The Fantastically Festive December NSD Challenge

fedupandskint

Sazzie23 wrote: »

Fed up, thanks for the tips today and over the last year, could I ask, do you actually have separate accounts or is this just a virtual thing, and if they are real accounts do you have card access or is it a transfer into your own account ? If you'd rather not say its fine I know I'm nosy, but if you don't ask....

Hi Sazzie,

I set up separate accounts for all of them when I discovered I could at the bank and it was a real help to organise finances for me. They are savings accounts that I can transfer money out of when needed. This is one of the things that has really helped me stay on track with my spending as I'm budgeting, saving and not frittering money on things I don't need which us how I used to spend.

Today I have a household account for cleaning products etc of £10 per month and as long as I don't go over this amount I can claim it as a NSD. Of course it means I have to be honest to myself about what I've spent but if I'm not then I'm kidding myself, so I am. I'm not making up the NSD as a mythical pretend total and it is the real total. Hope this helps.

Yesterday I put my monthly budget into my presents account for Christmas and birthdays but it's a NSD as I haven't spent the money, it's in a savings account. This is one of the things that's also been a big help. I worked out my budget per person for presents for birthdays and Christmas, then added them up and divided by 12 to get the monthly amount and made myself save it each month into a savings account. This plan worked really well over the last year and I'm doing if again this year, it was nice to have the money to spend rather than worrying about the amount coming out of my current account like I did before. And I stuck to my budgets too!

Anyway, that's quite enough from me withering on, not sure what I'm up to today, I'll check back in later with an update.

Sazzie23

Thanks Fedup,

I've been taking your earlier advice about birthdays and presents, it's useful to know how you achieve it. (Thinking......)

Have a good day everyone

Goldiegirl

Yesterday was

NSD # 14

I was at work yesterday, which always helps with NSD's but I wasn't very well either, which was a bit of a downer.

I'm still not feeling too good today. I had a cold last week, and it's either come back, or I've got a second cold.

I've walked to the shops earlier to get my TV magazine, which has cleared my head a bit, but I'm going to rest up for the rest of the day

kerri_gt

Sazzie23 wrote: »

Hi everyone

Just popped in to ask you all to take a look at

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4853502

It's about moving the challenges to a sub forum so we don't take over the front pages and are easier to find

Cheers everyone

Initially i thought 'no' to the idea with the view that newbies would miss challenges, but actually. It would be a good 'one stop shop' to point people towards, and we might find some new challenges ourselves.

Speaking of which, current challenge here is keeping the purse strings shut had a day out with my best friend who is visiting from oz and her two sisters yesterday, took a road trio to an outlet village which was great fun. I must confess I spent £18 on some north face gloves for boot camp (down from £39), £26 on a superdry hoodie and £13 on a jack wills top (which was £19 to start with so not a massive saving). I did however resist the £280 max mara bag (£715 to begin with :eek:) even if it was gorgeous. Oh, and then we stopped for dinner on the way home. However, it was a lovely day out and great day. Only likely to see her once more before she goes back

Quiet say today, need to sort out the remaining leftovers from Xmas dinner and take a few bits back to the town.

Hope the winds have died down where you all are.

beanielou

Been to the shops and got some lovely bits n bobs.
So actually very pleased with that

fedupandskint

NSD 26 today.


Bought cards for next Christmas out of that budget and a birthday present out of that budget

LionessInWinter

NSD #8 yesterday.

kerri_gt

Just back from the shops, seem to be on a constant cycle of returning things ATM. So items that needed to go back. Did, picked up a couple of items for Xmas presents that were still on the 'to do' list, and almost felt quite nice buying 'normal' things like light bulbs :rotfl:

OH currently looking at tablets on the internet, it's his b'day next month and I still kinda owe him his main Xmas present so I feel a plan brewing....now I just need to make it :money:

jaxsmar

To date 16 NSD's I'am doing a lot better than expected. Will be a spend day on Monday need to get a diary it helps me to keep on track and record everything spent and money due in and out. Just tallied up total outstanding for the end of December... to carry forward for 2014.......... pretty grim takes me back to my school reports MUST TRY HARDER!

Sazzie23

Quick round up of the in a rowers - latest update in orange
Sorry no smilies working on laptop




The in a row challengers update Saturday 28 Dec - 3 days to go


Beanie no specific target achieved 4 in a row


Beth2242 no specific target - achieved 4 in a row


Candlewick no specific target - achieved 3 in a row


Cardio80 3 in a row


ETO no specific target achieved 3 in a row


Flubberzing no specific target - achieved 6 in a row


Frugaldances no specific target - achieved 3 in a row


Kate fixing it no specific target - achieved 5 in a row


Kayester 4 in a row achieved 4 in a row target met


Knitwitch 4 in a row achieved 6 in a row target met & exceeded your prize is a big warm fluffy wrap to keep lovely and warm


Lovefullshelves 5 in a row a massive super duper 11 in a row TARGET well & Truly Beaten


Marmite 4 in a row - TARGET achieved


Mon1o no specific target achieved 3 in a row


Out of Debt 4 in a row


PhantomWOlf 3 in a row twice achieved 2 in a row


Pinknfluffy no specific target achieved 3 in a row


Sazzie23 5 in a row dunno – maybe 4 ?


Saver-upper no specific target achieved 3 in a row


Slowly fading no specific target achieved 5 in a row


Strandedinaber 5 in a row achieved 3 in a row


Suziebabe 3 in a row TARGET achieved & surpassed @ 4 in a row


Traveller 5 in a row



Night all