The Mad and Marvelous NSD March Challenge!

marmiterulesok · 26 February 2017 at 11:09PM

Welcome to March...g-gulp!March already, goodness.Where does the time go?

Who will join me in the wondrous, all absorbing pastime that is NSD chasing?

Sign up, give it a twirl, and I assure you, you'll be hooked!

marmiterulesok · 26 February 2017 at 11:11PM

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 · 26 February 2017 at 11:12PM

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.Other deterents include the dreaded soggy paintbrush and a manky kipper breakfast lovingly prepared by Igor.You have been warned....

marmiterulesok · 26 February 2017 at 11:14PM

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

marmiterulesok 3/10

Florence J 0/14

SkintTeacher 7/15

medusasmummy 7/21

Captain Bluebear 1/12

Nargleblast 6/15

swimminginaseaofdebt 4/10

ceb1995 1/10

We_can_do_this! 6/18

Honeysucklelou2 2/10

ChicaBonita 5/15

Pennydreams 5/15

Kittencat 5/12

jaxsmar 0/16

Jonesy88 0/15

donkids22 0/15

indigowarrior 5/20

Starlighthappiness 5/12

candygirl 2/15

beanielou 8/14

Jo Blogs 10/15

wegle 6/16

marmiterulesok · 26 February 2017 at 11:14PM

Post your target and I'll add your name.The prize is some sunshine!

marmiterulesok 3

Florence J 4

SkintTeacher 5

medusasmoney 4

Captain Bluebear 3

Pennydreams 5

marmiterulesok · 26 February 2017 at 11:16PM

Link to the February challenge:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=5592237

Florence_J · 27 February 2017 at 10:42AM

I am in again.

Aiming for 14 NSDs

and

4 in a row

I am going big and bold in March as my job prospects aren't looking too good.

Things I won't count are giving money towards an unexpected colleagues gift collection, direct debits, paying back a debt and my exercise classes as I count them as a bill at the start of the month and keep the money in an envelope.

I count every other spend, including Milk!

SkintTeacher · 27 February 2017 at 3:52PM

15 for me please and 5 in a row

I'll count all spending except sport and boring direct debits like the mortgage. Good luck everyone here we goooooooooooo!

medusasmummy · 27 February 2017 at 6:11PM

Hi all, I'm back in again.
I think i'll keep to my challenge of 2 spends a week. Its a 5 week month so can i be put in for 21 NSDs please
I somehow managed 4 NSDs in a row last month so i think i'll have that as my goal. 4 in a row please

I don't count bills, petrol or our monthly trip to the cinema or other day trips that have been planned and budgeted for. I also dont count spends for birthdays/christmas/other special occasions.

I do count all food shopping trips, impulse buys, and stuff from the web. Its really made me feel accountable and plan my spends more carefully. Previously i would go shopping 3 days in a row to different shops, and click on hot deals emails to get offers willy nilly. Now i think twice about spoiling my NSD at 9pm while browsing the web. I don't pop in to tesco/asda just because i'm nearby on the off chance i might find some reduced bargain (well most of the time

)

Good luck to all taking part! and Huge thanks to marmite for running it all :T :T

Captain_Bluebear · 27 February 2017 at 7:15PM

Hi all!

Found you! I'm in again please Marmite. May I please stick with my 12 NSD and 3 in a row?

Thank you so much

Blue

Nargleblast · 27 February 2017 at 9:31PM

Right, marmite, I am in again, with a target of 15 NSDs, but I must insist on some conditions being met, to ensure the challenge is run to the highest standards of etiquette and decorum.

1. Hubert, being a greedy guts, is not to be allowed anywhere near your stock of putrid kippers, not with his unfortunate digestive system.

2. I get to wear the pink fluffy bunny ears.

The Mad and Marvelous NSD March Challenge!

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