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

WelshWoofer

Been to do the grocery shopping so not a NSD for me today - never mind there's always tomorrow.:)

jaxsmar

I've spent today however pleased so far achieved 4 NSD's in a row and I was aiming for 3 in a row, but back at work next week cant say I'am looking forward to it!

IF

Afternoon all :hello:


:rotfl::rotfl:

pmartin86

Got 2 days so far, was just wondering about today, I had to buy bonjella for a mouth ulcer, does medication count as a spend? As its sort of essential?

dizzy_lizzie

pmartin86 wrote: »

Got 2 days so far, was just wondering about today, I had to buy bonjella for a mouth ulcer, does medication count as a spend? As its sort of essential?

Hiya. I think it depends what you want to class as your grocery budget or what you've decided to include. As it's not a spur of the moment grocery spend but an essential eg for your health you may not want to add it. But as I say depends on what you're including in your challenge
Hope you feel better soon. Mouth ulcers are flipping painful!
x

Nargleblast

Hello and Happy New Year from the Land of Nargle! Been a bit busy with work, sloggus domesticus and family visits so have only just logged on here for the first time in a week.

A quick flick through the past 28 pages shows the return of CW18 -Aye oop, Cheryl! Where do you think you have been all this time? Glad to see you back on board - do you like the new decor in Ennessdee Towers? We thought we might see you again at some point so kept your old chair and put your name on it in fluorescent pink letters so nobody would swipe it! Do you still have a freezer the size of Wembley stadium packed with all your grocery shopping bargains?

A wish for good health and happiness for all the regulars and newbies, and I suppose I had better sign up on the pledges board in the hall for a lovely 10 NSDs for January.....and I have finally got off the starting blocks with number 1!!!

floella80

Afternoon everyone!
Hoping for a NSD today. Technically, we bought the baby car seat and Quinny pushchair today but OH's mum is buying it for us and OH put it on his card so he can get the cheque from his mum. So we didn't spend our own money! Unfortunately, yesterday I spent money. My mum wanted to meet me in town, then we went and saw baby stuff and I had to get a few bits that were needed and were in the sale.

moneypenny2k

Nargleblast wrote: »

Hello and Happy New Year from the Land of Nargle! Been a bit busy with work, sloggus domesticus and family visits so have only just logged on here for the first time in a week.

Hi Nargle, was trying to work out what was different when I got back... now I know it was you that was missing :hello:

Not going to be a NSD for me today, taking grandson to the theatre as his birthday treat tonight, so petrol, money on the oyster card and probably a little treatiepoo for DGS at some point in the eve. Must remember to buy bread whilst I'm out or I'll lose a NSD tomorrow.

Have a good day all :beer:

zafiro1984

Looks like this could be No 4 NSD - really pleased, hope it lasts

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!