Go TEAM GB July NSD Challenge

freebyfifty

Good Morning


Welcome everyone to the July NSD challenge.

A special :wave: to Chris and Spoony - it's brilliant to have you back and a great big to all the new folks.

I hope everyone does really well

badger_

Pinch punch first of the month, no returns of any kind!!



Everyone!! Happy NSDing!!

deep_in

Lol badger dd just did that to me :rotfl:

emslovesmickey

First day is never an NSD for me cos i pay the rent. Oh well, lots more days to go!

badger_

Where's the white bunnies gone *boo*

deep_in wrote: »

Lol badger dd just did that to me :rotfl:

haha I was too sleepy when I left the house to do it to OH :rotfl:

Pips_Mum

Morning All

I think today will be my first NSD as I haven't any energy for shopping having spent from 9pm till 1am in A&E with little one who decided in his wisdom to eat a 2p coin! I suppose he was being MSE with it!

Have a good day x

The_Dragon

Not planning on any spending today - so #1 under my belt already

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!

bottleofred

Good afternoon folks:),

It's been a funny day weather wise so far in NI, with scattered showers and sunshine:eek:. I haven't done too much today, although went for the weekly visit to my parents, which is about a 40 minute drive (hence only once per week!). I am actually able to declare an NSD on the 1st day of the month, as the banks are closed and my direct debits can't be taken out until tomorrow:D. I am therefore declaring NSD1 for today please:beer::D.
I hope everyone enjoys the rest of the weekend. Red is off to open a bottle or 2 of Red:)

LondonGirl252

I did aim for today to be NSD but bought myself some smoothies and veg to boost my immune system, next two days are budgeted to be spend free however!

Hope everyone is having a nice Sunday!