Midsummer NSDness - the June NSD Challenge

solventsoon

zenshi wrote: »

It felt very naughty as I had intended to buy it as my contribution. Anyhow my son came late last night on his way home and said not to bother paying him, was his treat

Every day I am proud of how my kids have turned out despite the hardship and lack of one parent! So it can be done :T

Now that just goes to show, zenshi, that the quantity of parents doesn't matter, it's the quality. Your kids have turned out brilliantly due to you, a massive well done x

HeadAboveWater wrote: »

Well done to all those already off to a flying start!! :T

Bad start to the month for me though!

Saturday got groceries (which is in budget and not counted for a NSD), but was out for drinks Sat night with OH. He paid for the drinks and I paid for the taxi and kebab (:eek:)

Yesterday I met my friend for a cuppa and bun

Today I'm meeting my sister for lunch. Will have lunch before I meet her so I only need to get a cuppa, so it's a lesser spend than it could've been, but still....

Spoon - where's that kick up the behind when I need it?!

EDIT:
After all my earlier, today IS actually a NSD!! Sister treated me to coffee and a muffin at lunch!

I'm off the starting line with no 1!!! :j

Your wish is my command, HAW, though I'm not sure you need it now.... but here goes:D

solventsoon

ifwisheswerehorses... wrote: »

Hiya all and welcome to June's NSD thread :hello:
Could we please ask you to highlight your number of NSDs in a colour and in bold so that Freeby, Spoon, Marmite, Cheryl and Sazzie can see them easily when they whizz through the posts - red would be best but they don't really mind as long as they 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!

Just posting If's welcome message as we're on a new page:D

marmiterulesok

I did some grocery shopping yesterday and am declaring #2 for today already,to keep me in check.

I have to get a prescription today but it doesn't count.;)

Thanks again sazzie.

IF

Morning all :hello:


I now have my 2nd NSD

Thank you Freeby, Spoon, Marmite, Cheryl and Sazzie
IF…x

HeadAboveWater

Sazzie23 wrote: »

Headabove – see never say never – that startingNSD 1 sneaked in :j:j

Thanks for the update Sazzie

Hoping I'll manage no 2 today - will update later!!

OMG cw18 that sounds absolutely amaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazing!! Room for one more please?!

solventsoon wrote: »

Your wish is my command, HAW, though I'm not sure you need it now.... but here goes:D

Muchos appreciated as always!! Will save that for later

Hope the sun in shining for everyone today :cool:

cw18

HeadAboveWater wrote: »

OMG cw18 that sounds absolutely amaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazing!! Room for one more please?!

No set numbers on the walk - only problem is that beds are 'first come first served', and as far as I'm aware the only one you can book in advance is the French one for the night before you start the Camino.

I'm heading out on my own.... OH is totally supportive, but my kids think I've totally lost it

charleybear

ThAnk you sazzie!
The cleaning helped a lot I have a small pile to sort out b
ut won't take me so long. I'm hoping today will be another NSD
I am seeing my boyfroend tonight though as things are tough at his home
At the mi Ute so im gonna try and cheer him up

Sazzie23

cw18 wrote: »

I'm heading out on my own.... OH is totally supportive, but my kids think I've totally lost it

I think having a target of something you want to do is brill, Although has anyone mentioned Shirley Valentine?:rotfl:

Freeby, no it was late again and got disturbed again in the night, sigh, still tomorrow is another day(night).

flowerofscotland

Having had a very spendy May (although I did just manage to make my target of 12) i would like to declare a target of 16 for June

Sunday and Monday were NSDs so that makes my first report

16/2

Huge thanks to everyone who works so hard at updating and inspiring this thread

purple.sarah

Sunday was NSD 1 for me.

Saturday was a spend day because we took the train to view a smallholding. It was worth it because we decided to rent it!

Monday was a spend day because I bought cat food and some reduced meat for the freezer, which will save money in future.