The Naughty but Nice November NSD Challenge

Sazzie23

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!

flubberyzing

#6 banked yesterday! Still don't have a car sorted. The insurance people are dragging their heels. I haven't heard from them direct since Tuesday. Am going to ring them for an update later.

getting-there-slowly

I appear to do more lurking than posting but after a cash box tally/bank check I have 4 NSDto declare:j

MissE001

frugaldances wrote: »

Please could I be put down for 10 NSD? This is my first time at doing it. I'm usually a lurker but am now going to really try and be better with money

Welcome out of lurkdom frugaldances - I've added your target to the first page

No NSD for me today....catching up with friends for takeaway and wine :T

positivelypurple

Good afternoon all,

I'm declaring NSD #3 although we're not at the end of the day yet. I haven't left the house today after a very busy week and it's back to work tomorrow so I've given myself a day off the hamster wheel Lamb is slow-cooking in the oven and it smells delicious. Enjoy your day whatever you're put to!

Kate_fixing_it

I did it! :j:j NSD 5 yesterday!!!

Managed to get a signal and today I'm not leaving the village. There's only one shop and I won't be going in. My purse is actually in the bedroom and I have no reason to go and get it.

As such I'm going to put in an early declaration of NSD 6 and 5 in a row :j:j:j

I know it's not much but I'm very proud of myself

Have a great weekend everyone

Kate x

Nargleblast

And here comes NSD number 4!!!!!

The Nargle is on a roll.......:D

Kerri - put that constable down, you don't know where he's been....now get back in the Tardis and bring it back to Spoon's front drive before she notices it's gone.....you really should keep up with your medication, you know, remember what happens when you go off the rails?

ETO/MissE/Sazzie well done and many thanks for keeping us all up to date. I think this month will be a cracking month for NSDs!

kayester

Had a shopping day yesterday, but declaring NSD number 6 today!!

fedupandskint

NSD 7 today - no pennies spent at all!

charleybear

Been 2 spend days unfortunately but ;

Yesterday I brought flowers for my mum & donuts for the rest of the household because I thought I'd do something nice to say thank you for their support after a stressful few weeks with my Ex.

Then today I brought my dad's Christmas presents.
And I brought dinner as when I finished all my shopping,
I realised i haven't eaten for 6+ hours and felt like I was gonna pass out.
Oh and I put £2 in the Poppy Appeal to get an awareness rubber braclet.