The Naughty but Nice November NSD Challenge

kayester

declaring my 3rd NSD and 3 in a row

EverTheOptimist

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

EverTheOptimist

mucktub86 wrote: »

Hey,

I know it's 4 days in but could I sign up please?

Could I ask what may be a daft question? It was my birthday in September and I still have birthday money left. If I see something I like and buy it with that money, does it count as a spend day?

L

Welcome along mucktub86. :wave:

It's not a daft question but its entirely up to you. I wouldn't count it as a spend day as its money given to you to treat yourself. It's not like spending from a budget that you shouldn't be spending. But your rules have got to work for you.

Also if you count as a spend day would you be tempted to spend on other things. If you class it as a NSD then you might be less tempted to spend. If that makes sense.

cardi80

Afternoon all.

Declaring NSD # 1 for Saturday and NSD # 2 for today.

beanielou

NSD no 2 for me today.

pinknfluffy28

NSD # 2 for me today! Hoping for another tomorrow, we are going to a firework display, but we are going to have hot dogs and mushy peas at home before we go! Very mse!

x.nukke.x

NSD #1 for me please

Kate_fixing_it

I've been a bit lax after a running start and had planned for NSD Sunday and today but children soon got in the way of that :-(

I'm officially pulling my socks up and will not be opening my purse for the next two days. Might even leave it at home! Giving myself a mini target of two in a row (I know I'll need money on Thursday at SW)

BUT (and as always with me it's a big but ) my spends have been minimal and mostly essential with a few very cheap treats thrown in so whilst I'm still spending it's massively reduced. And I've really begrudged opening my purse at all!

Thanks to everyone for unknowingly kicking my behind and getting me back in gear. I WILL be back on track for my target of 15 by the end of the week

Kate x

joedenise

Didn't have the car today so NSD #3 for me but will need some shopping tomorrow.

Denise

flubberyzing

Well, today has made it #3 and an unplanned 3-in-a-row. And tomorrow looks likely to be the same!

Thanks for the comments re: my car accident. I have some muscle pain down my right hand side, which is likely to be from hitting my drivers side door, but otherwise okay.
Having a bit more trouble with the emotional side of things. Having never had any sort of car accident before, it was a huge shock, and I'm still swinging from "everythings okay, material things can be replaced and I'm not hurt", to actually feeling quite down and depressed. But I am assured that that is completely normal after a bad shock and will ease in a few days. Just trying to keep busy at the moment.