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The January Jolly Jaunt on the Med NSD Challenge
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marmiterulesok
Posts: 7,812 Forumite

Welcome fellow cruising nsd enthusiasts!January is fast approaching,and let's face it,after one mini pilchard quiche and festive egg nog too many,we're all feeling a bit jaded,so we are heading off for some much needed sun and the odd swift walk around the deck.
Care to join us?
As usual,because we're all careful with our pennies,we shall be 'helping out' onboard to pay our way...Cheffie will be in the kitchen,making prawn cocktails like no-one has ever seen before.
Igor will be serving cocktails in short trousers
Hubert the donkey (our dedicated Ennessdee Towers' lawn nibbler) will be a willing dancing partner in high heels and pink rara skirt (his speciality is the tango)
and marmite will be guarding the ship's supply of alcohol.
Mrs Doyle will be on hand 24/7 with tea and egg sarnies.
As for Tiddles,the house cat,I'm sure he will be kept busy keeping the rodent situation under control.
So,don't be shy...join us as we work like bilio to keep the cauldron of doom filled up with nsds.

We have lots of fun activities planned.More of that later...For those of you who are new to the challenge,we are a happy (and some might say mildly insane) bunch doing battle with those retailers - and there’s plenty of temptation out there at the moment. We are seriously committed to saving money, but nobody said it can't be done with a smile on your face - so we organize riotous nights out and gatecrash any function going - all without leaving the comfort of our own imaginations or armchairs!
On a slightly more serious note, we are here to help each other avoid spending for the number of days we feel we can manage to try to take back some control over our hard-earned money. What you class as a "spend'" is entirely your choice; some people will try to shop on the days DD/SO etc are paid, whilst others will not include essentials such as rent. Have a look at the next post from our sponsor (and godmother of this challenge) BigMummaF, this contains some guidelines and ideas for starting you off on the challenge.
It’s amazing how inventive you get when you’re determined NOT to spend - from weird menu ingredients to surprising DIY solutions - but you know what? 99% of the time those wacky ideas work.
Just remember that mentioning the F word (f-a-i-l!) is not allowed,and anyone who dares speak the word which must not be spoken will find himself in a spot of bother with our toothy bouncer Shawnie boy.
Shawnie boy has a message....'You're in my house now.....',so watch what you say.
If you're new to the forum,click here to read the Intro Guide.
If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply!
PS I'm usually a modest lass,but I just have to add that The NSD Challenge is the best of the bunch!
:cool: :j
Care to join us?
As usual,because we're all careful with our pennies,we shall be 'helping out' onboard to pay our way...Cheffie will be in the kitchen,making prawn cocktails like no-one has ever seen before.

Igor will be serving cocktails in short trousers

Hubert the donkey (our dedicated Ennessdee Towers' lawn nibbler) will be a willing dancing partner in high heels and pink rara skirt (his speciality is the tango)

Mrs Doyle will be on hand 24/7 with tea and egg sarnies.

As for Tiddles,the house cat,I'm sure he will be kept busy keeping the rodent situation under control.

So,don't be shy...join us as we work like bilio to keep the cauldron of doom filled up with nsds.


We have lots of fun activities planned.More of that later...For those of you who are new to the challenge,we are a happy (and some might say mildly insane) bunch doing battle with those retailers - and there’s plenty of temptation out there at the moment. We are seriously committed to saving money, but nobody said it can't be done with a smile on your face - so we organize riotous nights out and gatecrash any function going - all without leaving the comfort of our own imaginations or armchairs!
On a slightly more serious note, we are here to help each other avoid spending for the number of days we feel we can manage to try to take back some control over our hard-earned money. What you class as a "spend'" is entirely your choice; some people will try to shop on the days DD/SO etc are paid, whilst others will not include essentials such as rent. Have a look at the next post from our sponsor (and godmother of this challenge) BigMummaF, this contains some guidelines and ideas for starting you off on the challenge.
It’s amazing how inventive you get when you’re determined NOT to spend - from weird menu ingredients to surprising DIY solutions - but you know what? 99% of the time those wacky ideas work.
Just remember that mentioning the F word (f-a-i-l!) is not allowed,and anyone who dares speak the word which must not be spoken will find himself in a spot of bother with our toothy bouncer Shawnie boy.

If you're new to the forum,click here to read the Intro Guide.
If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply!
PS I'm usually a modest lass,but I just have to add that The NSD Challenge is the best of the bunch!

