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

BigMummaF

MummyRivett wrote: »

I think as you have experimented with the soup, I'm going to give it a go with making my own pastry. Well done for reaching your target.

By the way everyone, my house coat came today, I love it Daddy Rivett says it really is practical as I tend to be a bit of a messy cook, but I do look like Julie waters. He has been calling me two soups, all day

Soup went down exceptionally well (Muvva actually cleared her bowl, asked for seconds & slurped all that down too :eek: ) MumR & I see you had similar results with your pastry :T Guess we both need to remember that "Practise Makes Perfect(ly edible offerings even tho they don't look like the photo in the recipe book)"

We've had snow continuously, like a fine dust falling on top of the compacted stuff left over from Friday, but some of the local yoof have enjoyed themselves. A poor basset who usually likes to take his time investigating his surroundings looked most put out, cuz his owner could easily him move even tho he was digging his paws in

freebyfifty

wildcherry wrote: »

Today is going to be my NSD#2. I have just subscribed having been a 'reader' on this thread for a few days. Signing up to the thread has really inspired me today so I've fixed up my energy monitor that's been lying around waiting to be used; sorted out more clothes for the 'cash for clothes' depot up the road and put some bits and bobs on a local selling site.
Its snowing here too so might not be able to cash in my clothes tomorrow if the roads are bad but if they are okay then I will do!
Tomorrow will be a spend day as Mondays are my food shop day but I've taken that into account in my 'spends'. If that's the case, if I don't spend any more tomorrow, does that count as a NSD or not? I am bit confused with the finer details as I have DD's that go out on different days of the month too (my 'essentials') so do they count towards NSD if again I spend nothing else?
I hope someone can clarify for me? Also, my energy meter is saying my electric is running at 4p/per hour, that's got to be good, right??

Hi there
Glad to see that you have signed up and you will be on the front page in the morning when I update it.
Everyone has different ways of counting their NSDs so it is what ever makes you think about and concentrate on your spending that will work best for you.
Personally I don't count anything that is budgeted for. So if I stay within my budget and don't have any unplanned spends then it is a NSD for me. This way is working best for me as I believe I am learning to manage my money better and this will benefit me in the long term.
Lots of people say that any spend means it is not a NSD and a lot of others don't include DD's or essential bills.
It really is up to you, there is no hard and fast rules. You make your own rules on here and stick to them as best you can.

Hope that helps...........or is it as clear as mud

MummyRivett

Wildcherry it is entirely up to you. Some of us on here count all essentials and bills as spends, however, there are those, myself included, count the NSDs on top of the bills and weekly shop. But try not to be complacent, we are here to get rid of our debts and learn to balance the books while keeping the cost down. Therefore, be encouraged by others on here, I have picked up lots of valuable cost cutting life skills from everyone on this thread.

Look at your outgoings and look to find the best value for money. One of my biggest learnings from this thread is meal planning and shopping lists. It has not only cut our spending, I feel less stressed when I come home from work as I know what we are going to have for dinner, I'm menally already prepared, i know I have all the things in the fridge to make the meals and we are not rushing to the Supermarket each night starving impulse buying expensive ready meals or grabbing take aways.

I have also saved £25 a week by taking a packed lunch to work.

You'd be surprised how much you can save and cut back. But the best thing about thus thread is that it isn't a race, no one fails, everyone is for you and gives you support and you can be as active as you want on thread, if you just want to put down your NSDs and just sit back, that is fine, if one weekend you feel a bit chatty, join in, or if you want to vent, sit down have a nice cup of tea and type. We are all in it together and none of us judge.

This is one of my favourite threads on the MSE forums.

MummyRivett

BigMummaF wrote: »

Soup went down exceptionally well (Muvva actually cleared her bowl, asked for seconds & slurped all that down too :eek: ) MumR & I see you had similar results with your pastry :T Guess we both need to remember that "Practise Makes Perfect(ly edible offerings even tho they don't look like the photo in the recipe book)"

We've had snow continuously, like a fine dust falling on top of the compacted stuff left over from Friday, but some of the local yoof have enjoyed themselves. A poor basset who usually likes to take his time investigating his surroundings looked most put out, cuz his owner could easily him move even tho he was digging his paws in

Glad you soup worked out ok, the veg is prepped for dinner so we are having a five mins feet up. Our two Springer Spaniels go mad for the snow, little Poppy get so excited and thrashes around in it then runs around the house jumping everywhere. Such a little treasure.:D

WantToBeSE

Hooray, today was NSD #8 for me

marmiterulesok

Good afternoon!:wave:
Today is #16,thanks.

wildcherry hi and welcome!:wave: I hope that you enjoy the challenge.The rules are up to you really.
I have a weekly food budget and a monthly budget for most other things.As long as I stay in budget,it's an nsd.Direct debits and bills count,prescriptions don't.Hope that helps.

MummyRivett it's great that the nsd challenge has made such a positive difference to your life.It's the same for me.It really has changed the way I look at money.I'm now a budgeting fiend!:)
I agree,packed lunches are tops.:money:

rising I hope tomorrow is not too tiring.Shame about the icy conditions.:(

red I hope you have lovely time in Bonnie Scotland.I'm pleased that your Mum is continuing to make progress.

spoon glad to see that your computer is behaving inself again!

Hope you all have a good week.I'm off now for two days.:)

poohbear59

I have reached 16 NSDs already Nothing like having no money spare to concentrate the mind.

Today my family took me out to lunch and I didn't spend anything. Hopefully tomorrow will be a NSD as Tuesday is going to be a spending day.

wildcherry

Thank you for all your welcomes. This is such a lovely thread. I'm beginning to feel at home already.
I have decided that if I stick to my planned spends on that day and spend nothing more than that is a NSD for me. So tomorrow as long as I just spend my weekly food budget and nothing else, it'll be a NSD for me!
I tend to budget quite well, always plan meals and have no debt BUT what I have noticed is as I have more money coming in recently (was made redundant 2011 whilst pregnant so 2012 was a VERY frugal year), I am spending more than I have been used to. I don't want to continue in the same vain as I currently rent and would very much like to save some money to see if I can raise a deposit. I also tend to buy 'nice' food and wine which scuppers my other big plan (maintaining the 5 and a half stone weight loss from last year).
I needed some clarity and a place I can get tips/advice/support from and you know what, I think I've found it!! ;-)

MummyRivett

wildcherry wrote: »

Thank you for all your welcomes. This is such a lovely thread. I'm beginning to feel at home already.
I have decided that if I stick to my planned spends on that day and spend nothing more than that is a NSD for me. So tomorrow as long as I just spend my weekly food budget and nothing else, it'll be a NSD for me!
I tend to budget quite well, always plan meals and have no debt BUT what I have noticed is as I have more money coming in recently (was made redundant 2011 whilst pregnant so 2012 was a VERY frugal year), I am spending more than I have been used to. I don't want to continue in the same vain as I currently rent and would very much like to save some money to see if I can raise a deposit. I also tend to buy 'nice' food and wine which scuppers my other big plan (maintaining the 5 and a half stone weight loss from last year).
I needed some clarity and a place I can get tips/advice/support from and you know what, I think I've found it!! ;-)

Sounds like a plan, welcome on board. :beer:

flubberyzing

Number 14 in the bag!

It has been snowing ALL DAY here. I'm hoping to get out tomorrow to visit a friend in hospital, but am slightly concerned I won't be able to get out! Particularly if it keeps snowing!
I've watched quite a number of cars try and fail to get out of our little car park (which is on the tiniest little nothing of a slope). Fortunately I'm not parked in there at the mo, but I can't even use it for turning around in! Ekk!