The Love is in the Air February NSD Challenge

freebyfifty
freebyfifty Posts: 3,189 Forumite
edited 19 February 2013 at 4:37PM in Debt-free wannabe
Welcome to the February No Spend Day (NSD) thread!!

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.


Link to last month's challenge is below so any newcomers can see what we get up to (hmmmmm... on second thoughts, that might put you off...)

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=4361547


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Free by Fifty
Debt of the Moment -
August NSD Challenge 14/15
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Comments

  • freebyfifty
    freebyfifty Posts: 3,189 Forumite
    edited 3 March 2013 at 7:31AM
    It's that time of year when we begin to thaw out and our thoughts turn to lurrrvvvve :heartsmil So with that in mind, I hope you like my loving prizes :D

    1st Target th_h6.gif?t=1357026180 2nd Target th_076.gif?t=1357026182 3rd Targetth_heart33.gif?t=1357026179 Target Exceeded th_heartsclr.gif?t=1357026183

    The Challengers
    Armchair –14/12
    Baileys -8/8 Target Metth_h6.gif?t=1357026180 2nd Target Met 10/10th_076.gif?t=1357026182 3rd Target Met 12/12th_heart33.gif?t=1357026179 Target Exceeded 12/13 th_heartsclr.gif?t=1357026183
    BDINI –15/3
    Beanielou –15/15 Target Metth_h6.gif?t=1357026180 2nd Target Met 19/19th_076.gif?t=1357026182 Target Exceeded 19/20th_heartsclr.gif?t=1357026183
    Bigmumma –17/17 Target Metth_h6.gif?t=1357026180 target Exceeded 17/23th_heartsclr.gif?t=1357026183
    BritAbroad –15/15 Target Metth_h6.gif?t=1357026180 Target Exceeded 20/19
    Bt1 -20/13
    ButterflyBee –18/9
    Candlewick –15/15 Target Met th_h6.gif?t=13570261802nd Target Met 18/18th_076.gif?t=1357026182 3rd Target Met 20/20 th_heart33.gif?t=1357026179Target Exceededth_heartsclr.gif?t=1357026183 20/21
    CatherineMM -14/
    Chris81418 –19/9
    Clairey -16/9
    Compliment -8/8 Target Metth_h6.gif?t=1357026180
    Coolcats –15/13
    Couldsave –20/20 Target Met th_h6.gif?t=1357026180
    CuteAs -15/11
    Cw18 –12/12 Target Metth_h6.gif?t=1357026180 Target Exceeded 12/16th_heartsclr.gif?t=1357026183
    Daizyboo -12/4
    Danielle –15/
    Darwins -28/
    Debtbuster -9/6
    Debtfreesoon –12/
    Delilahh –11/11 Target Meth_h6.gif?t=1357026180t
    Dizzy Lizzie –8/3
    Donna d –19/14
    Dragon –10/10 Target Metth_h6.gif?t=1357026180 2nd Target Met 15/15th_076.gif?t=13570261823rd Target Met 20/20th_heart33.gif?t=1357026179Target Exceeded th_heartsclr.gif?t=1357026183
    Emloves –15/15 Target Metth_h6.gif?t=1357026180 2nd Target Met 18/18th_076.gif?t=1357026182 3rd Target Met 21/21 th_heart33.gif?t=1357026179Target Exceeded 21/23th_heartsclr.gif?t=1357026183
    Evertheoptimist –12/12 Target Metth_h6.gif?t=1357026180 Target Exceeded 12/13th_heartsclr.gif?t=1357026183
    FallenArcher -10/
    Fedup –20/17
    Floella –14/3
    Flowerofscotland -16/12
    Flubbery –15/12
    Freeby –20/20 Target Meth_h6.gif?t=1357026180t 2nd Target Met 23/23th_076.gif?t=1357026182 3rd Target Met 25/25th_heart33.gif?t=1357026179 Target Exceeded 25/27th_heartsclr.gif?t=1357026183
    Frugalgdubs -10/
    Gien –14/
    Giggles86 –10/7
    Greenanne –10/3
    Headabove –12/12 Target Metth_h6.gif?t=1357026180
    Heartbreak -12/2
    Helsbels –15/3
    Hummingbird –5/
    Ifwishes –17/16
    Jaxsmar –10/10 Target Metth_h6.gif?t=1357026180 Target Exceeded 10/15 th_heartsclr.gif?t=1357026183
    Jelly biactol -14/14 Target Met th_h6.gif?t=13570261802nd Target Reached 18/18th_076.gif?t=1357026182 Target Exceeded 18/19 th_heartsclr.gif?t=1357026183
    Jem1980 -12/
    Jonsey88 -15/15 Target Metth_h6.gif?t=1357026180 2nd Target Met 20/20th_076.gif?t=1357026182 Target Exceeded 20/22th_heartsclr.gif?t=1357026183
    Kalojac -10/
    Karb –14/14 Target Metth_h6.gif?t=1357026180
    Karenccs -14/14 Target Metth_h6.gif?t=1357026180
    Katholicos –18/18 Target Metth_h6.gif?t=1357026180 Target Exceeded 18/20th_heartsclr.gif?t=1357026183
    Kerri –12/12 Target Metth_h6.gif?t=1357026180 Target Exceeded 12/14th_heartsclr.gif?t=1357026183
    Lioness –14/4
    Lmac -12/
    Lottie1987 -10/3
    Lottie3000 –10/6
    Loubelle –16/10
    Lurvlyloz -14/9
    Marmite –18/18 Target Metth_h6.gif?t=1357026180
    Milann – 10/6
    MissE -10/10 Target Metth_h6.gif?t=1357026180
    ModestyB –12/12 Target Metth_h6.gif?t=1357026180 Target Exceeded 12/14th_heartsclr.gif?t=1357026183
    Moneypenny –13/
    Motoko –15/7
    Muffinman -10/2
    MummyRivett -20/12
    Nargle –15/12
    New leaf –10/8
    Oodnood –20/5
    Pennysaving -12/12 Target Metth_h6.gif?t=1357026180
    Poohbear -15/15 Target Met th_h6.gif?t=1357026180 Target Exceeded 15/16th_heartsclr.gif?t=1357026183
    Positivelypurple –15/9
    Purplemum –10/9
    Purplesarah –15/3
    Redouble –10/
    Rising -14/3
    Save_dog –12/
    Sazdaz –15/9
    Sazzie –15/15 Target Metth_h6.gif?t=1357026180 2nd Target Met 17/17th_076.gif?t=1357026182
    Scuff -20/6
    Skint_Catt -10/
    Slowlyfading –16/16 Target Metth_h6.gif?t=1357026180
    Spoony –20/20 Target Metth_h6.gif?t=1357026180 2nd Target Met 24/24th_076.gif?t=1357026182
    Stacey2193 -13/
    StressedSteph –24/
    Tiggy10 -15/5
    WelshWoofer –10/2
    Wildcherry -15/15 Target Metth_h6.gif?t=1357026180 Target Exceeded 15/16th_heartsclr.gif?t=1357026183
    Wouldbe -5/
    Zafiro -20/
    Free by Fifty
    Debt of the Moment -
    August NSD Challenge 14/15
  • freebyfifty
    freebyfifty Posts: 3,189 Forumite
    Reserved for Challengers and prizes
    Free by Fifty
    Debt of the Moment -
    August NSD Challenge 14/15
  • freebyfifty
    freebyfifty Posts: 3,189 Forumite
    edited 20 February 2013 at 7:02PM
    This is for anyone who wants to set themselves a target for a number of NSDs in a row. We had some impressive numbers on this over the past few months so if anyone would like to have a go at this, I'll add you here :)

