The Awesome August NSD Challenge

lotti379

I would like to declare NSD number 1!

This was mainly achieved through discovering 7 eggs still ok in the fridge, therefore not going to market in town, therefore renewing library books online, therefore going NOWHERE NEAR either h*mebase or those nice chaps to the side of my local store who clean your car in double quick time...

As a result I saved many pennies by not being tempted in town (I suspect something would have got me had I given it the chance!), and by cleaning the car myself. This was quite a daunting job as I have been meaning to do it for... oh, about a year... :eek:

Ooooh and I also made cereal bars for my swim sessions, from a Hugh F-W recipe, all oats, fruit, nuts and honey, very sweet but yummy, and used up some bits from the cupboards so I know exactly what has gone in them! Just need to be a bit more regular with the swimming now

Off to Ikea and dinner in the big smoke with an old mate today, spendy spendy... Oh dear. Hope everyone is feeling good so far!

The_Dragon

#2 snaffled yesterday (must go update sig!) - today is a spending day though

thriftylass

Gonna jump the gun and already declare NSD nr 1 today. Yesterday was expensive with hairdresser and grocery top up so the purse stays shut today.

Good luck
TL

Fae

Love the picture badger :rotfl: Hopefully I should get NSD 2 today but will come back later to confirm. Happy Friday all

Fae

poohbear59

Thank you for the new thread. I am going to try for a realistic number of NSDs this month so aim to have 15 NSDs and 4 in a row.

kettlenic

I managed 3 in a row this week so chuffed - the weekend will be a challenge will see if I can clock any up - might make today as well

butdoineedit?

Sorry yesterdays update is so late, popped out to see a friend & got home later than expected, so here it is.....

A big welcome to:

jaffacakegal – signing you up for 10, good luck!! :j:j

ModestyB - signing you up for 10, good luck!! :j:j
& well done for number 1 too!! :j:j

deep in - signing you up for 12, good luck!! :j:j
& well done for number 1 too!! :j:j

poohbear59 - signing you up for 15 & 4 in a row, good luck!! :j:j

Lots of NSDs rolling in today, so well done to:

The Dragon – well done for numbers 1 & 2, you‘re off the mark!! :j:j

freebyfifty – well done for numbers 1 & 2, you’re off to a great start!! :j:j

badger_ - well done for numbers 1 & 2, you‘re off the mark!! :j:j

Tiggy10 - well done for number 1, you’re off to a great start!! :j:j

ifwisheswerehorses... - well done for number 1, you‘re off the mark!! :j:j

Fae - well done for number 1, you’re off to a great start!! :j:j

Pips Mum – well done for number 1, glad you are getting to grips with the “pots” system :j:j

HOHOHOoffwegoKaren41 - well done for number 1, you‘re off the mark!! :j:j

bottleofred - well done for number 1, you’re off to a great start!! :j:j

Loobeyloop - well done for number 1, you‘re off the mark!! :j:j

beanielou - well done for number 1, you’re off to a great start!! :j:j

marmiterulesok - well done for number 1, you‘re off the mark!! :j:j

emslovesmickey - well done for number 1, you’re off to a great start!! :j:j

solventsoon - well done for number 1, you‘re off the mark!! :j:j

lotti379 – well done for number 1 & for resisting temptation!! :j:j

thriftylass - well done for number 1, you‘re off the mark!! :j:j

kettlenic – well done for number 3, you’re doing great!! :j:j

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!

IF

Afternoony all :hello:

Got my 2nd NSD thank you :A

beanielou

Happy hair thrifty