NST Super September Scrimping challenge

thriftylass

A warm and fuzzy autumnal welcome to the NST Super September Scrimping challenge, for newbies and seasoned debt busters alike.

(Don’t want the following to sound too harsh but I need it this month)

September means for many getting back into the swing of new school and work routines. Also, the colder months are looming and we should maybe consider starting to get ready for winter and the festivities or at least start a wee bit of forward planning.

The whole idea of this challenge is for you to start looking to where you WANT to be, consider why you aren’t at that point and start realising what is going WRONG. And also, I need you to help me because when I have people to answer to I won’t spend anything!

Seriously though – you can’t save for a house if you have debt. You can’t have a new kitchen if you can’t afford the food to put in it……………. you need to get a debt free day graved in stone and start aiming for it. Enough is enough. Christmas is but 16 weeks away – are you ready for that little charmer?

So again, I’d like to go back to basics and a few stricter rules back form NinjasavingKat’s days.

These are the rules….. clear and simple!


*This challenge starts on the 1st September at 00:01 and closes on the 30th September at 00:00.

*Try and check in once a day with your progress !

*Get a little notebook that you can fit in your bag, or a slip of paper! Write down everything you spend - good and bad!!

*You will aim for 18 SFDs!(Spend Free Days). If purchases of “yellow sticker delights” are made without full price items this is an SFD. Medication and normal monthly DD’s or CC payments are exempt and you may class these days as SFD’s also.

*Pay you debts and bills first, budget to live off what is left!

*You must decide on a budget for food now. This must be stuck to rigidly until the last day of the month ! Consider how much you REALLY need to feed your family, make meal plans, limit snacking with the kids or tell them “when it’s gone that’s it until next week”. Mine is £350.

*Try and eat everything in your cupboards and freezer BEFORE buying any more. Money spent each week will be for essentials – bread, milk and fruit & veg before buying more. Get right down to the bottom of that chest freezer, get out those nearly out of date packets of rice. Stop stock piling for Armageddon and wasting money. I don’t care if you are prepping for visitors or a “just in case” situation! (note to mainly myself: STOP SPENDING SO MUCH ON FOOD!) I need to defrost my freezer and clean my fridge so this rule will help

*You must bring your lunch to work every day. No coffee shops, no work canteen, no cafes, no sandwiches – NOTHING. You will waste SO many precious £££’s when something better can be created at home. If you think it doesn’t matter and I won’t find out – you are right. But you are cheating yourself.

*Plot the course of your social life now before the beginning of September. Make sure you have a budget planned for meals that can’t be wormed out of and birthdays etc. Money placed aside for holidays can be classed as “no spend days” – anything over the budget will ruin that SFD!! Cancel something you really don’t want to go to –you HAVE to start making sacrifices now.

*Decide on your DFD!– when do you want to start doing what you want to do???

*You will accomplish some sort of exercise per week, 3 sessions of 20 minutes anyway you want. Walk someone’s pooch, walk to work, walk around your block 5 times… anything!


*Beauty spends are not allowed to exceed £10. That includes you boys as well. Use up all that you have in the house BEFORE spending anything more on beauty bits – seriously how many body moisturisers do you need ladies?

*Make time for yourself this month. Even if it’s only 10 minutes a day do something for yourself whether that is going for a walk, having a bath with loads of bubbles or sitting outside with a drink – we need to make the most of the evenings.

*Keep the heating off as long as possible, put a jumper on etc. We live in the north of Scotland in an 80s bungalow with metal windows. So it might be a challenge



That’s it… think you can keep up?

Contenders:

1. thriftylass
2. apple muncher
3. greent
4. DawnW
5. determined new ms
6. Calling14
7. jojitsui
8. misstara
9. f0xh0les
10. Tempus01
11. 1LuckyLady
12. cybertortoise
13. dizzyblnd
14. mothernerd
15. Shakey87
16. clippy_girl
17. Fmess
18. stoplurking
19. ChasingSunshine
20. Eager_Elephant
21. Tjzdazz
22. Kerry Woman
23. FurryBeastOz
24. Buffethedebtslayer
25. bizzie
26. squanderscouse
27. Sun Addict
28. LD_13
29. NelliePie
30. vintagebrighton
31. indigowarrior
32. crazy_cat_lady
33. LollyPop0312
34. foxgloves
35. redofromstart
36. Lauralozzle
37. Abundant
38. ooitsme
39. threepenny bit
    

[purplesignup][/purplesignup]

apple_muncher

Count me in please!

It really harks back to the nsk challenges - yay!

greent

Count me in too, please!

Will be back with my personal targets against the rules
x

DawnW

And me - I am not in debt, but on a small income, and have spent far too much so far this year :eek:

determined_new_ms

I think I'm in.... I always fall down on NSDs! Also my oh is not keen on super frugality.... I'll try at least

I'll think about the various categories and post back

Calling14

Yes definitely back to being firm as in Kat days.

Planning a few days away as haven't had any holidays this month. Relatives here I come ��

Sign me up. Cheers thrifty

jojitsui

Can I join please

misstara

Count me in as well please

f0xh0les

I could do with a firm hand (!) so I'm in , and I have a date for my double glazing (next week) so I am giddy already.

Best of all is that I can afford it all from what I have saved this year so far, and still have a decent emergency fund left over, and all because I join in with these challenges each month.

thriftylass

All noted on paper just now.

Yes, thought i need a bit more strictness .

determined new ms, don't worry, DH is not on board either but I try what I can on my side of the finances with little hints here and there

Tempus01

I'm in! Can't wait to start