We Are Decking the Halls with NSDs December Challenge

rising_from_the_ashes

BigMummaF wrote: »

If they are for under a sweater or something, I can highly recommend MrT's gents t-shirts. They are a heavier material than the female variety & just so soft to wear after many washes, plus they are longer so cover yer modesty to keep that warm too The short sleeved ones start at four squiddlies & I think the long sleeve version is a fiver :think:

Ohhhh brilliant, will have a look, thanks!:D

beanielou wrote: »

NSD no 9 today.
Tired tired tired.

Me too Beanielou (((hugs)))

Been a bit of a marathon day ...... claiming No 6 as managed to stay within my £5 hospital limit - don't think I'll be long to my bed!:o

purple.sarah

NSD No. 1 today.

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!

shannys_taxi_driver

I'm pleased to report NSD 4 and 5 - half way there :cool:

Nargleblast

Spendy day today, some odds and sods for Chrimbo and some groceries. Will try and avoid spending tomorrow, and definitely in line for a couple of NSDs midweek as I will be working.
Feeling quite smug - Christmas dinner in the freezer today - one of Mr T's half price Irish beef joints. Sorry, but turkey just doesn't excite me at all. Will be doing the Christmas pud and mince pie thing though. With home made mincemeat and brandy butter. And a small glass of Remy Martin with the home made Christmas cake (the one which set off the carbon monoxide alarm with all the brandy fumes). And a slab or two of Wensleydale and Cheddar cheeses. And don't mention the mountain of choccies etc lined up on the dresser.

rachyroo1985

NSD 2 today please. Getting there slowly but surely!!

fedupandskint

At last its another NSD to report - it is 4?

lottie3000

Number 4 today, nearly half way!! This challenge is making such a difference to my purse balance

marmiterulesok

Hi to all my fellow non-spendy chums.I've had a mostly rubbish day at work and am longing for my bed,so here's the update without further ado:

abundant1972 well done,you got # 6!!:j:j Hope you had a nice weekend.

armchairexpert well done,you got # 5!!:j:j

beanielou well done,you got # 9!!:j:jHope you get a good sleep.

BigMummaF well done,you've bagged # 9!!:j:j

citizenkitten well done,you got # 5!!:j:jCongratulations!

coolcats well done,you've bagged # 4!!:j:j

Fae well done,you've got # 7!!:j:jAlmost halfway there!

fedupandskint well done,you've bagged # 4!!:j:jI'll take your word for it.:)

freeby well done,you've bagged # 9!!:j:jBombing ahead as usual!:cool:

JAMIEDODGER well done,you've bagged # 6 and 7!!:j:j

Leo Lasagne well done,you've got # 1 and 2!!:j:jHope things quieten down for you.

lottie3000 well done,you've bagged # 4!!:j:jGlad you're enjoying the challenge!:D

Loubell83 well done,you've got # 4!!:j:jalmost halfway there!:)

mcmanlyn well done,you've got # 3!!:j:jYou sound very organised.:cool:
Personally I don't count prescriptions as a spend,as they're usually essential.

Modesty B well done,you've got # 5!!:j:j

Motoko well done,you've got # 1!!:j:jThere'll be no stopping you now!:beer:

MummyRivett well done,you've bagged # 9!!:j:jToo bad about the fines,hope it gets sorted.Well done on the charity run.It must have been quite a sight!

mummy72 well done,you've bagged # 4 and 5!!:j:j

purple.sarah well done,you've bagged # 1!!:j:jAlways nice to get it out of the way!:D

rachyroo1985 well done,you've bagged # 2!!:j:j

rising well done,you've bagged # 6!!:j:j Glad the day went smoothly.

shannys_taxi_driver well done,you've got # 4 and 5!!:j:j

silvasava well done,you've bagged # 5!!:j:j

slowlyfading well done,you've bagged # 4 and 5!!:j:j

spoon well done,you've bagged # 7!!:j:j

The Dragon well done,you've got # 8 and 9!:j:j

nargleblast your Christmas meal does sound good!:)

Wishing you all a good week to come,good night!

Ps Hope I haven't missed anyone.

marmiterulesok

I forgot to say,not one for me today,so still at #7.