The Autumnal October NSD Challenge

IF · 2 October 2012 at 5:41PM

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!

oopsadaisydoddle · 2 October 2012 at 5:44PM

Hi all! I have decided (if it's allowed) that I will in fac count yesterday as a NSD because the money I spent I didn't actually hand over to my friend until today (Avon hair stuff). I have spent £1.84 today because I wasn't organised for lunch and I got some sweeties when I posted my eBay things (haven't had sweet shop sweets for ages)!

I will be spending tomorrow as am off to see George Michael and am going for eats first.

Haven't read all of the replies but hope everyone else is doing well!x

stripeyjumpergirl · 2 October 2012 at 6:10PM

Hello everybody! NSD 1 caught today x

OutofDebt-NOT-OutofDanger · 2 October 2012 at 6:46PM

NSD #1 successfully captured today :j

LMac · 2 October 2012 at 6:57PM

NSD1 for me today.

Someone (sorry - cant re-find the post!) said they looked at the calender and worked out when they could have NSDs. Thanks for that tip - think it will work well for me. I love planning. No idea why I didnt think of it before! Clearly not genius enough

rising_from_the_ashes · 2 October 2012 at 7:00PM

citizenkitten wrote: »

I have a dd that goes out to another bank account for food, otherwise my food bill can end up at *400* a month COUGH COUGH! yes just me...

As others have said ... up to you. I have an account that all my d/debits come out of & I transfer money on payday - that day counts as a spend but all the individual d/debits don't.

Petrol, I also don't count as it's an essential and also an 18 mile round trip to the fuel station so I tend to top up if I'm passing one so I don't have to make a journey (and waste all that liquid gold!) just to get it.

Groceries - still having a debate about this one myself!

webitha wrote: »

well i have had an enforced ns october for this week.....i have lost my purse so have had to cancel my cards and get them reissued

Ohhhhh no, it's such a pain when that happens - my cards were frauded (is that a word?) earlier this year and it was a nightmare waiting for the new ones!

Beanielou well done on the WL :T Giggles fingers crossed for the interview outcome

No 2 for me today ......