We Are Decking the Halls with NSDs December Challenge

IF

January's NSD thread - Click here

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!

Fae

NSD 17 for me today just one more to get :j

Fae

hd2208

Silly question but new here - whats nsd???

ModestyB

Hi hd2208, nsd means a no spend day which all of us here try to get as many of as we can. It is not a silly question to ask. You are very welcome to join us, you will get a lot of help and encouragement and most of all, you will start saving money. The new January thread has started so, if you look for Freeby's posts, you will find a link to get there. Decide how many days you want to aim for and please join us. Sorry, I don't know how to do the links.
Best of luck.

solventsoon

hd2208 wrote: »

Silly question but new here - whats nsd???

ModestyB wrote: »

Hi hd2208, nsd means a no spend day which all of us here try to get as many of as we can. It is not a silly question to ask. You are very welcome to join us, you will get a lot of help and encouragement and most of all, you will start saving money. The new January thread has started so, if you look for Freeby's posts, you will find a link to get there. Decide how many days you want to aim for and please join us. Sorry, I don't know how to do the links.
Best of luck.

Hi hd2208 and welcome :wave:

Here's the link to the January challenge

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4361547

Come and join us if you'd like to, we're very friendly and, as MB says above, you'll get lots of help and encouragement along the way:)

Good luck
spoon x

solventsoon

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

No 17 today please

Bit annoyed as opened my crumpets this morning and thought "errr that doesn't feel right" as the 1st one was rock hard ..... on further investigation there's a tear in the pack and they've gone stale:(

Not worth the cost of fuel to take them back to the shop .... but now crumpetless :eek: (huge issue in this house:o)

Sorry about the crumpets rising, that's a pain:(

I managed to rescue some once by sprinking a bit of water on them and sticking them in the oven for a few minutes, it kind of revitalised them. They were OK when toasted but had to be eaten straight away.

It might not work for you because of your illness but thought it was worth mentioning.

Hope Maisie and the cats are getting used to each other again x

emslovesmickey wrote: »

Not an NSD today as i have been buying stuff for next christmas.

:eek::eek:.... that's way too organised for me but I hope you got some bargains:D

beanielou wrote: »

So now no 22.
Very very windy here.

Same here beanie, it's horrible:(

solventsoon

freebyfifty wrote: »

Good Morning

Another little update for your perusal

And very enlightening it was too :A

freebyfifty wrote: »

Spoony – Woop woop, NSD #20 and second target blasted away.:j:j I have increased it up to 25. Good luck.:T You and I are in the same boat, no more spending this year. Fingers crossed we can do it.:)

Fingers crossed for you too Freeby

freebyfifty wrote: »

Considering the time of year, I think we have all done brilliantly this month and should celebrate with Igor's homemade sprout punch. Drinking that should keep us in the house for a good few days after :eek:

The thought of Igor's home made sprout punch makes me want to

freebyfifty wrote: »

I plan to spend a good part of the day today with my budgets etc for next year and get myself ready to smash a few more debts away :j That means spreadsheets :T:T:T:T Ohhhh I do love a spreadsheet - nearly as much as I love a list

Have a great day everyone

Hmm.... now I love lists but I can't get enthusiastic about spreadsheets:o:o

solventsoon

freebyfifty wrote: »

NSD #27 for me yesterday :T

Woohoooo... well done Freeby :j:j:j:j


And NSD no 22 for me please... I'm behind you all the way... no more spending for us this year:D


PS: Sorry everyone, I seem to be in chatty mode today :o:o:o

Sazzie23

Ooh Citizen, just love those earrings, and what a bargain, great find.

NSD 11 for me today ..:).Wow its addictive here

That's it yippee I'm at second target.

Will have to shop over the weekend and I'll check in if I make any more NSD.

chris81418

Good morning everyone! :wave:

freebyfifty wrote: »

Chris81418 – Another 2 into the pot for you and an excellent NSD #21 captured. :T Well done.:T

Thanks Freeby! And I managed to catch NSD number 22 yesterday! :j

Have a good weekend everyone! :xmassmile