Jump into January NSD Challenge

Kate_fixing_it

Patting myself on the back for grocery shopping coming in over £15 under budget! Stuck to list and we have everything we need for the week barring the extra bread and milk which is needed by Friday no matter how much I buy during weekly shop (I picked up 18 pints of milk today but it'll still go!)

Sooooooo claiming NSD 3 and very happy about it...that's 60% of January being NSDs so far

Won't be one tomorrow, I (finally) have my CT scan on my leg and as it's in another town I'll need petrol or I'll be hopping home

Kate x

kerri_gt

Well I'm gonna declare NSD #4 :beer: did see a top in Mang0 that i liked, not in my size but they do have it online in the Sale...sooooo, I'm gonna sleep on it and have a think, it's not particulalry expensive and did catch my eye - but then so do lots of things.

I did take a couple of items back today for refunds :A one I could return as they only did refund with receipt or an exchange, no credit note, and I really didn't have time to start shopping for something else which was a tad annoying - a credit note for the last sale value would have still meant I needed to shop @ that store to spend it.

Jeezypeeps

Now I'm safely tucked up in bed I can declare NSD #1:j Off to change my signature.

Jp

EverTheOptimist

Update 3rd, 4th and 5th January 2014

I'm combining the last few days of updates. And I'm updating from the point of my last post.

Cardi80 - well done on NSD # 2. :j:j
Jojitsui - well done on nabbing NSD # 2 & 3 :j:j great start and good luck for the other 18.
Saver-upper - congratulations on nabbing NSD # 2, 3 & 4 :j:j And 3-in-a-row. :j:j I'm sure the kiddiwinks won't remember the day they didn't get an ice cream or hot choc as I'm sure there have been and will be many days where you have more than spoiled them one way or another. And well done on the menu planning, I really need to get into that.
Positivelypurple - nice one nabbing NSD # 2 :j:j. Hope you enjoyed the cake. And sounds like you are organised with your spends all on one day.
BigMummaF - well done on NSD # 2, 3 & 4 :j:j hope you're feeling less bleurgh.
Munchin - NSD # 2 for you, :j:j well done, great start to the month and the challenge.
Jaxsmar - NSD #2 for you too. :j:j Great stuff
Marmite - well done on NSD # 1 & 2. :j:j. Nice to 'see' you and good luck with your target.
Mavvysmum - reporting with NSD # 2 well done. :j:j
Slowlyfading - good on you for nabbing NSD # 3. :j:j another great month ahead I sense.
Mooomin - well done on nabbing NSD # 1 & 2 :j:j. Always hard to get started, hopefully they'll come flying in now.
Fedup - excellent start grabbing NSD # 3, 4 & 5 :j:j well done you.
Nikki2002-2008 - well done on your NSD # 2, 3 & 4 :j:j and your 2-in-a-row. :j:j
Jammy dodger - congratulations on NSD # 3 & 4. :j:j and well done on getting rid of the brochure especially if you know it's a weakness.
Flubbery - well done on NSD # 1. :j:j good luck with nabbing more.
Knit witch - fantastic work nabbing NSD # 3 & 4. :j:j and 4-in-a-row. :j:j another NSD'er having a great start.
Goldiegirl - well done you on nabbing NSD # 1, 2 & 3. :j:j Enjoy your 'book'
Rising - fantastic achievement nabbing NSD # 2 & 3. :j:j Getting well and truly back in the saddle. . Hope all's good with Maisie.
Sazzie - well done on NSD # 3. :j:j
Kerri gt- good work nabbing NSD # 2, 3 & 4. :j:j and well done on only buying milk in the supermarket.
Frugalgdubs - welcome along to the NSD challenge and well done on grabbing NSD # 1 & 2. :j:j good luck with becoming debt free, hopefully this challenge will help you on your way.
Buffythedebtslayer - Well done on NSD # 3. :j:j. Fab start to the month for you too. And I must confess your post made me giggle, sorry must be frustrating for you.
MissE001 - well done on your NSD # 3 too. :j:j
Wit40iwtwan - well done on achieving NSD # 2. :j:j
Donna dynamo - good in you for nabbing NSD # 2 & 3. :j:j. Great stuff.
Debtfree future - fantastic start to the month with NSD # 3 being declared. :j:j
Parsimonia - well done on NSD # 2 :j:j
TheScarletPixie - well done on your NSD # 2 to. :j:j Well done for resisting temptation.
Kate_fixing_it - good work nabbing NSD # 2 & 3. :j:j
Araminta - well done on NSD # 1. :j:j
Emsikins - well done on grabbing NSD # 1 too, :j:j
Lovefullshelves - well done on nabbing NSD # 3 & 4. :j:j and 2in-a-row. :j:j Wow 7 weeks indoors. I can imagine that being quite difficult for you. Hope things are improving and you're on the mend. And well done on your £2 savings.
ArthriticOldThing - well done on NSD # 5 :j:j and 3-in-a-row. :j:j Fantastic achievement.
bottleofred - fantastic achieving NSD # 3 & 4. :j:j. Hope all's good with you.
Brokemedic - well done on NSD # 1. :j:j you're off the mark, the first is often the hardest.
Butti - well done on NSD # 3. :j:j great start to the month. Hope you're doing ok.
LeopardPrintsAndTea - well done on NSD # 2. :j:j
Jeezypeeps - well done on NSD # 1. :j:j

And hi to... :hello:

Welcome along and good luck to Lionessinwinter, Scotsgal1 and Mummy2threeboys

Sorry for the epic update, I'm now up to date, I hope I've got everyone's 'scores on the doors' correct. Let me know if not. Now it'll be easier to keep up with daily/ every other day updates.

FinanciallyUnsavvy

Hi guys

I'm a bit late in the game now, but I'd like to join you all! I've already managed 3 no spend days this month - I'd like to get at least 15

Thanks! Happy to be joining you

Knit_Witch

Woo Hoo! Another today in the Cauldron of Doom :beer:, this makes 5 and 5 in a row :eek:

At this rate I won't be spending before Friday (hmm suddenly remembers Wednesday's Knit and Natter - a drink will be bought there - drat!)

MissE001

Knit_Witch wrote: »

Woo Hoo! Another today in the Cauldron of Doom :beer:, this makes 5 and 5 in a row :eek:

At this rate I won't be spending before Friday (hmm suddenly remembers Wednesday's Knit and Natter - a drink will be bought there - drat!)

Woo hoo - well done on 5-in-a-row Knit Witch :j:T:j

Knit and Natter sounds interesting

MissE001

Thanks for the mega update ETO :A

Quiet day for me today and managed NSD # 4 / 20 :j

Back to work tomorrow - hope I can keep up the momentum

I've updated the front page and will try to get back a few times a week....which will depend on how manic things get at work :eek:

MissE001

FinanciallyUnsavvy wrote: »

Hi guys

I'm a bit late in the game now, but I'd like to join you all! I've already managed 3 no spend days this month - I'd like to get at least 15

Thanks! Happy to be joining you

Welcome to the gang FinanciallyUnsavvy - and what a great start with 3 already :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 & nargle 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!