The Awesome August NSD Challenge

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!

muffin_man_7

havent managed to read the last couple of days but im still counting im up to 17 nsd
i am able to read posts on my phone but still cant post

Freebyfifty i think you're right its because its not a smartphone i hadnt thought of that talk and txt is all i usually use it for the internet was a treat for cutting down on choccy will keep up as much as i can i am on neighbours lappy again but not babysitting tonight
last couple of weeks been really bad hoping things will improve soon but wont hold my breath

hope everyone doing well going to have a quick read now

muffin_man_7

:bdaycake:HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEANIE FOR MONDAY HOPE YOU HAVE A BRILL DAY:bdaycake:

marmiterulesok

Sunday evening is here again already.:(

Hope you've all had a good weekend.So here's the update(lots of big numbers!):


BigMummaF well done on no.13 for yesterday!:j:j:j


spoon well done on getting no.20 yesterday!:j:j:j


Pips Mum well done on getting no.10 and 11!:j:j:j


stripeyjumpergirl well done,you've reached no.14!:j:j:j


if well done on reaching no.13!:j:j:j


poohbear59 well done,you've reached no.17!:j:j:j You never know,you might get no.19 in a few days.:)


red well done on getting no.17!:j:j:jHope you enjoyed the footie.


beanie well done on getting no.17!:j:j:jHave a lovely day tomorrow.Sounds like you're having a lovely birthday weekend.:)


Learning2Budget well done on reaching no.8!:j:j:jHope you all enjoyed your day out and the ice creams-a nice little saving there as well.:j


nat21luv well done on getting no.16!:j:j:j


muffinman7 well done on getting no.17!:j:j:j Sorry to hear that you've a tough time of it.I hope that things get better very soon for you.


As for me,no spends,not even budgeted ones,so that's no.22!:j:j:j


Hope you all have a good week!

freebyfifty

Good Morning

NSD #23 captured yesterday and my 2nd target hit :j I am going to increase it up to 26 and cross my fingers


Enjoy your bank holiday everyone, unfortunately it isn't one in Scotland so I'll have to go and put my nose to the grindstone again

Have a great day

marmiterulesok

Hi freeby,can I increase my target to 25 please?Thanks!

Learning2Budget

NSD 9 today i know its early but this will help me succeed. Got a spend today but budgeted for this yesterday when i had a spend day! Purse stays at home and only taking the £8 i need out with me.
L2B.x

Fae

NSD 13 yesterday and 14 today, think I will make my target NSD this month, just not my days in a row, still no holidays in September, so should be able to do better then

Fae

Igamogam

Creeping closer.......... now got 9

ModestyB

Hi Freeby, thanks for the sunflower, it's brightened my day. I won't be increasing my target as I would like a rose if I can get any more.
Atm I'm suffering a bloomin' chest infection so shouldn't be out spending. DH is though!:mad:
Hope everyone is well. Hugs to all in need of one. :grouphug: