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

IF

Morning all :hello:


Got my 3rd NSD

Thank you
IF…x







Happy Birthday EvertheOptimist :beer:

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!

MummyRivett

Candlewick

Morning everyone, hope you are well.

A very busy day yesterday and didn't even have chance to log on and was exhausted by the time I went to bed.

I am finally able to declare DAY 2 NSD. Day 6 of no smoking today and am feeling much better. £39 saved so far and that's just on the ciggies.

Have a good day.

CW

positivelypurple

Popping in to declare NSD #4 for today - it's early but I'm back from work, bone tired and not planning on leaving the house again today. I've got loads to do here so should crack on after an energising cup of coffee.

Happy Birthday EvertheOptimist! Hope you have a super day :bdaycake:

jaxsmar

Morning everyone,

I'am declaring today NSD 5

mummy2threeboys

HI all..just checking in! Another 1 nsd 20/4 yesterday. Alas today wil not be a nsd as i have to buy new drawer runners and some ink for the printer. Also taking the children bowling (£2.50 a game..lemonade and crispys comes to about £12 for all of us..i dont bowl lol) comeing out of the boys treats christmas money.
Have a great week all x

Sazdaz

Well I would like to report yesterday as #NSD 3. Hoping today will be another one as off to walk the dog and been invited to lunch at DM so hopefully wont need to spend anything.

marmiterulesok

WantToBeSE wrote: »

Can i ask- do you all work out your budgets at the start of every month/day/payday and then withdraw the cash you need until the next month/day/payday?
I am thinking of doing this, so that i then dont have to touch my bank account in between (apart from moving money into savings accounts).
Trying to think of any drawbacks to doing this, but cant really think of any, so i'll give it a go i think!!

The way I do it is that I have a weekly grocery budget and take out the full amount for the month when I'm paid.I put this money aside and only have one week's money in my purse at a time.I'm pretty well trained not to spend next week's budget before it's due.This is my food money.

For any other purchase,ie cat food or shampoo,because I have a monthly budget for everything else,I pay for it with my debit card,then transfer the money over from my budget account to my current account to pay for it.

I have a standing order for my monthly budget money which is taken out a few days after payday.This sum can vary from month to month.

I also have a monthly budget for the 'storecupboard' and will use this often for bulk buying flour,lentils or tinned foods etc.

It's taken me a while to find a system that works for me.HTH.

The_Dragon

Many happy returns ETO :bdaycake: