The Autumnal October NSD Challenge

citizenkitten

rising - did you find your cat??

polly - that is great! all the best, let us know which recipes you liked best and the meal plans that worked best for you.

flubberyzing
that is the best way i have heard it as winning when you dont spend at the supermarket.

AND BOO YA! NSD 5 IN THE BAG, MY FIRST 2 IN A ROW.

take that spending!

butdoineedit?

p0lly wrote: »

Hello all I have a plan now its so cunning etc etc :rotfl: I have a meal plan for the week and a shopping list for the meal plan this is a first for me. I usually think to myself oh its sat I need shopping and just browse the supermarket and think oh I fancy that oh that looks good an so on. You are probably all wiser than me and may have realised by now that is probably why I am skint. I just realised this afternoon that is why I am skint. Anyway I have found a meal plan thread so I will join that too. I am finding it very helpful reading your posts and reporting back on my spendiness. The good news all the planning made a NSD 5 for me. I feel faint and a bit giddy from not spending money is that normal Love P0lly x

Woo Hoo well done Polly!! I used to be like you with my grocery shopping, this challenge really does focus your mind. This weeks groceries cost me just over 8 quid (ok, there is only me in the house), because after checking what i had in the only things i needed was some butter & a bag of frozen sweetcorn, so i grabbed them last night along with the couple of things i needed to cook for my friend today. I can remember the days when a big bag of grocery shopping made me happy, now the smaller the bag the happier i am!!

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

Had a quick skim read but not properly caught up

Thank goodness it's Friday - really struggled the past couple of days at work ...... managed Nos 8, 9 & 10 as been going to work & home & that's it.:o Actually managed to fall asleep in one of the meeting rooms at lunchtime (I am one of these "luck"? people who can literally sleep anywhere).

Stopped diet 2 weeks ago & have managed to lose another 6lbs (unintentionally) this week:( so had to admit defeat & ring nurse @ Hosp Clinic yesterday .... to go next week.

So ...... Maisie walked, bath had & PJs on ..... couple of hours downstairs spending some time with her & then off to bed I think.

I seem to have lost wee cat (hope she's not out as it's horrid:eek:) so will have to go & have a hunt for her first.

Hope all well - might not be around much for a couple of weeks or so but will try to keep up xx

((((((((((((((((big hugs)))))))))))))))) Rising, hope you're feeling a bit better soon!

Not one for me today, went into town to do a couple of mystery shops (which don't really count) & as the weather was nice i decided to walk to save the bus fare which would have made it a super thrifty day, but i managed to find a bottle of wine for the same price as the bus fare (which i had put to one side), so i bought it as a treat for when i finish a couple of mad days this weekend with the crowbar & the soggy paintbrush!!

(No pub visit planned till Friday this week, so i'm secretly hoping for 6 in a row.... there's change in the milk tin & bus fare to Turkish class isn't counted, so strictly speaking there is no reason why i can't do it!!)

abundant1972

Up to NSD number 4 out of 15, with my 5-in-a-row still to do.

Well done everyone so far

OutofDebt-NOT-OutofDanger

Evening everybody,

NSD 10 & 11 for yesterday and today and 11 in a row :j:j

Now just have to get through the temptations of the weekend.

sue09

NSD 5 today for me, I actually made a bit extra on e-bay.:)

suzitiger

Weeeeeee-ellll I was good yesterday and managed to get that pesky NSD #5 but not one today as I was bad and went to MrTs for lunch after, I DID try, I had beans on toast for breakfast and got up super early to have them and just couldn't make it through...arghh! Its because of my hour commute home on Public Transport, too much hunger time to kill!!:rotfl:
Not all bad though as I wombled a points receipt so I added them to my make £10 a day challenge and got some sandwich fillers for the week too so that will save me some spendy days..aaaaaaand I've been offered a shift at my old job just as a favour so I will ask for the wages in change and then use that until next payday to get me by. Woooohooooooo! :j

citizenkitten wrote: »

solvent - thanks for that, i am thinking of starting a thread for those who are on the last leg but really struggling for the motivation.