    The In-a-Row-Challengers

    Baileys - 3-in-a-Row
    ButterflyBee - 5-in-a-Row
    Candlewick - 3-in-a-Row Target Reached smiley-laughing016.gif 4-in-a-row smiley-dance010.gif 5-in-a-row smiley-whacky109.gif 6-in-a-row smiley-bounce015.gif
    CatherineMM - 4-in-a-Row
    Chris81418 - 6-in-a-Row
    Compliment - 3-in-a-Row
    Debtfreesoon - 4-in-a-Row
    Dragon - 6-in-a-Row Target Reached smiley-laughing016.gif
    Floella - 5-in-a-Row
    Freeby - 5-in-a-Row Target Reached smiley-laughing016.gif6-in-a-row smiley-dance010.gif7-in-a-row smiley-whacky109.gif 8-in-a-row smiley-bounce015.gif 9-in-a-row smiley-happy036.gif
    Jaxsmar - 3-in-a-Row Target Reached smiley-laughing016.gif
    Jelly Biactol - 5-in-a-Row Target Reached smiley-laughing016.gif6-in-a-row smiley-dance010.gif
    Jonesy88 - 5-in-a-Row Target Reached smiley-laughing016.gif6-in-a-row smiley-dance010.gif7-in-a-row smiley-whacky109.gif
    Marmite- 4-in-a-Row Target Reached smiley-laughing016.gif5-in-a-Row smiley-dance010.gif6-in-a-row smiley-whacky109.gif 7-in-a-row smiley-bounce015.gif
    ModestyB - 5-in-a-row
    Muffinman - 5-in-a-Row
    MummyRivett - 5-in-a-Row Target Reached smiley-laughing016.gif
    New Leaf - 3-in-a-Row Target Reached smiley-laughing016.gif
    Oodnood - 10-in-a-Row
    Poohbear - 4-in-a-Row
    Purplesarah - 5-in-a-Row
    Sazzie - 3-in-a-Row Target Reached smiley-laughing016.gif
    Scuff - 5-in-a-Row
    Spoony - 5-in-a-Row Target Reached smiley-laughing016.gif6-in-a-row smiley-dance010.gif
    Stacey2193 - 4-in-a-Row
    StressedSteph - 10-in-a-row
    Tiggy -4-in-a-Row
    Free by Fifty
    Debt of the Moment -
    August NSD Challenge 14/15
  • freebyfifty
    freebyfifty Posts: 3,189 Forumite
    Hi lovely NSD gang:A
    As you can see there is lots of activity on this challenge at the moment and it's difficult sometimes to see how many NSDs you're all declaring on posts.
    Could I ask you to highlight your number of NSDs in a colour and in bold so that I can see them easily when I whizz through the posts - red would be best but I don't really mind as long as I can see the numbers easily.


    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 wink2.gif
    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 sport-smiley-003.gif & have been l-o-n-g time Nsders so don't panic :p
    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 :D
    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 action-smiley-076.gif
    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 SIZE=2]Weds mornings[/SIZE in the cracked teapot & Ben's £1 coin for the gym locker SIZE=2]Friday lunch[/SIZE 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 :D

    We have virtual outings to wonderful places that never cost us a bean :rotfl:New York, Edinburgh & Brighton have been a couple & Spoon 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 :D The only thing to be aware of is Hubert the donkey who is partial to anything remotely edible but is not yet house-trained :o

    And Remember;
    there are no silly questions, so don't be afraid to ask us anything!
    Free by Fifty
    Debt of the Moment -
    August NSD Challenge 14/15
  • Woo Hoo, here we go again!

    Done a quick calculation and I think I am going to try for 15 NSD this month. I count any spend as a spend so on a short month this should be a challenge, but that works for me :)

    Good luck everyone.
    Sealed Pot Challenge 6 - Member 1938
    NSD Jan 16/16: Feb 3/15
    GC Jan £400/£400.14: Feb 0/£400
  • Hi Would love to join again this month i am going to try for a mammoth 19 NSD's to match my total so far for jan.
    #Sealed pot #085.
    1 debt versus 100 days £108.32/£300:j
    Debt Jan 2016 £6877.37. Aug £6155.56
    xmas saving £1 a day 274/366.
  • Would love to take part again in Feb:)
    I'm including all outgoings including DDs as a 'spend'.
    My target is 14 NSDs

    and

    5 in a row

    :j:j:j
    'It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.'
    Groucho Marx

  • coolcats
    coolcats Posts: 295
    First Anniversary First Post
    Forumite
    I'm in for the month, going for 15 NSD this time. Not so sure what this month will bring as we have hospital appointments coming up. Easy to increase target not so easy to go down.
  • I'm putting myself down for 15 again
  • IF
    IF Posts: 34,349
    Combo Breaker First Post
    Forumite
    A Big Thank you to Freeby for doing February's NSD thread xx


    thank-you-comment-014.gif


    Thanks to all who do the updates too, you are all stars :staradmin



    Could you put me down for 17 NSD's please :beer:

    Thank you
    IF...x
    "If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride"
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