The Magnificent May NSD Challenge!

marmiterulesok · 30 April 2017 at 1:40PM

Goodness me,May is almost here.Need to get my skates on!
Who is game to sign up for the rootinest,tootinest challenge going?!
Come on folks,let's do it!!!!!

marmiterulesok · 30 April 2017 at 1:41PM

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 :money: & 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!

marmiterulesok · 30 April 2017 at 1:43PM

Here are our lovely prizes:

1st target achieved:

2nd target achieved:

3rd target achieved:

Target exceeded:

Consolation prize:

Shawn the Shark is here to gently encourage any over eager nsders not to use the 'F' word ie F-a-i-l.....Other deterents include the dreaded soggy paintbrush and a manky kipper breakfast lovingly prepared by Igor.You have been warned....

marmiterulesok · 30 April 2017 at 1:43PM

Sign up with your total and I'll add you to the list!

marmite 3/10

ceb1995 7/12

dreamtruce 0/15

Nargleblast 12/15

Jo Blogs 24/15

Florence J 12/13

fendi-bag-lady 1/8

donkids22 8/10

squanderscouse 5/10

We_can_do_this 12/23

Honeysucklelou2 1/10

Bigskies 2/6

wegle 0/16

Sewinglady 0/10

marmiterulesok · 30 April 2017 at 1:46PM

Post your total and I'll add you to the list!

The prize:

marmiterulesok 3

Jo Blogs 3

Florence J 3

4

5

squanderscouse 3

Sewinglady 3

ceb1995 · 30 April 2017 at 1:55PM

I'd like to join this month, didnt complete the challenge in march but with a wedding in less than 6 months I want to get the small spends under control, I think I'd like to try for 12 NSDS to start with.

marmiterulesok · 30 April 2017 at 2:16PM

ceb1995 wrote: »

I'd like to join this month, didnt complete the challenge in march but with a wedding in less than 6 months I want to get the small spends under control, I think I'd like to try for 12 NSDS to start with.

Done!Good luck.

dreamtruce · 30 April 2017 at 2:17PM

I didn't do well at all in april - I moved out of my parents home and into a rented house with my partner.
I had to buy a few things for the house and just... wasn't accountable with my money.

I really want to change this tough and so I am going for
15 NSDs

marmiterulesok · 30 April 2017 at 2:17PM

I'll really try and keep up with the posts every day.Going on holiday on the 23rd of the month,which might make it a wee bit tricky though.

marmiterulesok · 30 April 2017 at 3:53PM

dreamtruce wrote: »

I didn't do well at all in april - I moved out of my parents home and into a rented house with my partner.
I had to buy a few things for the house and just... wasn't accountable with my money.

I really want to change this tough and so I am going for
15 NSDs

You did as best you could I'm sure.

Nargleblast · 30 April 2017 at 3:55PM

(Scene: the imposing front driveway of Ennessdee Towers. Hubert the donkey is strapped to a giant maypole by hundreds of coloured ribbons, and all because he went left when everyone else was going right. Inside, Swedish Chef is muttering about "hurry gurdy chicky in de boosky" and hacking at something on the kitchen table. A sulphurous stench of egg floats out from the scullery - Mrs Doyle is making her infamous egg sandwiches for the MayDay tea. A large cauldron of extra strong PG Tips is festering away on the stove, ready for the hordes of NSD gang members as they flock in for the May NSD challenge. Ennessdee Towers is buzzing.)

The Magnificent May NSD Challenge!

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