Shiny New Year, Shiny New Start. The January NSD Challenge

Changingme

Small spend on a few bits today after work as it was trying to snow here, think it's stopped now but didn't want to chance it.

couldsavemore_2

had a delivery from mr t today in anticipation of the bad weather. i hate the cold and tend to hibernate as much as possible. so still at 11/24 but no need to buy any more food until end of month i hope, fingers crossed. so should build up a few NSD in a row.

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!

slowlyfading

NSD 11 for me today.

beanielou

NSD no 17 today.
Going to see GP tomorrow.

freebyfifty

beanielou wrote: »

NSD no 17 today.
Going to see GP tomorrow.

Bout time too, hope he gives you something to make you feel better quickly

Debt_free_soon_2

Another 2 NSDs taking me up to 12 NSD

Off to catch up on what you've all been up to. Keep warm! :-)

ModestyB

Today was heading to be an nsd until DH had to pay £3 for the privilege of parking at the hospital. :eek:

Nargleblast

Pleased to report am now on 7 NSDs.

Jelly Biactol - re Yorkshire talk. My mother was Yorkshire born, Yorkshire bred. And there's a saying that sums up Yorkshire folk -

See all, hear all, say nowt
Eat all, sup all, pay nowt.
And if ivver tha does owt for nowt, allus do it for thi sen!


Big Mumma - yes, the very same McFlinging Jocks that you know and love. We're stuck with having them as the entertainment next Friday, thanks to stoopid Igor.

(Ok, Igor, you can stop digging now. We have enough turnips for the meal plus enough to make several gallons of the fast-fermenting turnip whisky. Yes, the stuff with unfortunate effects on the digestive system, like all fast-fermenting stuff.
Anyway, I have a better use for your shovel . Clear up after Hubert, please, seeing as someone who shall not be named but who should be thoroughly ashamed of herself had it away on her toes with the year's supply of disposable nappies I was hiding at the back of Chateau Nargle last Halloween......)

Jelly_Biactol

NSD 4 for me today, after a couple of spending days (food, petrol and an ebay purchase) but I cashed in my Twos and Ones jar, so net spend was very little


Nargleblast - Oh yes, I know that motto well :rotfl: