We Are Decking the Halls with NSDs December 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

Morning all

Congratulations Freeby :beer:

Got my 6th NSD

Thank you
IF…x

BigMummaF

Pardoning your Ladyship, but do we now :curtsey: when speaking with you Frau Freeby *hastily tugging forlock*
Great News :T Well Done You! (I was looking for that smiley with the flowers but can't find it, soz so you'll have to imagine Cliff doin' the European Song Contest instead. [Hands up who's singing it now :rotfl:]

I've cracked double figures--avoided the outside like my life depended on it yesterday, the way the weather was--so no 10 for me please! (That's nsds.........not Drown'em Street.........altho we would make a damned sight better job of it & no doubts :mad: )

BigMummaF

If, you are a Gem! Just keep 'em coming; I've got plenty of loo roll for when I run out of tissues ..where do you find these little pearls of comical wisdom!

donna_dynamo

Managed 3 NSD's so far this month. Have been mega busy so haven't been on for a while. Hoping to get some more now that all the panic has calmed down.

IF

BigMummaF wrote: »

If, you are a Gem! Just keep 'em coming; I've got plenty of loo roll for when I run out of tissues ..where do you find these little pearls of comical wisdom!

I'm so glad you likey and they make you laugh :j:j

I g00gle them :beer:

mummy172

Hello all
Haven't been on much this week as have been crazy busy!! That's December for you!!

In amongst all the chaos I've managed to nab NSD's 7 & 8 so target met :j:j:j:j.

But with half the month still left I'm not going to wimp out but go for another 5 please, of which I'm hoping today will be the first:).

Have a great weekend everyone xx

chris81418

Good morning everyone! :wave:

freebyfifty wrote: »

Chris81418 – Into double figures with NSD #10.:T You are doing great. Well done.:T

Thanks Freeby! And I managed to catch NSD number 11 yesterday! :j And congratulations with the job, you must be on cloud 9! :T

Have a good weekend everyone!

abundant1972

Hi everyone!

Having a day at home - and determined not to spend. Slipped up yesterday so need to make up a day.

Today = NSD number 9

:rudolf:

liltdiddylilt

freebyfifty wrote: »

It must have worked because I was offered a new position today which will be a promotion for me :j

Congratulations freeby!! :T:T:TThat's brilliant news! I hope more money comes with the extra work! :beer:

Christmas pyjamas, to be worn Christmas Eve night & not before have always been a tradition in my family. I love it. Something very special about it for me... THAT's Christmas along with reading the Christmas story before bed every Xmas Eve. Now I have a daughter to read it to, I won't feel quite so special sitting reading it aloud to myself at the grand old age of 26 :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Well done on all the NSD's everyone. I'm very proud to be joining in with you all for my first month. You all keep spurring me on and on!!