however somehow, due to sheer determination I can declare Monday was a NSD 3. i starved, i walked, i denied every temptation just for that NSD. proud of willpower that day as i could have fallen at any point. :j

Hahaha well done citizenkitten! What is this new thread you have started? If it is up my street I will join you on it

p0lly wrote: »

Hello all I have a plan now its so cunning etc etc :rotfl: I have a meal plan for the week and a shopping list for the meal plan this is a first for me. I usually think to myself oh its sat I need shopping and just browse the supermarket and think oh I fancy that oh that looks good an so on. You are probably all wiser than me and may have realised by now that is probably why I am skint. I just realised this afternoon that is why I am skint. Anyway I have found a meal plan thread so I will join that too. I am finding it very helpful reading your posts and reporting back on my spendiness. The good news all the planning made a NSD 5 for me. I feel faint and a bit giddy from not spending money is that normal Love P0lly x

It's great isn't it P0lly?! I do this too but I am often guilty of 'popping' into the shops for extra bits that I don't REALLY need. The NSDs is to stop me doing that. My other very bad habit is always needing change for the metros and I have to get cash out and buy something every time I do that so i am trying to stop doing that too. This month is going well so far..:p..well, ish, it is with the cash out thing anyway :rotfl:

freebyfifty

Good Morning

Welcome to Friday's update. I hope everyone is looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend


Well done to everyone who has been raking in those NSDs

Abundant – Well done on getting up to NSD #4.:T Great to see you posting.:) Good luck with the rest.:)

Beanielou – NSD #10 for you. Well done. :T I too have had to admit defeat and put the heating on for a while:eek: but I’m determined that those fat cats won’t be making a profit out of me this year.:mad: I have started a spreadsheet detailing how much I use so at the end of the month it’ll probably be woolly jumpers and cozy blankets for us.:)

Citizenkitten – Well done on your NSD #5 and first 2-in-a-row.:T Great going.:)

Debtfreefuture – Another 2 NSDs in the bag to take you up to NSD #6. :T Half way there. Well done.:)

Fae – NSD #10 for you. That’s brilliant. :T You’re gonna have no problem hitting your target.:)

Flubbery – NSD #5 all done and dusted for you. :T Well done.

Igamogam – Well done on getting up to NSD #5. :T Keep posting to let us know how you are getting on.:)

Mcjordi – Another two in the bag taking you up to NSD #3. :T Well done.:)

Mrs motivated – NSD #5 is a great total to have so far. :T Keep going there are lots more to be had this month.:)

Oodnood – A brilliant NSD #11 done and dusted and 11-in-a-row. :T That is superb. :T Well done.:)

Penny73 – Well done on NSD #5.:T I hope your weekend is nice and relaxing after your manic week.:)

P0lly – NSD #5 for you. :T Meal plans and shopping lists are the way to go. You’ll be amazed at how much your shopping bill comes down and how inventive you can get with whats in the cupboard. The tricky part is going to the supermarket and only getting whats on your list.:eek:

Rising – Woop woop to being up to NSD #10. :T Thats excellent. :T I hope you feel better soon, take care of yourself hun. :A

Slowlyfading – NSD #7 for you. :T Hope your mouth is okay after the dentist.:)

Sue09 – Well done on claiming NSD #5. :T Half way there.:) I must start selling on e-bay again. I’ve loads of [STRIKE]junk[/STRIKE] quality items someone must want.:rotfl:

Suzitiger – NSD #5 in the bag. Well done. :T And good for you for being organised for next week. :T It’s amazing how inventive we can be to claim a NSD.:)

penny73_2

Well NSD6 achieved. I have not spent anything over budget this week!!!!!


Even my spends have slowly been coming down especially the food shopping. :beer:


No unplanned treats means that i have lost 2 stone as well. Who would have thought controlling my spending would mean sorting my weight issues!:eek:

IF

Morning all :hello:


Got my 7th NSD thank you :A

IF…x

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!