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

lurvlyloz

Yesterday was 10/18

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!

freebyfifty

suzitiger wrote: »

Hahaha love the video above IF :rotfl:
Just popping in to say another #2 NSDs on the radar for me, I am really bad at checking in this month but I am still here and lurking on my email and still getting NSDs so its OK. When things have settled down I will be popping in again more often.

Okay, so now I am confused
I had you on the front page as having 3 NSDs then you said you had got another 2 making 5, but on your sig it says 4??????

Can you tell me how many you have please??? Thanks

freebyfifty

Nargleblast wrote: »

And another NSD today makes 10 NSDs in the Cauldron of Doom and a very happy Nargle prepares to take delivery of the prize thistle - a place on the trophy wall is ready and waiting for it.

Now, Mistress Freeby - please please please increase my target to 13!
Oh go on, go on, go on, go on, go on....you know you want to......

(Igor! How dare you try to take Dragon's NSD! That is not allowed! Naughty igor - go and stand in the naughty corner until you're ready to say sorry!)

Oh go on then, seeing as you have been a very good nargle.:T:T

I'd watch what Igor is doing in that naughty corner..........I'm sure it's not supposed wet over there :rotfl:

purple.sarah

Today is NSD 11.

couldsavemore_2

just to confirm that it has been a NSD so total now is 15/24


certainly on a roll now. Hope i can keep it up for a few more days.

well done every one else . only a few more days left of this month so final push and we are there.

rachyroo1985

Can I claim NSD 8 AND 9 for yesterday and today please?

Sazzie23

Hi everyone, checking in early for once. Yesterday was a spend day but managed to keep it down, I think maybe next month I will be able to work out what to budget for the in between shop and then if I keep to it , not count. At the moment I'm a bit on the impulsive side so it's better to keep my attention focused on not spending.
I still bought some chocolate I didn't really need :mad:


Today on the other hand is

NSD11 :j

Sorry Freeby if this is not large & red, still have trouble with the iPad
Since this was spinal injection number 2, which definitely hit the spot and I am grounded for the rest of the day

flowerofscotland

flubberyzing wrote: »

Going for another NSD today, which would take me up to my target! I shall report back later if I'm successful!

Was meant to be going to visit a friend in the hospital today, but she text me earlier to ask if I could come tomorrow instead. Fine by me, as it gives the ice outside more time to wear away. I do need to do a supermarket and post office run very soon though... But it can wait until tomorrow if I'll be going out then anyway.

Quick question:
I have a major craving for maccaroni and cheese for dinner... but I've never made it from scratch before. Recipes on-line make it look simple, but I'm running low on milk. I'd rather save the fresh milk I have left for cereal in the morning, so can I use the "emergency" UHT carton I have if the cupboard? Will that taste okay do you think?

When I notice the emergency carton of UHT milk is getting near the use by date I always use if for making sauces and no one has ever noticed the difference (not even me)

Would like to claim 3 more NSD for Thursday, Sunday and today making my total 13 - almost at my target of 15

Would have added Sat to the list as didn't venture outside but paid (online) for the wedding invitations for DS. A lovely reason to break the NSD (and the only thing I spent that day so still pleased).

This thread is really helping me to change my spending habits so thank you :A

WelshWoofer

At last its no 7 for me:j:j
Feels like ages since the last one - will try hard for tomorrow too.:)