The Autumnal October 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!

IF

Evening :hello:


Got my 2nd NSD thank you :A

beanielou

I think SW might suit you rising.
Look online for the sample 7 day plan & see what you think.

nannygladys

Hi there, well its my 3rd NSD today, I have run out of milk but as I use dried milk for breadmaking Ive made a small jug of that up to use:) Tomorrow wont be a NSD though as I have a parcel and letter to post, I also have a birthday present and a litre of milk to buy!!:(
Jxx

Fae

NSD 2 for me today

Fae

flubberyzing

After a shaky start, finally got NSD#1 done! Hoping to get #2 tomorrow. That would get me feeling back on track if I can do 2 in a row.

kerri_gt

Rising - no need to apologise about the rant, and glad you're feeling a bit better today xx

Well not a NSD for me but not too bad, bread and some reduced butter at tacto (75p a block which apparently goes out of date tomorrow...not in the freezer it doesn't )

some palmolives for 50p each at wilko, and 64p on some reduced cat treats for kit (to make up for the fact I've just dosed her with flea drops :eek:)

do need to order some lightbulbs online - seem to be a really diff wattage to find and I'm going to try some more expensive but apparently longer lasting eco ones as the standard GE ones I have been buying keep blowing.

HOW is it Thurs already tomorrow :eek::eek:

InaPickle

Hi all...I'm back with NSD 4! (4 in a row).

I popped into the local supermarket on the way home from work and picked up some lovely poppy seed buns which were whoopsied down from £1.00 to 30p. That should jazz up my tuna and cucumber tomorrow (don't worry, I'll be more imaginative next week although I don't like egg mayo...the smell always reminds me of the sewage works)!

butdoineedit?

solventsoon wrote: »

That sounds great BDINI, good for you, here's a little message for you, your first translation exercise

Kaşık teşekkürler, gerçekten ben bunu zevk düşünüyorum ve benim tatil günlerinde Türk sohbet için sabırsızlanıyorum.

(although i can't say i learnt all that in my first lesson!! :rotfl:)

butdoineedit?

Wow, what a busy day you've all had today!!

So a big welcome to:

donna dynamo – signing you up for 15 & well done for number 1!! :j:j

southernbelle – signing you up for 15, good luck!! :j:j

Want_to_be_free – Signing you up for 12 & well done for your first 2!! :j:j

p0lly – signing you up for 10, good luck!! :j:j

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

freebyfifty – well done for number 2, glad the thread helps you, but whatever you say, you are still a star!! :j:j

shezam – well done for number 1, you’re off the mark!! :j:j

slowlyfading – well done for number 2, you’re off to a great start!! :j:j

brokemedic – well done for 3 & 3 in a row, & for resisting buying lunch!! :j:j

beanielou – well done for numbers 1 & 2, you’re off to a great start!! :j:j

suzitiger – well done for number 2 & good luck with keeping up the organization!! :j:j

citizenkitten – well done for number 1 & for deciding on your rules, you’re off to a great start!! :j:j

jaffacakegal – well done for number 1, you’re off the mark!! :j:j

mrs motivated – well done for number 2 & for being mega organized, you all put me to shame!! :j:j

Giggles86 – well done for number 2, you’re off to a great start!! :j:j

Diana Prince – well done for number 1, you’re off the mark!! :j:j

Spending Vs Saving – well done for number 2, & a massive well done for avoiding your favourite shops!! :j:j

rubyinamountainofrocks – well done for number 2, you’re doing great!! :j:j

rising from the ashes – well done for number 3 & never apologise for ranting, that’s what we are here for!! :j:j

OutofDebt-NOT-OutofDanger – well done for number 2, & that’s some serious willpower resisting the bacon roll!! :j:j

ifwisheswerehorses... – well done for number 2, & thank you for being our pictures superstar, they never fail to make me smile!! :j:j

nannygladys – well done for number 3, you’re doing great!! :j:j

Fae - well done for number 2, you’re doing great!! :j:j

flubberyzing – well done for number 1, keep going you can do it!! :j:j

InaPickle – well done for number 4, although I have to ask, how have you managed that many when it’s only the 3rd of the month?????? :j:j

And hello to:

Motoko – don’t lose heart, you can do it!!

bossymoo - you might not have had an NSD, but you’re off to a great start thinking about what you are spending, well done!!

HeadAboveWater – hope you enjoyed your dinner out?

gilly1964 – wow, what a good use of the time you had to wait, well done you!!

kerri gt – wow, you’re back on the bargain train!! I know what you mean about Thursday already, I fear that pesky thief has been back stealing our days again!!

& i'm finally off the mark with number 1 :j:j