What do you on on your NSDs?

moneyistooshorttomention

I wish Jackie....re it being any use contacting my local Council on that.

This is a small place I know and I was gobsmacked at how much poorer it obviously is than where I've come from.

Basically our local Council are in it for themselves and their (perceived) status from being on it and are about as "stuck in the mud" and inefficient as they could possibly be and then some - and they clearly don't like people who actually expect anything much out of them...

Seem to recall I've checked out Streetlife - and nowt. Will have another look.

Fortunately - there are a noticeable number of things to do here (I wouldnt have moved here otherwise....) but one does have to pay for them all. Even ones of a type that would normally be free have someone there on the entrance for a "voluntary donation".

I know what you mean by most of your life behind you. It strikes me every so often that I've had most of my life now - as I think "Well I've had 60 plus years and I've just got about 20 to go". So - I am conscious of getting what I can into that last 20 years - as it's the last 20 I will ever have on Earth.

chanie

I find it easier to have NSDs during the working week. I buy a monthly travel ticket and bring in breakfast/lunch from home the majority of the time.

I have yet to perfect the art of having a non-working NSD, for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I'm an extrovert and when I have a day to myself (I work full time) I feel I need to make the most of it, by doing something 'big' and having a nice lunch. Secondly, I have youngish children and a big extended family and its a constant stream of the children needing new clothes, family birthdays, school fundraising etc.

katkin

A NSD for me means not buying anything. I don't even take cash to work with me.

We budget monthly and if it's not on that list it doesn't get bought!

I really enjoy not spending, keeping out of shops and controlling impulse spending. I'm also a keen saver, so any extras at the end of the month get stashed.

I love being frugal lol X

moneyistooshorttomention

chanie wrote: »

I have yet to perfect the art of having a non-working NSD, for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I'm an extrovert and when I have a day to myself (I work full time) I feel I need to make the most of it, by doing something 'big' and having a nice lunch.

A very valid point - ie as to what type of temperament the person concerned has.

Some are extroverts, some introverts and some somewhere along the spectrum in between.

As someone nearer the extrovert end of the spectrum - I know exactly what you mean. Put me in a crowd of out and out extroverts - and I'll be politely waiting for my chance to "have my say". Put me in a crowd of introverts and I'll get distinctly stuck to say the least.

We all vary - and imho extroverts (or those veering towards) do need more "stimulation"/things going on/etc/etc.

Or it could be a sorta outlook that says "I want to know just what I've achieved today" and are prepared to "let yourself off the hook" on some days because of "being only human" - but do want to think there are some days where you've "achieved" something iyswim. Which reminds me - must get on and do the "get the garden more together in the first place" type task I have set myself as "absolute minimum I'll let myself get away with today or I'll kick myself for being a **** ****" according to my way of looking at things ......

Hermia

Re: local councils. I do find some local councils are really bad at letting people know what they do. My aunt's borough has a really good programme of free health walks and yet there is nothing about them on the council website. I honestly would not be surprised if I found a council that had a geocities website and a MySpace page! I used to work for a council and actually just ignored the IT team and set up a twitter account as it was the only way to let the public know about events.

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

A very valid point - ie as to what type of temperament the person concerned has.

Some are extroverts, some introverts and some somewhere along the spectrum in between.

As someone nearer the extrovert end of the spectrum - I know exactly what you mean. Put me in a crowd of out and out extroverts - and I'll be politely waiting for my chance to "have my say". Put me in a crowd of introverts and I'll get distinctly stuck to say the least.

We all vary - and imho extroverts (or those veering towards) do need more "stimulation"/things going on/etc/etc.

Bear in mind that extroverts are just people who are recharged by being around others and introverts are recharged by being alone. I honestly don't see any difference between my introvert and extrovert friends re: how much stimulation they need. It's just that the extroverts might prefer a night out at a pub with friends while the introverts prefer wandering around a late night gallery viewing. I think there is potential to spend money in both groups!

LameWolf

DigForVictory wrote: »

An astoundingly organised lady not only has a box of cards good to go for weddings, christenings, funerals, etc, she also has a calendar box with every birthday sorted by month. Means even those born on the 1st get a thoughtfully chosen card, on time. She reckons the admin time setting up & then gradually acquiring new cards (& more stamps) is worth the nervous wear & tear she avoids!

