The All-time Outstanding October NSD Challenge

suzitiger

Hi lovely NSD gang:A
As you can see there is lots of activity on this challenge at the moment and it's difficult sometimes to see how many NSDs you're all declaring on posts.
Could I ask you to highlight your number of NSDs in a colour and in bold so that I can see them easily when I whizz through the posts - red would be best but I don't really mind as long as I 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!

suzitiger

Can't remember if I signed up for this month...If not can I sign up for my usual 10NSDs please? I was on hols at the beginning of the month but this means that I so far have 4 NSDs, 2 on hols and one yesterday, 1 today

kerri_gt

And that makes NSD #7highly recommend this illness lark for the wallet and the waistline ... Not so much anything else though....

sazaccount

Today makes it NSD #1 first of many to come!!! :rotfl:

BUT my mum and sister are coming down to see me for the week from tomorrow can't see many NSD's in my near future

freebyfifty

Good Morning

There are

53

of us taking part in the October NSD Challenge

and so far we have collected

214 NSDs

:T:T:T:T:T

freebyfifty

My Monday morning mood..........................................

joedenise

Just dropping in to declareNSD #6 for yesterday. Was hoping for another one today but need to pop out to get bread and milk today so decided I'd pick up the few other bits I've already got on my list which hopefully means I'll be able to get another couple of NSDs this week before my main shop on Thursday!

Denise

Sazzie23

Morning all, hoping the rain might clear so I can go for a walk..

Claiming NSD 7for Sunday, still debating on wether I can count Sat:eek:

Have a good week everyone

Nargle, I poured coffee all over my clean sheets, does that count as aromatherapy? :rotfl:

Sazzie23

sazaccount wrote: »

Today makes it NSD #1 first of many to come!!! :rotfl:

BUT my mum and sister are coming down to see me for the week from tomorrow can't see many NSD's in my near future

2 ways to get NSD when you have company...
Either have a going out budget that you stick to...or
I pay today, you pay tomorrow ...etc etc

Enjoy, it'll be nice to spend some time with them anyway

In_Debt_Bet

Not doing as well as I had hoped so far this month I've only managed 2 I need to be more organised - and have more willpower!