The Fantastically Festive December NSD Challenge

flubberyzing

#3 done!


Very much looking forward to the weekend (even with the hour or so I have to go into work and do tomorrow afternoon!). It's been a tiring week, with a lot to process, so a good rest is needed... And perhaps I'll finish off that bottle of wine in the fridge... Shhh!

Goldiegirl

NSD # 3


Another day at work for me, so, as yesterday, no real chance to spend anything!

LeopardPrintsAndTea

NSD #2

I did go into town - to get my glasses sorted out which was free (thank god! so pleased as i had them tightend, the arms made short and the nose bit moved up and made them eye level)
though I did have the urge to buy my mum a cheese board then thought if it actually sounded appealing to give to her for Christmas and thought no.

EverTheOptimist

Update 5th and 6th December

LeopardPrintsAndTea - well done on NSD # 2 :j:j
Flubbery - well done on getting that NSD # 2 & 3. :j:j hope your time at the Xmas fayre goes quickly enough.
Fedup - fantastic achievement nabbing that NSD # 5&6. :j:j 6/6 that's good going.
Kate_fixing_it - well done on grabbing NSD # 3 :j:j you set your own rules, so whatever works for you.
Saver-Upper - NSD # 2 for you well done. :j:j Congratulations on sticking to it and not going and spending. And I'm sure the kids didn't know any different.
Slowlyfading - NSD # 4&5 nabbed. :j:j another fantastic start to the month.
Strandedinaber - great stuff nabbing NSD # 3 and 2-in-a-row.. :j:j fab achievement so early on in the month.
Marmite - yay congratulations on NSD # 4 and 3-in-a-row . :j:j
beanie - congratulations on nabbing NSD 4. :j:j excellent start to the month well done you
Jaxsmar - well done for grabbing NSD # 3. :j:j
Jammy dodger -well done on NSD # 1. :j:j, it's great to get started. Hopefully they'll come in thick and fast now
Goldiegirl - well done for grabbing NSD # 2 & 3. Keep it up, you'll soon be at target.
Bex296 - well done for nabbing NSD # 3. :j:j Good stuff.
MissE001 - well done on NSD # 3 :j:j and thanks for the stats, they're much appreciated
HeyJude2013- congratulations on NSD #2 & 3 :j:j. On a roll now.

And for me...
ETO - NSD # 3 for yesterday but not for today, popped into town.

Hi to...

Kerri

Eta - Im Falling asleep on my iPad, so will edit/change anything tomorrow morning as I need.

marmiterulesok

Yesterday was #5 and so that also means that I've got my 4-in-a-row.
It's good to get it out of the way.I might even try to get an second 4-in-a-row challenge.
Hope that you all have a good weekend everyone.
Thanks MissE111 and ETO for your hard work.

Has anyone had news of freeby?

Sazzie23

marmiterulesok wrote: »

Yesterday was #5 and so that also means that I've got my 4-in-a-row.
It's good to get it out of the way.I might even try to get an second 4-in-a-row challenge.
Hope that you all have a good weekend everyone.
Thanks MissE111 and ETO for your hard work.

Has anyone had news of freeby?

Woohoo Marmite well done 5 of 6 and 4 in a row :beer:

I hope Freeby is ok and that maybe she is able to read this and knows we are think of her

Sazzie23

NSD 4 & 5 & 5 in a row

Getting the hang of it again:D
However yesterday was spendy and today maybe too:o

MissE001

Doing so much better than last month - got #4 yesterday and resisted tempation to buy chocolate on the way home

And marmite - haven't seen anything of freeby. Hope everything's okay with her and that she knows we're thinking of her

MissE001

Front page is updated with our progress so far....I have no idea why the font does strange things every time I do it

sazzie will be along soon with the in-a-row updates and I'll put that on the front page too

Have a good Saturday everyone :j

MissE001

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!