Go TEAM GB July NSD Challenge

rising_from_the_ashes

Finally off the mark - No 1 today!:j

Been to visit DPs, had a yummy lunch , watched some tennis, came home & cut the grass (just in case it rains tomorrow!).

Finally got the new cat litter to try (was delivered to DPs) which is *supposed* to be very economical to use (slightly more expensive to try but apparently lasts for ages) so one tray now has that in / the other the old stuff ..... undertaking a very scientific study!:rotfl:

slowlyfading

Finally got NSD 1 today

deep_in

Day # 2 for me pls

stripeyjumpergirl

Hello! NSD 2 for me today, please x

OutofDebt-NOT-OutofDanger

Hi,

Reporting NSD #3 today.

kerri_gt

freebyfifty wrote: »

NSD #2 for me yesterday. :j

I have the day off today but am planning on cleaning the house from top to bottom.
Why do we feel the need to go on holiday leaving a cleaner house than it is when we're at home?? :mad: Am I hoping any intruders may so impressed with my standards of cleanliness they decide just to leave again.:rotfl:


Have a great day

I have that too - there's something I hate about coming back to a house that feels 'dusty' IYKWIM. Part of me even likes the fact our current kit now goes into a cattery so i know that all the cat hair I hoovered up before leaving will still be gone when I get home.

Not a NSD for me today I'm afraid, had to can boot camp as ankle still painful so moved it tomorrow (which I'll be going to come hell or high water even if i have to hop through some of it) so took the time to hobble into town and stock up on some exciting things like tin foil, baking paper and more nuts (put some in my banana cake last light....yes the one I made when I was supposed to be resting...to use them up and it was so yummy I got some more :rotfl:) Back on the NSD wagon for me tomorrow....errr...can anyone give me a hand up please? I can't hop that high :rotfl:

emslovesmickey

Number 2 for me today - my brother treated me to a Domino's as well so i'm stuffed

beanielou

Kerri~You do make me laugh.

OrganisingMyLife

So far today have not been able to buy anything as was running late for work and was dropped of at the station on the way home so didn't go via the shops!

As long as I can resist purchasing anything this evening online... Must read my book or do my marking instead of buying anything - although I would really like to be asleep as am very tired!

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!