The Super-Duper September NSD Challenge

IF

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!

opal1221

Checking in for another 2 NSDs now upto 9, so nearly at my target I might even beat it! Also made £13 on a desk on gumtree that had been on for 3 weeks so I thought no one was interested any more. Good day all round!

Sazzie23

beanielou wrote: »

Thoughts please if I may?
My DS has a birthday this coming week.
Now he got one gift for going to uni & his other pressie does not come out til after his birthday.
Now part of me says that's enough spent & the other part of me says what a meanie to not buy him a wee thing to open on the day.
What do you think?

Hi beanie, 'party animal?' :rotfl:

How about a little goodie bag, with favorite sweeties, pen, cheapie shower gel, bottle of beer etc?

suzitiger wrote: »

Hello everyone,
I have been struggling somewhat with some sad personal circumstances but I am still trying to get in those NSDs...
I have managed to get in another 4NSDs, could be more but I haven't really been mindful of them. Looking to crack down for the rest of the month so should be on track for target!
I hope everyone is well. xxx

Sounds worrying, hope you are ok, NSD important but only in the right context, sometimes helps you keep life in focus though?

Knit_Witch wrote: »

Due to spending most of the day laid up in bed in pain :mad: I grabbed number 17 (hurling it into the Cauldron of Doom whilst we speak!)

Pain bad :mad:, NSD good :T hope it's getting better

kerri_gt

Just noticed the time...]NSD #11[/SIZE] clocked up :j

freebyfifty

There are

67

of us taking part in the September NSD Challenge

and so far we have collected

464 NSDs

:T:T:T:T:T

freebyfifty

Sazzie23

Morning all,

bright start to the day, thanks Freeby & If
Little quiet on here this weekend, though we seem to have a steady stream of NSD being clocked up. Think there are a few with folk going off/going back to Uni...hope it all goes well.

How are we doing on the monthly stakes?

Big weekend hug to anyone in need

Suziebabe

Morning! I do love weekends, especially Sunday mornings when everyone else in my house sleeps in!

Yesterday was an NSD, and there's no reason that today won't be the same, so I'm going to bagsy NSD #7 and #8 this weekend. No roast today as its the last Sunday before payday - sausage & pork steaks from the freezer instead, so nice easy cooking too!

I think that I need to step up on the NSDs - don't have a problem when I'm off work, but lattes & chocolate have crept back into my working days, must send them packing again! Would love to beat my target for NSDs this month, then raise my ambitions for next month!

{heads off to raid cupboards for supplies for next week}

zafiro1984

Determined not to go out today, so wearing old "not to be seen out" clothes. Think I'll get stuck into some window washing

IF

Morning all :hello:

Declaring my 14th NSD

Thank you freeby :beer:
IF