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

heartbreak_star

I managed to clock up an NSD yesterday so I now have 2 NSDs for January!

HBS x

mummy2threeboys

HI, quick post, hope you are all enjoying monday (first day back to school for the kiddie winks)

Another 1 af to report 20/5 many thanks

poohbear59

Yay!! I have had 6NSDs this month. I feel as though I am on a roll now. DSIL hasnt had his big Christmas present from us yet. I want to wait until the weather is warmer as it is for the garden so thinking I might print him a voucher for now and order later in the month.

HeadAboveWater

Ooooooh stuck stuck STUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :mad:

ALMOST got a NSD last week but found an item online which is hard to come by and 'had' to order it

Wed I bought boots which I took back on Thursday. Thursday I bought boots which I took back on Friday. The money that I got back from the coat was then spent on pizzas and other grub in Asda. Does that still count as a spend?!?

Saturday was a shopping day. Sposed to finish off with a 'proper' shop in Tescos, but OH wasn't in the mood so we got a few bits and pieces just, then had to go to Sainsburys yesterday for more stuff. Plus what we're having for dinner tonight we're missing an essential ingredient so that's me away off to Tescos at lunch!!! :eek: :mad:

Never mind diets, I think I'll just not eat at all for the month of January!!!!!

flubberyzing

I'm going to get in early and declare today as NSD #5!

I did have to go and post 2 ebay parcels, but I technically didn't pay for that! Paid in cash as well, so no impact on my debit card.

(A resolution this year is to pay for more things in cash. I'm hoping that it will keep more more aware of my outgoings...)

A theme on my FB this morning is that people slept appallingly badly last night. I certainly did! Turned the light off about 10:30 (normal sort of time for me), but tossed and turned, before getting up and watching tv until I finally felt relaxed at 2am! Normally I'm out like a light!
Anyone else struggle?

Oh, and the diet starts today as well. :rotfl:

Florida2013

Today will NOT be an NSD for me.

I have had to pay out for an extra days childcare plus I've now got nothing left to eat (eating lemon curd sandwiches as I type) so I'll need to do a quick shop after work.


I've promised myself that I'll limit my shopping to £40.

Shortie

Afternoon everyone, sorry for being absent this weekend, I've been in hibernation really - the inlaws were back over and staying with us and I ended up being out at a remberence service on Saturday (unplanned for me as I was planning on staying in with the children) and we were then TOLD we were going out for a meal yesterday, back in London near Mr Shortie's brother, SIL and their daughter. Which I don't mind, but I didn't have money for, and meant I needed more petrol (as the round trip takes half a tank) etc so yesterday was an unplanned SD (on top of it being a pile of p00h as it was sooo unplanned that no-one was prepared for it, we didn't get to eat with the Bro & SIL in the end as they couldn't get there when we were there, we drove an hour each way JUST to eat out when I had food planned for last night, and the MIL was then in an absolutely fowl mood as nothing had gomne the way she wanted it to as stropped on my sofa all last night.. plus I've had to move money out of a savings pots for the priviledge :mad:) Sorry, rant over.


So, declaring 5/20 NSDs, and will try and catch up on older posts now

Hugs to all x

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!

IF

Afternoon all :hello:


Got my 4th NSD

Thank you
IF…x

ModestyB

Yesterday was NSD 6 & 6 in a row. Had to break the chain today though, paid for DH's birthday present while it was on offer. It's his 65th at the beginning of Feb. so me and DD went halves on something special for him.

ETO, belated birthday wishes. Hope you had a lovely day and lots of presents.

Get well (((hugs))) being sent out for all who need them.