We Are Decking the Halls with NSDs December Challenge

purple.sarah

Yesterday was NSD 6 for me. Today will not be a NSD unfortunately because I am getting some last minute pressies but I will be looking for the best deals.

beanielou

NSD no 18 today.

Have a great time one & all however you are celebrating.

Nargleblast

10 NSDs in the Cauldron of Doom!

Will definitely hit target this week and a few more on top.

Bdini - hope work ok today - remember, be the epitome of cool, calm and collected - then the b*ggers will wonder what you're up to!

BigMumma - put Igor down, please, you really don't want to know where that mistletoe has been.......

kerri_gt

Nargleblast wrote: »

BigMumma - put Igor down, please, you really don't want to know where that mistletoe has been.......

Sure the problem is that we DO know where that mistletoe has been Nargle? :eek::eek:

kerri_gt

Forgot to declare...yesterday was NSD #10 :j (busy week last week and had slipped off the wagon a little due to a little too much mulled vino )

Finished the xmas food shop this morning (was at A$da for 8am :eek: still busy enough at that time so goodness knows what it will be like later) bathrooms cleaned, presents wrapped and drinks ready to chill (oh and turkey defrosting) so I THINK I'm ready for the big event tomorrow apart from one present I need to deliver later.

coolcats

10 NSD for me, will be another tomorrow and hopefully boxing day so almost reached the target!!!!!

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!

ModestyB

NSD 14 today.

Hope you all have a Wonderful Christmas.

nannygladys

NSD 14 achieved but not sure how many more I can get, still I will keep trying.

Have a good Christmas and best wishes to everyone for the New Year
jxx

butdoineedit?

Massive thanks everyone for all your good wishes, work was as vile as i expected it to be, but managed quite well imagining Freeby's posse behind me waving their mouldy kippers :rotfl::rotfl:

Won't be one today, as i'm about to pop to the pub for a little pre xmas drinkie with my old men, after today i need a drink!! :beer:

Happy Christmas everyone, hope you all have a truly wonderful day!