The Autumnal October NSD Challenge

Frugal_Saver

Morning all, not a NSD for me but aiming to keep spending to a minimum. Took back an impulse purchase and although part of it was paid on a gift card and the rest debit card they refunded the full amount on my debit card.

OutofDebt-NOT-OutofDanger

Not a good start to the month............... Got into the car to find a warning light on so immediate trip to the garage to sort that out:mad::mad: - as far as I am concerned cars run by magic and a magician is required to sort it out. Turned out all it needed was oil but it wasn't the oil light that came on:huh:.

While it was in, gave it a service (which was due and planned for next month)

Just annoyed that the first day of the month isn't an NSD - it's always nice to get a good start.

Learning2Budget

Oops accidentally went out for lunch. However was gonna buy birthday cards n stuff tomorrow so will move that forward a day to cover.x

mrs_motivated

Aaaaargh! :mad:

I was determined today was going to be a NSD, so last night I lovingly prepared lunch, did without my daily diet coke etc etc.

And...... A text from the dentist reminding me my check up is due tonight. So thats scuppered, what has so far been a great day. I think a check up is about £25. :mad:

I hope everyone else is staying strong!

LMac

Hi all.

I was rubbish last month and didnt keep track of spending v closely, or my NSDs! Will do better this month though

Aiming for 12 NSD again.

Nargleblast

First of the month - white rabbits, a pinch and a punch etc etc....no NSD today as did some shopping. And there is always a mass exodus of pound notes from my bank account on the first anyway. I forecast my first NSD should be (perhaps) Thursday? And a couple more at the weekend if all goes well.

Great to see so many new challengers on board - let them NSDs start rolling in!

Sazdaz

Woo hoo great start to the week and my first NSD. Hoping tomorrow will be another one.

Fae

Managed to start the month with NSD 1 first tme I have had a NSD on the first day of the month so very happy with that
Fae

debtfree_future

Hi everyone

Please put me down for 12 NSDs this month.


Thanks
DFF

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!