The Naughty but Nice November NSD Challenge

solventsoon

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!

frugaldances

Thank you. I've planned which days are no spend days and today will be the first one! I am working so will be taking in lunch and a bottle of drink :-)

bottleofred

Hi Spoony:)

Welcome back to the thread:). I'm not sure anyone needs to ask for permission to come back, as we are a welcoming bunch and completely understand that our personal and work lives can take over from time to time:mad:. I hope your work problems have settled down now:). I am sending hugs:)

joedenise

Managed another NSD yesterday so #7/10. Was out last night at the dogs but that was all pre-paid including food, drink and a jackpot bet!

Denise

kerri_gt

Welcome back Spoony - of course you don't need permission to rejoin, sounds like you've had a really carp few months - hope things are improving for you. You might have spotted I took the Tardis for a little jaunt north of the boarder too - I have had it valeted for you, but the guys couldn't seem to budge the tartan graffiti, and I kinda like it so i think it might be there to stay, at least it will mean less decorating for our St Andrews day NSD outing :rotfl:

charleybear

Thank you solventsoon !
Also to those who had car accidents, I hope your all okay.
I missed your posts (my bad).

Today I am hoping for an NSD,
Though I may have to go to the shops for my mum which I won't count as A spend day because It would have been my mum using her money but as she's cooking dinner for our family friends to come over and spend a few hours with us and she sprained her shoulder - she needs the help she can get .

Oh and I'm feeling really good today I'm glad to be moving on and I feel much happier to be myself

beanielou

spoony~It had made my Sunday to 'see' you :wave:

traveller

Hi everyone, 2 NSD'S here :j

kayester

NSD number 7

beth2242

Past few days haven't quite gone to plan but I plan for today to be NSD no.5 but will report back later in the evening to confirm . I am at work for the afternoon so I have no reason to spend any money but being at work somehow doesn't usually stop me!
Managed to get the first lot of Xmas present ordered yesterday though which is a good start