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

butdoineedit?

freebyfifty wrote: »

BDINI – NSD #16 safely captured. :T Well done and even weller done for going out in that snow.:T:T

Really glad i did now, i've just woke up & looked out the window & we've had a good 6 inches settle overnight!

Might as well declare number 17 now as there is just no way i will be wanting to go anywhere today... soggy paintbrush here i come!!

freebyfifty

butdoineedit? wrote: »

Really glad i did now, i've just woke up & looked out the window & we've had a good 6 inches settle overnight!

Might as well declare number 17 now as there is just no way i will be wanting to go anywhere today... soggy paintbrush here i come!!

There is about the same here :eek: and I have just decided the same :rotfl: The dogs can't even walk in the back garden properly so I doubt I'll be walking them very far. A cozy day in the house is in order :T

freebyfifty

Well, I was bored sitting here with nothing much to do........... actually, I've got loads I should be doing but none of it I can be bothered doing

So here is the link to February's challenge. I know it's early but plenty of time to get your thinking caps on for that elusive February target


https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/58900851#Comment_58900851

Helsbels8080

Good morning everyone

Haven't posted in a few days but have kept up with the thread. More snow here last night but it seems to have turned to slush this morning so not too bad.

Have had a few spends this week:

Tuesday = Direct Debit left my bank
Wednesday = Grocery Shopping
Thursday = Credit Card Payment and Charity Club raffle ticket

but yesterday was NSD so that's #14 and my second target reached :j

I am going to try for 2 more so could you please raise my target to 16. I am looking forward to the end of the month so I can work out how much I have saved.

donna_dynamo

Been a while have been soooooooo busy just popped into declare 19 NSD's for the month so far. Hoping for at least another two in the coming days.

Sazdaz

Yesterday was NSD 11 so just need to find another four by the end of the month. Today was meant to be a NSD and in fact an extra earn day but my extra job was cancelled due to the weather. Instead I am now driving DM to her concert as she wasnt going to go as she hates the drive but she is paying petrol. Only think I will need to pay for is a cheap meal with them there and I am going to treat myself to watch a film at cinema whilst they watch their concert.

lurvlyloz

yesterday was NSD 11/18 not gonna make it this month but will try alot harder in feb

poohbear59

I have managed my 4 in a row 3 times now but not posted on here. I have also managed to meet my target of 15NSDs and am now up to 22NSDs.
My cupboards are looking like Old Mother Hubbards and DS1 (he is 26!!) complained he had not had enough vegetables recently. We need a shop but trying to hang on until next week when we can see what is left after the Ddebits are paid.

IF

Morning all :hello:

Got my 15th NSD

Thank you
IF…x

IF

February's NSD thread - Click here

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!