The Spend Free September NSD Challenge

optimistic-mummy

today will be another NSD for us. as we are staying at home today. proberly best as we have an expensive week ahead x

stripeyjumpergirl

Hello! NSD 1 for me today, please x

nat21luv

1st NSD for me today, first of many I hope!

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

Afternoon all :hello:

Got my 2nd NSD thank you :A

EverTheOptimist

Still at 0 NSD's so far this month. :eek: Havent been very organised so have had to pop to the shops for bits from Grocery budget.

I will improve as the month goes on, hubby has been at home for the last 10 days, as he goes away for 6 months from next Thurs, and i am always all over the place when he is home. So when he goes away, i will sit and go through the month and work out what i need grocery wise, birthdays, etc etc and plan my spends for the month. So i can get some much needed NSD's.

Well done to everyone with NSD's so far.

The_Dragon

Not doing so well - been stress Kindle book buying!

kerri_gt

freebyfifty wrote: »

Kerri – Well done on NSD #1. :T It sounds like you enjoyed the pub. :rotfl: Well done on getting OH to pay.

i had to check back this morning to make sure I hadn't written anything embarassing :rotfl: yes, lovely evening, nice to get out and as the pub is within walking distance we saved on taxis too. Also started going out a bit later, means we have enough time to get a few shandys in before closing, but don't end up going overboard :A I prob didn't need the blue WKD when I got home though :o

Not a NSD for me today, popped into mr A again, and ended up getting a big bag of spuds for 65p (30p a kg) - prob having mash with cabbage and pork stuffed with apricot stuffing for dinner tonight, nom nom

rubyinamountainofrocks_2

Hi

I would like to join in here please. Started last month and stopped updating and lost track! Would like to go slighly easier

with 10 NSDs & 3 in a row

please. Determined to keep updating this time and hoping today will be first NSD!

optimistic-mummy

:j:jwoopwoop. just got 2 small canvases for my bedroom wall off freecycle so still a NSD here :j:j