The Spend Free September NSD Challenge

EverTheOptimist

So sorry to hear your news Flubberyzing. Thinking of you and your friend.

On other news NSD 10 for me, target reached, wont set a new target but will still try for another 1 - 2.

Am really looking forward to the weekend, after living and breathing my coursework and presentation for the last two weeks, i completed it this evening, essay handed in (25 pages :eek:) and 53 min presentation done. And it wasnt the worst 53 minutes of my life.

kerri_gt

EverTheOptimist wrote: »

So sorry to hear your news Flubberyzing. Thinking of you and your friend.

Busy day for me, and crammed in a lunchtime boot camp - on my own, so bascially a PT session - bit damp but really good :A

Not a NSD for me (again) stopped at Half0rds to pick up some scratch remover stuff, and some touch up paint for my car if the scratch remover doesn't do the job to all the damage. Also thinking of purchasing the new trim on fleabay tonight just to get it don and over with. Totally unorganised this month. argh! :mad:

Victoria_Ke

NSD 10 for yesterday and NSD 11 for today. :j

butdoineedit?

Apologies all if this update is a bit rubbish, i currently have my eyelids propped open with matches ha ha!!

Targets met today:

penny73 – well done for number 9 & target met!! :j:j
:eek: to the price of the coat though!!

Learning2Budget – well done for number 18 & 2nd target met!! :j:j
Freeby will increase your target to 20 when she updates the front page.

EverTheOptimist – well done for number 10 & target met!! :j:j
Great news that your presentation went so well, fingers crossed for your essay too!!

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

solventsoon – well done for number 23, I’d be a very happy Spoony already with a total like that!! :j:j
(Note to Freeby – please increase our Spoon’s target to 25 when you get a mo!)

freebyfifty – well done for number 25, you’ve had another brilliant month!! :j:j

rubyinamountainofrocks – well done for number 9, you’re doing great!! :j:j

poohbear59 – well done for number 12, keep going you can do it!! :j:j

The Dragon – well done for number 19, you’re doing great!! :j:j
Hope everything is ok?

Loubell83 – well done for number 9, you’re doing great!! :j:j

ModestyB – well done for number 9, keep going you can do it!! :j:j

slowlyfading – well done for number 16, you’re doing great!! :j:j

donna dynamo – well done for number 11, keep going you can do it!! :j:j

beanielou – well done for number 18, you’re doing great!! :j:j

rising from the ashes - well done for number 19, you’re doing great!! :j:j

Victoria Ke - well done for numbers 10 & 11, you're doing great!! :j:j

And hello to:

ifwisheswerehorses... – definitely agree with that cartoon – there is already far too much of the “C word” at work for my liking!!

flubberyzing – so so sorry to hear about your friend’s daughter, I can’t even begin to imagine what they are going through, but what a lovely gesture in their grief to raise money for the cause & I think that making your donation is clearly so much more important than an NSD in this case.

& i more for me, so that's number 7 & only one more to hot my target :j:j

bottleofred

Good morning folks,

I've had a very busy couple of days, hence my absence. On a positive front though, I'm able to declare NSDs 15 & 16 for Tuesday and Wednesday:D
I think I may have exceeded my target and will just see how it goes until the end of the month. As Mrs Red is providing the spending money for the holiday though (I paid for it:)) I could have 1 or 2 more NSDs between now and the end of the month:) Today definitely won't be an NSD, as I'm off and going to get my haircut and buy some holiday supplies. I'm leaving first thing in the morning for a week of sunshine (hopefully), so will post again on my return. I hope everyone is well as I've not yet caught up on the posts, although send hugs to anyone who needs them:)

freebyfifty

Good Morning

NSD #26 for me yesterday :j


Lots of targets reached and exceeded and lots of prizes given :T We are brilliant :T


Red - Have a fantastic holiday, I've given you your prizes so you can see them before you jet off to the sun

Dragon - Hope things get better for you soon, there's nothing worse than feeling stressed

Flubbery - How truly awful, that's everyone's worst nightmare. Sending you a ((((hug)))) to pass onto your friend coz she's gonna need loads

BDINI - Thanks for the update. You're an :A


Have a great friday eve everyone

Munchin

Hi all

7 NSDs so far so slightly of target but it's a a start:)

slowlyfading

It's going to be NSD 17 for me today - just realised I've forgotten to bring my lunch with me to work but have no money, so think it's going to be a long day....

freebyfifty

Link to October challenge

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/56130903#Comment_56130903



I know it's a little bit early but I have the day off and wanted to get it up and running in case I don't have time at the weekend

Enjoy

IF

Link to October challenge - Click here

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!