The Awesome Amazing August NSD Challenge

kerri_gt

Not a NSD, went to the PYO at lunchtime - so struggling with target a little this month, but worrying thing is I'm not really fussed....which is very unlike me :eek:

getting-there-slowly

NSD 2 today!

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!

Jelly_Biactol

NSD 4 today :T

and

3-in-a-row :j:j:j

Suziebabe

Hmmm, am going to have to give myself a ticking off for trying to fiddle the system. I didn't spend anything yesterday so in theory could try to claim it as a nsd - but the fact is that it was me who forgot to get anything out the freezer for tea, and so texting OH to pick something up on his way home instead of going myself should count as a spend by me!

Must stop trying to cheat my way to paying off debts!

Lizzie_Bennet

NSD #3 for me today

ModestyB

NSDs 3 & 4 for yesterday and today. Enjoyed the day fishing and watching nature today. Would have been better without the wasps and sunburn. :rotfl:

Well done Freeby with the no smoking, keep up the good work. :A

HAW, great news about your FD target. :T

Hugs to all in need.

MissE001

kerri_gt wrote: »

Not a NSD, went to the PYO at lunchtime - so struggling with target a little this month, but worrying thing is I'm not really fussed....which is very unlike me :eek:

Oh dear kerri - are you sickening for something? Very unlike you to not be fighting for every NSD :money:

I'm very pleased to report NSD #4/15 - despite buying a cover for my bike. I got £15 in Ama*on vouchers from Ipsos and £8.48 from TCB - felt like £23.48 free money.

Got the bike out of the shed at the weekend in a very sorry state (hasn't seen daylight for *ahem* a number of years). Took it to the local bike shop yesterday and they had it sorted and roadworthy for £15. Thought it was worth investing in a cover to protect it in my less-than-weatherproof shed so treated myself with the Ama*on vouchers....and I still have change :T

I tested the bike tonight....dear goodness my legs were sore and I was fair "puffed oot" when I wasn't cycling on the flat. Only managed 4km.....ah well, got to start somewhere :A

bottleofred

Hi Folks:),

No NSD for me today, as I bought some steak mince and chopped tomatoes for meatballs:)! I may manage an NSD tomorrow or Friday though, so fingers crossed:).
Mrs Red has just gone home after being here for dinner, so am heading to bed shortly, as I am going to the gym at stupid o'clock tomorrow morning again. I hope everyone is well:)

MissE001

Oh, and an update on DD's exam results....looks like one of the results was wrong. She got the results by text and email and was kind of disappointed with the B she got for one of her subjects. When the certificate came through, none of her course work has been included so looks like there's more marks to come and it'll end up an A.....which means first choice uni

I think it's a bit worrying that it took careful inspection of the certificate to identify the mistake though and now need to depend on the school to sort it out with exam board. I kind of feel for kids who maybe aren't as vigilant or don't have supportive parents. Anyway, hopefully all be sorted in the next few days and another certificate will come through with another shiny A :A