The Awesome Amazing August NSD Challenge

EverTheOptimist

NSD #1 for me today, been at a family do so no need to spend.

freebyfifty

There are

47

of us taking part in the August NSD Challenge

and so far we have collected

37 NSDs

:T:T:T:T:T

freebyfifty

Good Morning

Well done to everyone for racking up those first few NSDs - what a brilliant bunch you are :j

And good luck to everyone for getting that first one under your belt. Here's hoping that you get all the spendy days out of the way and then you'll be all organised for the rest of the month - you wouldn't wanna miss out on those chocolate prizes.

NSD #3 for me yesterday and it was a true and proper NSD with not a penny spent anywhere :j That is so rare for a Saturday for me. I was so determined that I was having one I raided my DM's cupboards for a tin of sweetcorn while I was visiting She had 6!!!!!! (now I know where I get my food hoarding from) so I wasn't leaving her devoid of sweetcorn

Have a great Sunday everyone. Lets rack up some more lovely NSDs :j

bottleofred

Good morning folks,

It is looking like a lovely morning so far in NI, although not sure how long it will last, as there is patchy rain forecast! I am going to make some chocolate muffins and fifteens before visiting my parents (my Mother asked if I had stopped baking last week:o) this morning. I may also go for a walk or to the gym today, but will see how much time I have, as I have to change my bed:(, do some cleaning and iron my shirts:eek:. I will of course indulge in a glass or 2 of red:). It was a spendy for me yesterday, as I bought some reduced price items from a local shop, so am having roast chicken and stuffing for lunch/dinner:). I'm not sure if today will be an NSD or not, but will try:). I wish everyone a good day:)

getting-there-slowly

NSD 1 for me yesterday and as it is pouring with rain here in Devon (no excuses for not sorting the wardrobe out) could well be another one - will have to wait and see!

Sazzie23

Morning All

Fedup, look after yourself, it's not long to go now, fluid and small meals will help keep your strength up.

Beanie, hope the sun shines today for you:cool:

ETO, well done, you are getting back in the saddle early this month.

Hoping today will be NSD 3 for me, but will declare later as its back to work again today, except I have to do a whole day as its my real shift.

Thanks Freeby :A for keeping us up to date.

Sazzie23

Back again

Forgot to say, Red, what are fifteens?

freebyfifty

Sazzie23 wrote: »

Back again

Forgot to say, Red, what are fifteens?

I was going to ask that too but I didn't wanna sound thick - glad you did it first Sazzie :rotfl::rotfl:

Have a good day at work :heart2:

fedupandskint

Thanks for all the well wishes - can't say I'm feeling much better but feel better after writing 1500 words yesterday so the total is up to 6937/12000 words now.

My laptop died a death on me for good yesterday so that's 3 things in the last 4 weeks - leg infection, chest infection and laptop packed in - should be in now if things come in 3's

At least I managed to get the desk top up and running smoothly again other wise I might have had a melt down over all of this.

Anyway - need to nip to the shop for a few things for next week (out of food budget) so today will still be a NSD then crack on with some more writing - oh the life eh?

IF

Hiya all and welcome to August'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 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!