I have a file with a plastic wallet in for each person I need to send cards to. Each wallet has a sticker with the person's name in bold pen, and their address in pencil (so that if they move I can erase it and put the new one down) and if I buy or make a card suitable for that person, it goes into their wallet. The wallets are filed in birthday date order throughout the year.:o

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Or it could be a sorta outlook that says "I want to know just what I've achieved today" and are prepared to "let yourself off the hook" on some days because of "being only human" - but do want to think there are some days where you've "achieved" something iyswim. Which reminds me - must get on and do the "get the garden more together in the first place" type task I have set myself as "absolute minimum I'll let myself get away with today or I'll kick myself for being a **** ****" according to my way of looking at things ......

Oh gods, that resonates with me - if I can't name something useful I've done, I feel like I've completely wasted the day, and I get really depressed.

Lynplatinum

Hiya

I too do the bargaining with my self - i.e. I must do XY and Z today before I can go and do AB and C that I wanna do today.

I got my 4 years on here badge today!!! And it has just so changed my life! I ask 'what can I do for nothing??' way before 'what can I go and spend money on now?'

Do I need or want something is second nature to me!!

But it does get silly - I moved in here on 5th July and only today I MADE myself get on line and order a washing machine - I resented paying the £360!!! I have managed for a month or two by hand washing everyother day and doing a wash in friends machines - once with each of three friends over that time - but really need to do a duvet cover and towel wash of me own now - I cant keep on sponging off my dear friends :A :rotfl:

PS I have the monies stashed away!! No worries!! Am not going for a second hand one as there is a free 3 year warranty on this one!

On my NSDs for the past year I have been minimising my life as I have moved into a 2 bed small place as opposed to the 3 bed larger place I had. Am trying to change my life here so I remain healthier for longer so going to a pre paid for gym is def. somat I would do for an NSD. whereas I go walkies here (it is beautiful) and visit the library but to keep myself sane I have a 'Happy Stash' (Idea nicked wholesale from Jackie O) so that if I fancy spoiling myself to a small coffee or ice cream out during the week then I can. It lives in a separate purse. I often go out with out money - quite deliberately - but not in the car (as advised somewhere else on this site I keep an emergency tenner hidden in the car - so I can at least get a cab to civilization if necessary). Should I stray into a charity shop or similar then I have to come back another day. If it was meant for me then the item will still be there - if not then it was not meant to be and I hope whoever has got it enjoys it.
Things just end up owning you!
I too read- do crafts - make cards- catch up on telly - have a 'cook up' (very comforting when it rains) - or pamper meself (pedicure - paint nails - minimise the make up etc) Not enough days in the world for me - never bored - that's without catching up on here or phoning friends on my fee mins deal.......
I could go on but I wont but a giant THANK YOU to all my friends on here who inspire me every time I get on here!:A

maryb

Caterina, if you live near Greenwich, I do recommend the Thames Path. There's a really good guide to it on the TFL website.

It's fascinating seeing how the docks have changed. We walked all the way from Cutty Sark to London Bridge one New Years Day and now we have our Freedom Passes, we are walking the entire path in sections - we get a train to the start of a section and walk about 5 miles then get a train home. Costs nothing because we take backpacks with a picnic. Some bits are more picturesque than others. The bit between Hampton Court and Kew is particularly nice

Caterina

Hello and thank you, everybody! I have been away and offline, only to come back and find this amazing multitude of ideas and comments, I am really grateful! This will help me immensely to plan my days.

I just knew that the lovely OSers would come up trumps with great suggestions!

VfM4meplse

I'm just doing a bit of revision for tomorrow by going through this thread again.

I'm having NSDs enforced upon me because some kind person decided to use my credit card to buy £700 value of goods from Denmark. Luckily the cc company spotted "unusual" activity and put a stop to it but it means I'm waiting for a new one. Like HM, I don't use cash

The next 2 days should be ok, as they are very busy. I just need to remember to take snacks and drinks out with me because when I'm out and about between meetings I have a habit of waiting until I'm really hungry and irritable before treating myself to a coffee and pastry. I doubt I shall be buying either before Tuesday...