A question about : NST; January Challenge- The Money Saving Game
NST; January Challenge- The Money Saving Game!!
New Year? New Start? Press -Continue- (or scroll down)
Welcome to the new Monthly NST (Ninja Saving Turtles) Challenge! NST's are a group of Money Saving challengers from across the UK who are always up for new money saving challenges, fighting our way to debt freedom, sharing tips and new money saving discoveries, general chat, support and good banter! This challenge is open to everyone- so please join us wherever you are! A HUGE Happy New Year 2015 and a welcome back to previous challengers!
Are you ready to Press Start on a New Money Saving venture? The New Year is a traditional time of New beginnings and fresh starts. Time to shake off those negative spending habits and begin creating some new debt busting/ saving one's! Travel with us through the levels of debt busting on our journeys to debt freedom and financial security!
Rules of the Challenge:
1. This Challenge commences on the 1st January 2015 @ 00:00 and finishes on the 31st January 2015 @ 23:59.
2. Set ALL of your budgets at the beginning of the month: let us know what your budget is for: groceries, fuel/travel, social/leisure, Birthdays and any other saving goals for the month.
3. Pay money to your debts first- This will help you budget your money for the rest of the month and make adjustments accordingly. But please do not leave yourself really short!
4. You MUST bring your lunch to work every day No using the canteen (unless this is free of course) or local cafes. Coffee shops are also banned throughout January! It's time to detox (or get your money's worth from the home brewed variety if you can not do without) 
5.Donate Ј3 from your food budget, or Ј3 you have saved from not visiting a coffee shop and purchase Ј3 worth of items to donate to your local food bank. Many supermarkets have Food bank drop off baskets, alternatively donate unused tinned products from your cupboards or donate online Ј3 to The Trussel Trust who help to run Food banks across the country. Let's support those in our local communities and make a positive start to the New Year.
6. Down shift 3 of your branded food items. Try down shifting a brand to super market own! Yellow sticker items (reduced items) are also your friend's- so long as they can be used towards a meal!
7. Meal Plan!- Try to meal plan as many of your meals as possible. This will work wonders with helping you to condense your shopping list (along with your cupboards) if it is all written down and justified for allocated meals. Helping you to be armed and prepared for the Supermarkets inevitable consumerist advertisement, drawing you in to sales of items you would never normally buy!
8. You will aim to achieve 18 Spend Free Days (SFDs)- Plan your spends, think about what you are buying. Is it worth losing a SFD over a chocolate bar? Exemptions include: prescriptions/ medication, yellow sticker (reduced) food or drink and regular direct debits- these will not lose you a SFD.
9. Document your spends- Use a spreadsheet, notebook or your phone. Document every single spend that you make. You might be surprised as to where you money is going!
10. Time to get moving - Increase your movement, whether it's taking the stairs at work instead of the lift, getting off a stop early, going out for a walk. We all feel a little sluggish after the indulgences over the festive season. You do not need to join the gym- save your money and get creative!
11. Choose your Debt Free Date now or the % of Debt you aim to clear by January 2016.
12. Share your 2015 Goals- financial or other.
13. Check in regularly - Check in with us regularly throughout the month and keep us posted on your budgets, your successes, general chat and if you want a bit of motivation from team NST- give us a shout! (or a message).
**Please leave your name if you would like to join us for the January 2015 NST Challenge! General chatter around the rules will commence on 1st Jan. Mini 'Game' themed weekly challenges will further commence on the 6th January**
Back Story
NST's founder and original leader of these monthly challenges, forum user- NinjaSavingKat is our inspiration behind the group name. NSK cleared huge quantities of debt and then saved a fantastic sum of money over a period of 2 years and has since departed for travels around the globe. NSK left a legacy behind in the form of us NST's who have continued the challenges in a somewhat similar style to her own, but with monthly themes and mini weekly challenges. NSK's determination, super scrimping and challenges kept us on the straight and narrow as we followed her journey into debt freedom! Join and share with us on your debt free and saving journeys!
Best answers:
* Reserved for Contenders*- Sign me up please
- HI Loveadove, can you sign me up please? Off to read it now and thanks for doing January
- I'm in please LoveaDove.
- i'd like to join in please
- Can I join the challenge please?
- Me too please loveadove! Looking forward to starting afresh in 2015
- I'm in please Loveadove
- Me too, please!
Love the challenge! - Me too please!!!
- Thanks loveadove!!
Definitely in for this... need to get this debt gone by June. Fed up of missing out on life due to credit cards. Would rather miss out on life cause I am saving for the wedding.
Hugs to everyone. - Count me in please. Really looking forward to a fresh new year.
Thanks Loveadove - oooh can I join too please?
- Please count me in, so excited
- Yes why not. You know it goes to show where I am as a person now. I used to read these challenges back in Kat's day & think so chance could I do that. But now I think I do most of those things anyway! Let's go!
- Not been around towards end of December but will try harder in new year. Lots of STUFF happening so not in a good place just now but I am going to go positively into 2015, notebook, receipts tin (so I can't lose them), designated time each day to do accounts with a super team of turtles to help along the way!
Please count me in Loveadove.
HAPPY AND SUCCESSFUL NEW YEAR AND BEYOND IS WISHED TO EVERYONE.
HUGS DOTTY - Hello all!
Thank you for signing up- it is lovely to hear from each and everyone of you! You have all been assigned a number ready for the challenge!
Bobarella - It certainly sounds like a sign of changing times for you! I felt exactly the same way when I first saw Kat's challenges! It is amazing how after some time these small conscious changes become habit. - Dottydaisy - You are in! I hope that 2015 is much brighter and easy going on you! You sound like you are getting well prepared for 2015! Check in with us if you also need to offload x
- Dottydaisy love the tin idea. I tend to keep all my receipts in my wallet (I use a mans wallet in preference to a traditional purse as I think they are more practical) and when it gets too full I take them out and put them somewhere safe never to be seen again
I have lots of tins, boxes etc that I collect (hoard) so will use one of those.
Chez x
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