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 6th NSD thank you

IF…x

HeadAboveWater

slowlyfading wrote: »

Not one for me today - dentist

Me too!!!!!

Hadn't been to dentist in at least year and a half so long overdue!! (and reasonably priced too all things considered!!! )

Couple other spends for me today too as was expected. Unfortunately I doubt tomorrow is a NSD as it's Friday and I always stop off for a cappucino on my way in to work.....

Hey!! Did y'all hear that??? IT'S FRIDAY TOMORROW :j

p0lly

hello all everyone is doing so well this thread is great. I have had to spend to day so still stuck at 4 :mad: However I am planing next weeks budget very very carefully. So i think i can do better. I am starting a spending diary next week too so I can see where my money goes. I feel I should be richer good luck all P0lly x

The_Dragon

Yay! got #9 (Dr Dragon treated me to a pub supper to save him cooking and to try and get me to unwind from stress city!)

citizenkitten

obviously starting new threads is good for the psyche as NSD 4 is in the BAG BABY YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

beanielou - dont feel disheartened, there are 20 days still of october for so many NSDs and recuperating the extra spend. :j

marmite - why thank you, yeah it is very stressful at work at the moment and getting not very good sleep which always makes you feel worse, but FRIDAY FRIDAY FRIDAY TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!! :j

WELL JEL of the dragon, i want paid for dinner lovely thing to do for you when you are stressed.

polly- if you want to post here what you are going to plan, we can help or gain inspiration from you. I am on ultra no spend mode now and need all the help i can get.

head above water - I AM FEELING YOU, FRIDAY FRIDAY FRIDAY :j:beer::D got a relaxing weekend on the cards

Frugal_Saver

Yay! Finally my 2nd NSD
Will be very difficult to hit target this month, but it is my first month. I am noticing the difference with my spending habit, yesterday I only spent £1.80

butdoineedit?

Just a quick one tonight i'm shattered!!

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

The Dragon - well done for number 8 & 9 & glad you enjoyed your pub supper!! :j:j
((((((((((((((big hugs)))))))))))))) not had time to check out your diary, but hope things get better soon!

sue09 – well done for number 4, you’re doing great!! :j:j

OutofDebt-NOT-OutofDanger – well done for number 9, you’re having a great month!! :j:j

freebyfifty – well done for a true number 10!! :j:j
& thank you so much for my inclusion in the in a row challenge, it really did make me smile!! :j:j

Fae – well done for number 9 & yay to getting OH a bargain xmas present!! :j:j

brokemedic – well done for number 7, don’t be disappointed, that’s a brilliant total!! :j:j

citizenkitten – well done for number 3 & for being so disciplined!! :j:j

southernbelle – well done for number 4, you’re doing great!! :j:j

jaffacakegal – well done for number 4, sorry to hear about your holidays, but just keep thinking how great your new job will be!! :j:j

Loubell83 – well done for number 5... & enjoy your wine!! :j:j

marmiterulesok – well done for number 4 & good luck with your new budget!! :j:j

ifwisheswerehorses... – well done for number 6, you’re doing great!! :j:j

citizenkitten – well done for number 4 & glad you’re feeling so positive!! :j:j

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

And hello to:

InaPickle – happy holidays!!

flubberyzing – yikes to Mr T, but £1.03 is very restrained!!

beanielou – bah indeed, but don’t lose heart, you’ll catch up!!

slowlyfading – ouch to the dentist, hope all went ok?

HeadAboveWater – ouch to another dentist, hope yours went ok too?

p0lly – you’re off to a great start, keep going, you can do it!!

& not one for me today, cooking tea for my friend tomorrow (so much cheaper than the pub!), so had to grab a carton of cream & a garlic bread... back on track tomorrow i hope!!

penny73_2

NSD 5 sneakly grabbed yesterday!. The week has been manic. I am hoping today will NSD but its Friday so who knows:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

freebyfifty

Good Morning


NSD #11 for me yesterday




It's Friday.......we should be wiggling