The Super-Duper September NSD Challenge

beanielou

kerri_gt wrote: »

Wow, reckon they might adopt me?! :rotfl:

& me too :rotfl:

Thanks for the input re DS & pressies.
Good idea Sazzie on the goodie bag.
I had a box like that for uni but could maybe come up with ideas for a wee bag.

bottleofred

Good Morning Folks,

Apologies for going awol part of the week, as it has been a busy week and was also working late on Friday! Thankfully, I have been able to grab another 2 NSDS since my last visit, so am able to declare NSDs 8 & 9:)
I was having a little bit of red juice last night, so have a little bit of a headache today and really should know better at my age:o
I have not yet had a chance to catch up on the posts, so hope everyone is well and enjoying the weekend:)
Thanks to freeby, If and Spoony for the updates. Apologies if I have missed anybody though your hard work is greatly appreciated:T
Have a good Sunday everyone:)

MrsCautious

Afternoon all, I've not managed any NSDs this week, but will console myself with the fact that most spends have been essential, today for the first time in about 25 years, I've used a laundrette, cost me £5.20 for 2 lots of washing and rather than paying for dryers I brought all the washing home to hang on the line, I know there's nothing out of the ordinary about that on a nice sunny day like today but there were plenty of people using the dryers, perhaps they didn't have space outside. New washing machine due to be delivered in October and have been without one for a month and friends and family been letting me use theirs but I felt I'd relied on them enough.

I'm aiming for NSDs Mon and Tues, unless I'm poleaxed by having to shell out for school trips (it's looking likely!)

I am trying my best, I know I don't attain the impressive totals here but for me it keeps me focused and with the Make £10 a day and Grocery challenge, I feel very much in control.

Thanks for letting me ramble xx

kerri_gt

beanielou wrote: »

& me too :rotfl:

Thanks for the input re DS & pressies.
Good idea Sazzie on the goodie bag.
I had a box like that for uni but could maybe come up with ideas for a wee bag.

Sazzie's idea about a goodie bag is great, how about 'birthday essentials'

• small cake
• bottle of beer
• bottle opener
• novelty sock / pants
• perhaps something like an iTunes voucher
• something silly like party poppers

Bit of a damp and dreary day here today, made today's dinner in the form of beef casserole last night so that just needs reheating with some mash or something later. Looking out into the garden still thinking there's still loads to cut back, and wondering whether there are any blackberries still for picking.

Also thinking I need to get ordering bits for some xmas prezzies (HM ones) so I'm not doing all that at the last knockings.

Thinking of doing HM infused oils for aunts / uncles - rosemary (as we have loads in our garden) and a chilli oil too. With a pack of pasta and perhaps some pesto or infused salt. Any thoughts? I did dipping oils a few years back. Wasn't sure if this was a bit of a rubbish idea or not?

fedupandskint

NSD 22 today - all going well

jaxsmar

16 NSD's going well so far

beanielou

Mean as it sounds BTW I spent no money last night in the end so that was NSD no 14 & today was 15 :j
So can I please increase to 19?

kerri_gt

beanielou wrote: »

Mean as it sounds BTW I spent no money last night in the end so that was NSD no 14 & today was 15 :j
So can I please increase to 19?

Well done you Beanie - how did you manage that? PLEASE don't tell me you took some of Igor's HM turnip whisky instead? You know they use that in garages as engine cleaner? :eek:

Still on track for a NSD so far but may order some xmas bits online later. Did order 'that' shirt again - the one they sent had a load of bad stitching and I wanted to try another size too. So, ordered both sizes (was waiting for one to come back into stock). BUT I'll (obviously) only be keeping one, and as I already counted the original order, today doesn't count

Been out collecting a few of the last blackberries, lots of the bushes where I went before have been picked bare (seen loads of people picking them this year) and the kind council cut another load back. I'm also prob a couple of weeks later than I should have been to get more, but I have enough for a crumble tonight and some to freeze so that will do me. AND only got stung twice by nettles (and beeped once by some twit driving past)

Now sitting with a cuppa and a bakewell tart - nom nom

flowerofscotland

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?

I would get something small for him to open on the day but then buying presents is one of my weaknesses

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!