We Are Decking the Halls with NSDs December Challenge

rising_from_the_ashes

freebyfifty wrote: »

Ahhh rising, I take it that it didn't go very well yesterday
Sending you a big (((((hug)))))

Unfortunately not .... http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=58007721&postcount=378 followed by http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=58009127&postcount=382

Was not a happy Rising yesterday afternoon!:o Quite apart from the waste of time / fuel .... the physical effort of just getting there is quite hard atm - still at least it's happening tomorrow

BigMummaF

freebyfifty wrote: »

Me again. Just wanted to say -

This thread has saved me. I owe it my sanity and probably the roof over my head :rotfl:
It is not, and never will be, a chore to me. I have made some lovely virtual friends on here and will continue to caretake it for as long as you want me :A

Oh dear ..I've put my clown's feet well & truly in the talking hole again haven't I...I'm afraid I have the uncurable version of foot-in-mouth-itis & there's evidence of it all over mse :embarasse

It was not my intention to infer doing the daily update was a chore, more a case of the people doing it may come to consider it as such & then the thread disappear into the ether.

The Updaters (inc the Whizz aka IF ) all do a sterling job of keeping our little band of budgeteers informed :T & of course, it is absolutely free choice as to how they wish to do that & I shall never dispute that right.

Am I forgiven even tho I had a spendy yesterday too *sniff*

slowlyfading

Not one for me today - I'm hoping tomorrow might be one...

chris81418

Good morning everyone! :wave:

solventsoon wrote: »

:j:j:jchris81418 - NSD no 13 in the bag, unlucky for some but not for you. Keep going

Thanks Spoon!

Another flying visit from me to report NSD number 14 caught yesterday! :j

And I'm more than happy to do whatever it takes to assist our daily updaters :A !

Have a good hump-day everyone!

blindtoast

Have a had a very busy weekend so haven't quite caught up with everyones posts yet but wanted to declare my NSDs while I remembered when they were!! I got 8, 9, 10 and 11 on Fri, Sat, Sun and Tues - even though I've been to the zoo (tescos clubcard vouchers) and been out for dinner twice (thankyou parents! :A)

Over half way now and hopefully enough days left to meet my target!

Loubell83

Reporting NSD#8 for me for today.

Still finding this month tough, dont know where I am going to get another 4.

nannygladys

Hi NSD 9 and 10 for me:) dont think I will achieve 20 for DDD but it is certainly making me think, today wont be one as Im doing all the rest of the Xmas food shopping but then Im working everyday up to Xmas so I should be able to rack up a couple more:)
Jxx

IF

Morning all :hello:

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!

WantToBeSE

I've not been keeping track at all!
I am guessing that i am up to 12NSDs, but that really is only a guess.
I am going to abandon !!!!ing up the NSDs this month, and come back again in January i think!