The Ultimate February Challenge

NinjaSavingKat · 29 January 2013 at 4:56PM

The Ultimate February Challenge; 28 days Later!!!

“Take Only What You Need”

We have all heard of or watched the zombie film 28 Days Later. A man wakes up in a deserted, litter strewn and creepy London. He realizes the world has been taken over by the walking dead so he runs. What does he take with him - only what he needs! He meets with others and they travel together, protecting and encouraging one another and what do they take with them - only what they need!!!

I am on a journey! Every month a new challenge arises with barbarians ready to take on this challenge and join me on my quest of debt freedom. I am fighting the great fight against the marketing of merchandise I supposedly need, of conglomerate food prices and the ever present girly urge to buy something new and shiny!!!

So join me dear reader, follow my rules, support your comrades and clear those debts. The theme this month is this; take only what you need! Afterall it’s only 28 days?

“It started as rioting. But right from the beginning you knew this was different. Because it was happening in small villages and market towns. And then it wasn't on the TV any more. It was in the street outside. It was coming in through your windows. It was a virus. An infection!”

This infection = SPENDING!

There are rules to follow but you need to create and discover your own self-restraint, your own desire to succeed and your own strength. This month’s challenge is a little bit different to others that have been posted in the past few months.

We will use “Spend Free Day” = SFD to indicate your lack of spending on a particular day. Mark up your name on this thread and you will be added with a number for “UFC”. If you are wanting to lurk and cheer-lead please do. If this challenge doesn’t suit you please be aware it is VERY difficult to incorporate rules that suit everyone. Perhaps this challenge isn’t for you.

This challenge will commence on the 1st February 2013 @ Midnight and finish on the 28th February 2013 @ Midnight.
In light of some needing to avail of yellow sticker promotions when they are immediately available (me included) there is NO specifically required SFD. You are NOT tied into only doing your spending on a particular day. But if by chance you DO have a SFD tell us anyway.
Those who are desperate to be told what to do and work better with rigid rules I want 20 SFD's.
Set your overall budget before the commencement of UFC. Make sure you are compensating for food, possible vehicle malfunctions, birthdays, public travel and outings and also include beauty products. Then see if anything can be deducted from that. This month has to be TIGHT with the most amount of money saved.In total including food mine is £150.
Ladies downshift some beauty bits. Use up EVERYTHING of what you have then reconsider that £30 foundation, the £25 face wash and such like. Are these products REALLY making a difference of providing a nice placebo effect? I downshifts my hairspray from Tresemme @ £2.89 to Tesco's Everyday Value @ 37p. No major difference!
Social outing MUST be planned for and budgeted for otherwise you don’t go. Book your friends in now.
Food budget has to be set and stuck too religiously. Many mishaps in January on my part will now be rectified. My budget is £60!!
As with every other challenge those with stuffed cupboards need to clear them first - your budget will be for essentials like milk, bread, fruit and vegetables. You will be astounded by how much you save.
Buy a homeless person a coffee/tea out of your budget.
Get to grips with eBay, get ruthless and sell what you haven’t worn in 6 months and what you haven’t read. No particular budget required but I would say a minimum of £50 is a good start for each participant.
Bring your lunch to work everyday with no exceptions. Stay away from Starbucks, Costa, Nero, work Canteens, cafes and take away’s. Buy a travel mug or flask and use that and batch cook.
Put aside £10 for a treat at the end of the month - preferable day 28. it can be anything as your reward. Mine will food related no doubt!:p

That’s it. Who’s with me?

When joining in please do not copy and paste this entire thread and comment on each point. You are either in or out. It will take up too much space and clog the thread. When you are putting forth your name just a one liner is sufficient. Commenting, cheering, lurking and updates will commence on the 1st February only. Until then I will simply be adding names to the list. And please remember the theme of this thread is to HELP ONE ANOTHER so unhelpful, nasty or rude comments will not be tolerated and marked as spam and reported

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NinjaSavingKat · 29 January 2013 at 4:56PM

Saved for the barbarian contenders..... are you ready???

1 = NSK
2 = StopLurking
3 = KarmaChiLoveThing
4 = ThriftyLass
5 = Kerfuffle
6 = Sholly
7 = Ninno820
8 = Mayfair1985
9 = RosisCheeksBlossom
10 = NikSyg
11 = HappyBeingMe
12 = Siouxsie32
13 = PurpleJay
14 = Cranny44
15 = PoodleGal
16 = BeckyBoo1980
17 = Abundant1972
18 = SunnyFace
19 = LearningToBudget
20 = Fairy3
21 = LionHeartedGirl
22 = CandyCupcake
23 = WiggysGirl
24 = NannyGladys
25 = DottyDoodle
26 = Maylea
27 = Everhopeful09
28 = KM1977
29 = Squinky
30 = Gien
31 = StressedSteph
32 = Missyv30
33 = Munchin
34 = Capricious
35 = WantTobeSE
36 = Welshdreamer71
37 = CrazyCatLady1
38 = IWillSucceed
39 = YorkshireLass
40 = His_Missus
41 = ComplimentsChemistry
42 = RebekahR
43 = Oompa Loompa
44 = Gretchen2012
45 = Kerri_DFW

stoplurking · 29 January 2013 at 5:02PM

I'm in. back later with Budget

karmachilovething · 29 January 2013 at 5:05PM

I'm in too. Will confirm budgets later.

thriftylass · 29 January 2013 at 5:43PM

Count me in, off to read the rules. Thought I commit first so I can't chicken out

Thanks for a great new thread NSK

Edit. 20 SFD should be ok. As I already did my numbers for Feb I can let you know my budget. It's £290. That basically includes all variable spends/bill i.e. my mobile, my fuel/bus money, food for 2.5 people (£150, gonna try again as I went way over last months, so the initial aim is to finally make that target) as well as HH and extras. It's my birthday on Valentine's but I'm not planning anything big. Maybe BF will take me out for tea or we have friends for dinner (in the budget). Ebay is my friend now so set myself a target of £100

Kerfuffle · 29 January 2013 at 5:52PM

Count me in too please.

Sholly · 29 January 2013 at 5:58PM

Can I have a number please Kat?

Ninno820 · 29 January 2013 at 6:03PM

Count me in as well please. I want to set a total budget of £228 to include everything from lunch out to hairdressers with food and groceries included. Will aim for 20 SFD and £50 ebay as well.

mayfair1985 · 29 January 2013 at 6:13PM

I'm back in. Will be back to post a shameful budget later.

Barbarian #10 reporting for debt slaughtering, eBay plundering, survey site pillaging and general bludgeoning of those red figures.

My friends are booked in. Apparently they missed us in January and all want to do things in Feb, which is fine but you know, purse strings etc.

There's a lot going on this month that's going to cost. I've been shying away from the budget doing but shall do it tonight after a run. In the same breath I'm so happy with how January went (and December, and November) that I am not to sad about the coming month. It'll be nice to relax a bit after being so blinking strict for the last 3!

Lets Get It ON!!!!!!

rosiecheeksblossom · 29 January 2013 at 6:16PM

Hello everyone

NSK, Keeping up the good work as always:j:j:j:j:j

As in the Hokey Kokey, Im putting my whole self in for your february challenge, just not letting my whole self out.....

Not sure about numbers yet, will get back to you soon, dont get paid until thursday and wages are never the same every month.

Looking forward to it xxx

niksyg · 29 January 2013 at 6:48PM

I am IN! Already set budget in my head, will go through figures and update.

The Ultimate February Challenge

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