The Super September 'Back to School' NSD Challenge!
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marmiterulesok
Posts: 7,812 Forumite
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 organise 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 for a 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 does will have a swift visit from Shawn the Shark!
If you're new to the forum,click here to read the Intro Guide.
If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply!
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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 for a 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 does will have a swift visit from Shawn the Shark!
If you're new to the forum,click here to read the Intro Guide.
If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply!
[threadbanner]box[/threadbanner]
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So,the hunt is on!Who will be first to claim the title of 'teacher's pet',who will be crowned 'Dux',who will be first to get detention,and who will be sneaking off behind the bicycle shed for a fly puff?!
Igor,I can see you!Stop trying to get Hubert into trouble! Just because you haven't done your homework...:eek::eek:
Here are the prizes:
1st target
2nd target
3rd target
Target exceeded
Dux
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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 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 [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 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!0 -
Post your target,and I'll add you to the list.
marmiterulesok 10/10 achieved! 2nd target 15/15 achieved! Target exceeded 16/15 achieved!
Sundaysgirl 20/20 achieved!
Nargleblast 12/15
Penguin86 12/12 achieved! Target exceeded 15/12 achieved!
aartisuk 2/10
lindor10/10 achieved!Target exceeded 11/10 achieved!
stripeyjumpergirl 12/12 achieved!
slowlyfading 17/20
EverTheOptimist 5/8
nearlytherenow 2/10
ChopinonaBudget 1/8
MrsGSR 0/10
vix1978 0/8
Essexbabe 1/10
kathy40uk 15/15 achieved! 2nd target 18/18 achieved!
Knit Witch 10/10 achieved!2nd target 15/15 achieved! 3rd target 20/20 achieved! 4th targe t 25/25 achieved! 
Target exceeded 26/25 achieved!
fedupandskint 20/20 achieved! Target exceeded 27/20
DuxYaaaaaaay!!!!!!!
gothrockchic 10/11
kxc798 10/10 achieved! 2nd target 15/15 achieved!
bizzybee 15/15 achieved!Target exceeded 17/15 achieved!
Saver-upper 12/12 achieved!
Learning2Budget 12/12 achieved!
Target exceeded13/12 achieved!
theresamum2 0/5
Nintud 7/10
Frugal foxy 0/15
moby1980 10/15
worriedpenguin 10/10 achieved!2nd target 14/14 achieved!
t2rry 17/20
emm85 1/12
Cherry Burton 8/8 achieved! Target exceeded 13/8 achieved!
LINKYPIE2009 0/8
Suziebabe 8/12
Buffythedebtslayer10/10 achieved!
kerri gt 15/15 achieved!Target exceeded 17/15 achieved!
DFF 4/10
karens100dayys 2/15
KXB664 6/12
donna dynamo10/10 achieved!2nd target 15/15 achieved! Target exceeded 16/15 achieved!
DeafLeopard 0/10
Munchin 6/6 achieved! Target exceeded 9/6 achieved!
rockm87 12/13
dfbefore 30 0/8
Aphidgirl 10/10 achieved!
Caramel147 0/10
Claree_x 0/15
jaxsmar 15/15 achieved! Target exceeded 21/15 achieved!
applejack07 4/10
Butti 7/10
cw18 5/100 -
In case I need it.0
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If you want to do the 'in a row' challenge,I'll add you here.Your prize is a lovely
marmiterulesok 4 in a row
Knit Witch 5 in a row achieved! 8 in a row achieved!
gothrockchic 3 in a row
jaxsmar 4 in a row0 -
The August challenge is here.0
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Hello! Count me in again for September please - I'm on holiday for part of it so am going to be ambitious and go for a target of 20.MFW 2017 #123 2018: £1,852.64/£39,200 (4.7%)0
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Woohoo! Back to [STRIKE]skool[/STRIKE] er, I mean school! Now, class, I hope you have all done your prep for the new term. This month we will be doing maths (counting NSDs), geography (locating those food items at the back of the cupboard), cookery (with Igor as guest lecturer showing us how to use up those leftovers), debating (arguing with family members about the merits of taking packed lunches instead of buying takeaways) and PE (squeezing those purse strings tight and jumping up and down every time someone gets a NSD).
Any requests for additions to the curriculum will be considered.
In the meantime, marmite, thank you for getting the thread set up and off to a flying start, and put me down for 15 NSD s please!One life - your life - live it!0 -
Nargleblast wrote: »Woohoo! Back to [STRIKE]skool[/STRIKE] er, I mean school! Now, class, I hope you have all done your prep for the new term. This month we will be doing maths (counting NSDs), geography (locating those food items at the back of the cupboard), cookery (with Igor as guest lecturer showing us how to use up those leftovers), debating (arguing with family members about the merits of taking packed lunches instead of buying takeaways) and PE (squeezing those purse strings tight and jumping up and down every time someone gets a NSD).
Any requests for additions to the curriculum will be considered.
:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
Is Igor in charge of the tuckshop again this year?
Please,no more HM muffins and treacle toffee Igor.The school nurse is still recovering from last year's nervous breakdown! :eek::eek:0 -
I'm at a new school this September and I know there is a large Mr T just around the corner. However I endeavour to be very good and will meal plan as much as possible for my lunches and prepare them the night before (I started well last year!) so I'm going to aim for 12 NSDs not a massive increase but I'm hoping we might be finally on the proper road to buying a house and I know we need many things!!NSDs January - 3/8 2017 total - 3
declutter challenge 67/2017
Goodreads Challenge 0/300
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