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Comments
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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 fineEveryone 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 [Weds mornings] in the cracked teapot & Ben's £1 coin for the gym locker [Friday lunch] 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 clubThe 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!0 -
Here are our lovely prizes!
First target...some sun please!
Second target..some poolside chitchat and drinks!
Third target...good food!
Fourth target...a good book or two.
Target exceeded.... tropical fish (in the Med,yes)
Consolation prize courtesy of Hubert the dotty donkey,a pretty pair of heels to go with your sundress/shorts.Don't worry blokes,you can wear them too!
What's not to like?0 -
Post your target and I'll add you to the list!
marmiterulesok 10/10 achieved!2nd target 13/15
LadyTrucker 4/21
Nargleblast 12/15
positivelypunked 8/20
Munchin 18/20
nellis10 10/12
stripeyjumpergirl 11/15
mummyroysof3 16/20
BigMummaF 8/12
Frugalgurl 1/15
PopPunksNotDead 6/10
georgiebrown0 0/12
Knit Witch 10/10 achieved!2nd target 15/15 achieved!
3rd target 20/20 achieved!4th target 25/25 achieved!
Target exceeded 26/25 achieved!
Purplemumof2 1/10
rubyscott40 3/10
Saver-upper 6/10
zenshi 15/15 achieved!
angelicious 0/16
jodles16 20/20 achieved!Target exceeded 21/20 achieved!
Harleyquinn 0/20
Wooftastic 0/12
slowlyfading 23/24
donna dynamo 10/10 achieved!2nd target 15/15 achieved!
Azzzaa 0/15
nannygladys 5/15
amber03 7/15
*Jellie* 1/21
lindor 10/12
HB 2027 4/12
Gem-gem 12/12 achieved!2nd target 15/15 achieved!
3rd target 18/18 achieved!
Aphidgirl 7/10
Itsa Longshot 17/22
craftingmad 10/10 achieved!2nd target 11/
Money Minx 0/100 -
Post your target and I'll add you to the list!
Your lovely prize is,thanks to Mrs Doyle putting her foot down,a nice cup of tea!Go on now!
marmiterulesok 4
positivelypunked 3
Munchin 3
Knit Witch 15 achieved!
nellis10 3
Wooftastic 3
nellis10 3 achieved!
craftingmad 3 achieved!0 -
Link to the fab December challenge!0
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Hi marmiterulesok could I join please?
Everyday we go to the supermarket, as well as doing a weekly shop, and quite frankly I'm fed up with it so need to get strict with my hubby and son #2. I need to cut it all back to only spending twice a week, once for the main shop and once for mid-week essentials so this is my focus area.
I won't include bills and necessity costs like diesel if that's OK?
Thanks for giving me the motivation to get started, as soon as you wrote "we are a happy (and some might say mildly insane) bunch doing battle with those retailers" I was sold
Doh! forgot to say 21 NSD please.NSD January 2/210 -
Thank you marmite for fixing up the cruise for us! I am sure the gang will be happy to do a few light duties in exchange for a free ticket! I mean, a spot of flower arranging, napkin folding, showing people around, making tea etc will still leave plenty of time to enjoy the cruise..'can' t wait! Sign me up for 15 NSDs please!
And make sure Igor sorts out a decent cabin for Ladytrucker, a NSD gang first timer!One life - your life - live it!0 -
I'm going to kick off this fantastic year with a goal of: 20 NSDs & 3-in-row
I won't include: Prescribed medicines,train/bus fare when I visit my partner as I have a separate savings account that allows me to use it for that, bus fare for work purposes, Bills, £10 emergency money
Thank you, marmite for running this challenge!
It was always a joy when I actually tried to keep up with this challenge!
This year is the start of a new responsible girl when handling moneyMarNSD 5/20 | EF 3-6m #27 & EF #179 £212.35 / £2,700 | FH: £20.00 / £10,000 | Car £51.66 / £200 | Xmas £0.00 / £100.000 -
Hi Marmite
Thank you for the new thread. I'm starting 2016 with good intentions so I'm going for 20 NSDs & 3 in a row.
I will not be counting diesel or direct debits but everything else will be counted.0 -
Hi Marmite, I'm going for 12 NSD in January please!
:beer::j:beer::j Happy New Year!2024 Challenges- Grocery Budget (January £0/£300)
- Decluttering (Underway!)
- Frugal Living (January £0/£500
- 24 in 2024 (0/24)
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