The "Just Keep Swimming" July NSD Thread

lilian1977

I don't think I've had any NSDs since I last posted, but am hoping for NSDs for the next 4 days as am really skint now this week! So hoping to get 9 NSDs by Thursday evening and also 4 in a row! Eek! Can I do it?!

IF

Morning all :hello:

cardi80

Afternoon!

Today should be #6. I need to go to the shop but holding out until tomorrow. I also really want an ice-cream!

Helyonnaise

hi everyone!

NSD5 for me! I know its very early in the day to say that but Ive taken the boys to the park and didnt spend any money, the car has petrol in it incase I need to go anywhere else (although not planned) and theres plenty of food in the kitchen so wont be asking hubby to buy anything on the way home!

That'll mean im 1/3 of the way through my NSD challenge! Im not sure if I will hit 15 but Ive spent less this month than I have in a long time!

beanielou

NSD no 8 today.

wildcherry

Hi All,

After a fairly spendy weekend and over the food shop budget by a fiver yesterday :-/, today is my first NSD of the week. The rest of the week isn't looking good for NSD but very good for me in other areas. I have a few days off work and am taking myself off for the night, spa break come wandering around Cambridge, come reflection on numerous things that have been pushed into the back of my mind whilst I concentrate on our daily lives. 30 hours of reflection, once a year is about all I muster these days but I am incredibly grateful for every hour!!
So, although I am mindful of my NSD target, the next couple of days they will have to take a back seat and I can't wait!! NSD #9

fedupandskint

NSD 14 today

marmiterulesok

lilian1977 wrote: »

I don't think I've had any NSDs since I last posted, but am hoping for NSDs for the next 4 days as am really skint now this week! So hoping to get 9 NSDs by Thursday evening and also 4 in a row! Eek! Can I do it?!

I'm sure you can!

Well,today I reached #12 and 5 in a row.

I'm hoping to hold off any grocery shopping until Thursday,thus nabbing an nsd tomorrow too.

PS Thanks freeby for my in-a-row prize!

Nargleblast

Evening, all! Just flying in to say here's another NSD for the collection, taking the Chateau Nargle total to 8!!!!

Freeby - took your advice re facebook - DS now has a facebook account in such a ludicrous name that nobody will ever discover his true identity. However, OH took it upon himself to create an account for us so as we could be a "friend" to DS and keep track of things - but he used a combination of both our first names and a surname not far removed from ours, so anyone doing a little detective work could unravel who we are......sigh.....he will never make a spy, my OH.......

Might rack up another NSD tomorrow if I am a good little Nargle....

IF

Hiya all and welcome to July'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!