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

Nargleblast

ifwisheswerehorses... wrote: »

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!

Bumped this note seeing as I have started a new page!

Nargleblast

And in all the excitement I forgot to say.....

NSD 2 arrived today!!!!

(I'm a poet, and didn't know it)

laura16_2

NSD 3 is today

slowlyfading

NSD 3 for me today

WelshWoofer

Hurrah!
I've managed another one today - this is massive progress for me - 3 out of 6 days as NSDs (and 2 for the last 2 days of Dec).:j:j:j

So its NSD no 3 for me:)

coolcats

6 NSD for me, all in a row as hoped. Doing really well. We went away friday for couple of nights so needed to use up food before hand, big difference! And we never spent a penny while away, mainly as there was no shops close by. All paid for before Xmas. Unfortunly tomorrow will be a spend day as need to stock up again. Pay school for the week and will get the clubs bills (may not pay tomorrow though as have whole term to pay, like to get it done) Had a great time while away doing nothing, much needed break.

emslovesmickey

A third of the way there - NSD 5

dizzy_lizzie

freebyfifty wrote: »

I am so sorry Dizzy but I didn't realise when I did the update that you had reached your target so I didn't give you the fanfare you rightly deserved

Very, very well done :T:T:T

Now, my next challenge to you is to increase your target :eek: so you can get another prize and, now that we have you in our clutches, keep you here :rotfl:

Let me know

:j Thank you soooooo much freebyfifty. And guess what? I've done it. I've bagged NDS 6 today, so one over my target :j
I know 5 was a low target but I remember trying this challenge a couple of years ago and failing miserably. So set myself a hopefully achievable target and did it
Did my inventory of fridge/freezer and cupboard and have got loads of things in to make meals and even found some of those petit pain half baked bread rolls in the cupboard so I didn't need to shop today at all. I haven't done my menu plan yet though.
We did run out of milk earlier on but I don't drink it and OH doesn't that much and everyone else was out. We get two pints delivered in the morning so no point buying any.
Sorry for the ramble but I'm chuffed to bits. This thread is so motivating and supportive. Thank you
I've taken my lunch out the freezer for tomorrow and will plan tomorrows tea later.
Oooooh I wonder if I can get away with not buying anything tomorrow. I can't think of anything we need at the moment now.
Just editing to add I do need fruit and potatoes. Nevermind.
Taken the Christmas decs down today and tomorrow will be a hoover/polish day. Keep my mind off spending.

EverTheOptimist hope you had a lovey birthday :beer:

Have a lovely evening everyone
x

beanielou

Hi gang :wave:
NSD no 6 today & 6 in a roll

Anyway get the Daily Mirror?
If so might anyone be good enough to send me the wee slimming world supplements that are in it Monday to Wednesday this week?
Will happily cover postage.

MummyRivett

I had a really great NSD Today, on one of the other boards that I subscribe to: Need not Want we have been encouraged to get organised.

Now you may have seen that I have really put the effort in planning the household management so when rises from the ashes mentioned she was had put together a household management binder, I did some surfing and found this great free printable project. I can't wait to get stuck in.

http://www.organizinghomelife.com/archives/4275

I have also managed to impress Daddy Rivett again, I cooked a roast which he wolfed down and asked for seconds, I did a few extra spuds for supper later.

So a great 4 NSD for me today.