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

armchairexpert

NSD10 and three-in-a-row!

I am having a spendy day tomorrow, since DH's old workplace just finally paid him the owed annual leave, etc., and it's several hundred more than we thought it would be. In fact, I have spent part of today planning what to buy with my pocket money. It's almost as much fun as the spending, to be honest - like being a teenager again (but without the spots) - money is so much more fun if you have to wait for it and plan. I'm thinking a nice deep heat treatment for my hair and a face mask and some bubble bath, and then tomorrow night's plan is a loooonnnnnngggggg soak. Aaaaaahhhhh.

MummyRivett

As we only have 8 days left of January I'm going to make my second target 23 my third target 26 that gives me 2 days extra for exceed. I have never claimed any in a row but I think I did do a clear straight 15 in a row a least. over the next week I am going to try for a 7 in a row challenge starting today.

XSpender

I have managed to clock up another 3 NSDs bringing my total to 4.

I cant see me hitting my total of 12 but the challenge this month has really focussed my mind and made me think about what I am spending on and I have really cut back on silly little spends, especiallly at work.

Nargleblast

Nice one, kerri - I am sure Bdini will add it to her list of put-downs!

Spendy day today, odds and ends to tide us over till the big payday shop next week. Am hopeful of another NSD tomorrow, though.

On my internet homepage this morning, on a link for Facebook, I was told in huge letters that 3 people have "unfriended" me, and invited to click to find out who these three scumbags were.
Which would really have ruined my day - if it weren't for the fact that I am not even on Facebook......scam, maybe?
I can see how social networking sites can cause upset and trouble. If I had been on FB, and had been "unfriended" (let's pray that ridiculous term does not make it into the Oxford English Dictionary) then I would surely have found out when I next tried to access those people's pages, so why the need to post inflammatory statements on the internet homepage, inviting trouble?

OK, rant over, kettle calling, cup of coffee required right now.

Laters, chaps & chappesses!

HeadAboveWater

solventsoon wrote: »

:j:j:jHeadAboveWater - a brilliant NSD no 9 firmly nabbed now, yay!! Hope the grocery shopping wasn’t too painful and yay to the fleaby sales, well done you!!

I'm well pleased with my 9 so far

Unfortunately not one today. Had to post my 2 ebay items, but one of them I offered free p&p because I mucked up their order first time round so I was outta pocket.

So on top of postage, I then paid 50p for 8 crimbo cards in the post office (charity: save the children) plus a bag of chocolates (charity: barnardos)

And seeing as I'd already spent, I met SIL, OHs mum, dad and bro in town for coffee and buns (I highly recommend the raspberry and coconut slice )

Either tomorrow or Friday will be another NSD which will be me hitting target, but will be back again to report!

Happy hump day

WantToBeSE

Good afternoon all

Well done BDINI on the new job, thats fab news :j and better money too, i'd be tempted to stick my tongue out at your soon-to-be-ex-colleagues

Today wasnt a NSD, as i got an attack of the munchies for no reason. You know how they say to NEVER go food shopping when you are hungry? Yeah, well......:o Lesson learnt!

I am a bit unsure of whats going on with this job. She gave me the job, there and then, and said she'd call me on Monday to discuss it, but i havent heard anything at all from her

I think i might leave it until the end of the week, and then call her to ask whats going on. Where the HQ is based is very rural, so i am wondering if she has had problems getting in because of the ice and snow, and therefore cant get my contact details from the office....:huh:

beanielou

NSD no 22.
Feeling much better apart from the coughing.
But now have too much snow for me to go out :rotfl:

IF

Afternoon all :hello:

Got my 13th NSD

Thank you
IF…x

IF

Ooops forgot this, it made me smile today :beer:

While Torfaen staff have been spreading grit a special guest has been spreading the word on how the council operates during the extreme winter weather.

Torfaen council enlisted the help of the borough’s very own Elvis tribute act, Darren ‘Graceland’ Jones to film a special winter safety message.

The film, which promotes the council’s gritting crews and key winter messages is a remake of the King’s classic ‘In the Ghetto’.

The council’s version, ‘In the Depot’, features Elvis with front line staff performing in some well known Torfaen locations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6UerjFCLdI

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!