the Jolly-hockey-Sticks Jolly June Jamboree NSD Challenge!

cw18

In previous years I counted any and every penny spent (including direct debits for household bills) as a spend.

But I've discovered that doing this meant I was stocking up on perishables on 4 or 5 days in a month (when the D/Debits went out), and then discovering I wasn't using them for one reason or another. So I was clocking up NSDs but wasting money by throwing away mouldy food.

So at the start of this year I allowed fresh milk (very little control on how DS1 uses it - it either sits around for days or disappears in hours!), fruit and veg without losing an NSD. In April I then extended that to petrol as I put DS1 onto my car insurance in March so no longer have full control of how much is used between planned spend days. And last month I further extended it to include cream (for coffee, but I've now bought some C0ffee Mate to try and save pennies), yoghurt, cottage cheese and sandwich meats as these were the items I was still wasting or struggling for several days to do without as I'd misjudged usage.

There are a few more items I'm still debating (all short-dated perishable items), but at the moment have no plans to extend further.

fedupandskint

I don't count the following

Petrol
Food weekly shop
Holiday spends as budgeted for
Christmas and birthdays as budgeted for
Car spends as budgeted for
Prescription and dental costs also budgeted for
Household and appliances also budgeted for
In fact everything is budgeted for apart from weekend coffees, meals out unless budgeted for in advance and the main thing for me is controlling impulse spends

Today is a NSD 3

beanielou

Again for me its the impulse spends I am trying to curb, especially sweets/chocolate which are my downfall.
Popping for coffee & cake too :eek: :rotfl:

t2rry

Thanks all, that makes me feel better but I did think about my own rules when I pledged for the first time this month.

I do not include anything on DD (i.e. bills) but decided to include anything that is on a 'movable' budget

This is my first month trying to budget for food & petrol so I wanted to include these to encourage me & OH to not spend just because it's there but instead only when we need something. I have no idea what I should be budgeting for food & petrol so started somewhere and want to know whether it is realistic or, in fact, too generous!

This therefore includes other 'movable' but budgeted for spends such as birthday gifts & haircuts.

I thought best to basically include any spending of the 'cash' we have leftover each month after all bills are paid and set monthly savings moved to their respective savings accounts...

I still felt that I should be able to achieve 20 NSD's and I will therefore stick to this rule at least this month. I may reconsider next month!!

Thanks all

supersaver1000

Thanks all for the 'rule reminders'. I am not going to include direct debits or petrol and milk. I can always make soda bread if needed. For me I think it's about planning so that I'm not nipping into the shop for one thing and being tempted to buy other bits. May change as I go along.

I can report NSD 2 today :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Sending hugs to all those that need them ...... thanks for all the great advice. And thank you Marmite for putting up the totals etc.

slowlyfading

NSD 3 for me today

blubella

Well, I do not know where the month of May went, I holidayed in Marakecch, my son returned from Uni for a few weeks following his finals..I helped paint his kitchen (typical boys/students) and move all his things back home from Southampton. He ate me out of house and home, I spoilt him as I knew I may not see him for a long time (snivel) and he has now jetted off to Canada in search of his dreams! Basically I lost track of any NSD's in May although I suspect that they were few and far between!

So i am back and I'm relying on you all to keep me on track although I think it maybe a little easier as I will probably have less than a few hundred pounds to live on until the end of the month. My debts are starting to get me down although i'm trying to remain positive. I am considering renting my sons room out to a lodger to help with the fiancnces as I don't want it to be 2 years before I see him again!

Anyway, sorry to bore you all..I am aiming for 15 NSD's in June xx

cw18

Allowable spends only today (milk, potatoes and green beans), so I'm claiming NSD #2

There's a continuous payment due to be taken from my credit card tomorrow, so I'm planning on a trip out to try and get a couple of other bits I want (a replacement external light and some new knickers!). That means it'll be Thursday before I've any chance of claiming another......

Nargleblast

At work tomorrow so should clock up my first NSD for June - I don't take money to work, and the motor is full of motion lotion, so no need to spend anything. Like wise Thursday, being a work day, should be NSD number 2. Fingers and toes all crossed!

( What's up, Igor? Oh, it's all the washing up from the welcome tea party for all the new members.....no, you can't reincarnate the leftover ferret and chutney sandwiches into tonight's supper, you know Hubert has a delicate constitution, and I remember the time he got locked in the Tardis by mistake after gorging himself on your leftovers. The Environmental people were very sniffy about the fumes coming from the Tardis, but as I said to them, the only thing to shift baked-on Hubypoops is by sandblasting it with a flame thrower...)

Knit_Witch

It's okay Nargle, I have some Veggie spring rolls, samosas and vol au vonts that Igor hasn't been near!

Oh and today was #3 and 3 in a row :T