeks til I find out! Next exam next Tuesday! Only a few more weeks :j

JCG xx

LittleMissHappy_2

jaffacakegal wrote: »

exam went ok I think. 4-6 weeks til I find out!

Everything is crossed, I'm sure you did a great job, it's nice when you think an exam has gone ok/good/great

jaffacakegal wrote: »

Next exam next Tuesday! Only a few more weeks :j

:eek: I don't envy you another exam :eek: But really good luck and I will be thinking of you xxx

LittleMissHappy_2

slowlyfading wrote: »

A question for you lovely people: I have a diary on the DFW board, but I just talk to myself mostly - is there any point in keeping it? I feel a bit silly talking to myself all the time, clearly my life is not exciting

I agree with everyone else, if you feel it is helping you should continue I don't really go on those boards very much as when I do I get sucked in by everybodies stories and I can spend some serious time there without even realising it!!!

LittleMissHappy_2

beanie - great news about DS, I bet you are very proud! :T

ModestyB

JCG, good luck with your exams.

LMH, glad yours went well. Sorry I haven't said so before, blooming Firefox keeps playing up.

A big welcome to any newbies I may have missed.

I'm determined today is going to be NSD 6. I refuse to leave the house.

Big hugs to any who are unwell or worried.

IF

JCG, good luck with your exams from me too :beer:

Beanie - great news about DS, love good news me :dance:

IF

freebyfifty 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!