The Spend Free September 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 thefirst 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!

kerri_gt

Evening all, well I was up with the larks this morning, had been to the bank, the sewing shop, took the wrong washers I was sold back to the big orange DIY shop, fell into A$sa (this glitching lark is playing havok with my NSD) and was back home by 10.45am :eek: Brielfy popped out to a local farm estate to try and get some preserves / honey for xmas gifts but managed to choose a day when everyone had gone to a show and taken most of the produce, typical me. Also found out there's not a lot of honey as the bees are poorly still have details and can apparently place an order to collect when chef if back.

Blitzed the top floor today, bedrooms all cleaned incl windows (can now see how bad the are outside ) and downstairs earmarked for tomorrow. Took me about 6hrs in total today - amongst work interruptions - darn it I'm on holiday! oh well, emails were a nice change from dusting cobwebs

marmiterulesok

kerri I hope that you manage a day off from all this housework or are you one of those people always on the go-even on your holidays?!

solventsoon

Hi lovely people :wave:

Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s update coming up in a bumper edition. There are loads of posts to get through so sorry but I don’t have time to chat, this is a very basic update:o....

Welcome to:

:hello: Xandersmum - hi and welcome, of course you may join, you’re very welcome. Freeby will add you to the front page with your 6 NSDs. Good luck with getting your target, you can do it!



Well done to:

:j:j:jRed - yay to nos 8 and 9, you’re doing brilliantly, keep going!
Sorry you’re feeling a bit stressed, love the destressing plan for the weekend though

:j:j:jBritAbroad - yay to no 4, halfway there now, that’s fab!
And no 5 nabbed as well now, you’re doing brilliantly!

:j:j:jchris_debtfreewannabe - yay to your first official NSD, hopefully loads more to come.
And no 2 nabbed as well now, you’re doing brilliantly!

:j:j:jdebtbegone - yay to no 8, definitely over halfway now, you can do it!

:j:j:jdonna dynamo - yay to no 5, you’re doing brilliantly, keep going!

:j:j:jEverTheOptimist - yay to no 2, that’s brilliant. Glad hubby is OK.
And no 3 safely nabbed as well now, keep going!

:j:j:jFae - yay to no 7, you’re doing brilliantly, keep going!

:j:j:jflubberyzing - yay to no 7, you’re doing brilliantly, keep going!
Sorry to hear about your friend x
And no 8 safely nabbed now, you’re nearly there!

:j:j:jfreeby - yay to no 10, double figures now, that’s brilliant!

:j:j:jHeffi1 - yay to no 4, nearly halfway now, you can do it!

:j:j:jIf - yay to no 7, you’re doing brilliantly, keep going!
Love today’s cartoon......

:j:j:jJCG - yay to no 3, you’re doing brilliantly, keep going!
Fingers definitely crossed re the interviews, I’d cross my toes as well but walking’s difficult like that. What a lovely friend you have

:j:j:jL2B - yay to no 7 and again for a fabulous 5 in a row. Keep going!
And no 8 safety nabbed and a fabulous 6 in a row now, you’re doing brilliantly

:j:j:jLoubell83 - yay to no 4, nearly halfway now, you can do it!

:j:j:jmarmite - yay to no 9, nearly halfway now, you can do it!
Wow to the decluttering, you’re doing brilliantly
And no 10 safely nabbed, halfway there now!

:j:j:jmissyv30 - yay to your first official NSD, hopefully loads more to come. Hope your throat is getting better, swallowing hedgehogs isn’t much fun
And no 2 nabbed as well now, you’re doing brilliantly!

:j:j:jModestyB - yay to no 4, nearly halfway now, you can do it!
And no 5 nabbed as well now, you’re doing brilliantly!

:j:j:jNargle - yay to no 6, over halfway now, you can do it!
And no 7 nabbed as well now, you’re doing brilliantly!
I know.... baked beans with fish in the sauce sounds yuk.... I’m sure Igor must have a hand in that somewhere

:j:j:jOodNood - yay to no 9, you’re doing brilliantly, keep going!

:j:j:joptimistic-mummy - yay to no 6, over halfway now, you can do it!
At least, I hope it’s no 6, there’s nothing on your post so I’m just going by your signature

:j:j:jpenny73 - yay to no 7, you’re doing brilliantly, keep going!

:j:j:jPickle - yay to NSD no 1, off the starting blocks now. Keep going!

:j:j:jpoohbear59 - yay to no 7, you’re doing brilliantly, keep going!

:j:j:jrising - yay to no 7, nearly halfway now, you can do it!
Fingers crossed Maisie gets over her phobia of your back garden at night... little monkey indeed

:j:j:jrubyinamountainofrocks - yay to no 4, nearly halfway now, you can do it!

:j:j:jsf - and no 7 for you, that’s fab!

thriftylass - yay to nos 4 and 5, nearly halfway now, you can do it!
And no 6 nabbed now, you’re doing brilliantly!

:j:j:jVictoria Ke - yay to no 5, halfway there now, that’s fab!
Hmmm..... I think you might be eating lots of chilli with those two ingredients

:j:j:jxKazi - yay to no 5, that’s brilliant. Keep going

solventsoon

And NSD no 10 for me, so halfway there :j:j:j:j And, yes, I'm very happy about that :D


'nght everyone :wave:

freebyfifty

Good Morning

Sorry I didn't have time to post yesterday I just had time to update the front page so I've not really been neglegting you

Another 2 in the bag for me now taking me up to NSD #12. :j


Have a great day everyone

Loubell83

Reporting NSD#5 for me yesterday - made it to halfway! :j

Although now I do not think I will get another NSD until at least Sunday, so really need to push hard next week!

slowlyfading

Today is NSD 8 for me have a good day everyone!

Learning2Budget

Claiming early for NSD 9 & 7 in a row refusing to leave the house with my purse......it remains hostage. Instead i am having a fly lady day and sorting junk with a view to sell a few bits. L2B.x

thriftylass

Last night didn't have to cook tea as hubby still no well and I just had leftovers. Will hopefully have last nights planned dinner tonight then. Should be able to manage NSD number 7 today..on a roll :j