The Love is in the Air February NSD Challenge

[EverTheOptimist]

Evening everyone.

Signing up for 12 NSD's again please. Was going to up the target but hubby doesn't go back to afghan until 6th is so those days are wiped out, and its a shorter month. Would rather make it achievable and up it later if I can.

Thanks to freeby for the thread and to all the updaters, you know who you are!!

[Sazzie23]

Hi every one

3 pages already and we're still in January

Please sign me up for 15 NSD with 3 in a row

I'm still struggling to reach the January target of 15 /3 in a row and February is shorter to I think that'll be a challenge of its own

I don't count DD as can't rely on when they actually come out of account and they'll be moving shortly to a budgeted account just for DD. I'm not sure how to exclude some budgeted shopping without giving myself excuses to spend so I'll probably stick to counting it all in Feb.

[clairey em]

Hiya freeby and everyone! I'd love to join in this month please, very very tight budget this month and if we can stick to it I will be thrilled!

So I'd like to go for 16 NSD

Thank you xx

[ifwisheswerehorses...]

Originally Posted by freebyfifty

Hi lovely NSD gang
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

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 & 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 )
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....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 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 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 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!

[freebyfifty]

Good Morning Everyone

It is lovely to see you all, and so many newbies signing up
Keep checking in and updating us all on your progress, you'll soon be addicted and have made some lovely virtual friends

Front page is up to date (for the moment) and this time I remembered me 20 NSDs and 5-in-a-Row.


Have a great Monday.

[darwins_mum]

Good morning all, I didn't see this thread last month, and actually did 19 days. A record for me. Please put me down for the whole of February.

Good luck everyone
DM

[marmiterulesok]

Hi to all newbies!

I hope you enjoy the challengë!

Thanks freeby,if and all the updaters.

Can I please be put down for 18 nsds please.

[chris81418]

Hello everyone!

Thanks for the shiny new thread Freeby!

I'd like to pledge my usual lucky 19 NSDs and 6 NSDs in-a-row please. Thank you Freeby!

Good luck catching those NSDs everyone!

[Sazdaz]

Can I please be put down for 15 NSDs this month, I think I am going to be a bit short in Jan by one or two NSDs so thought go for same amount until I hit it.

[heartbreak_star]

Okay, I hit my January target so let's try for 12 NSDs in February!

Good luck everyone!

HBS x

[CatherineMM]

Hi, can I join again please? I have been absent and sadly spending too much for the last 6 months...I would love to restart the challenge and go for 14 NSD and 4 in a Row please.

Thank-you and hello again

[flowerofscotland]

I loved taking part in January's challenge (and so has my bank balance) so please sign me up for February.

My target for January was 15 and I've achieved it so my target for Feb is 16 NSDs

As there are only 28 days in Feb compared to Jan's 31 this is actually an increase from 48% of days being NSD in the month to 57% so I will be very chuffed to achieve this goal

Thank you to all involved in this very inspirational thread

[freebyfifty]

Originally Posted by darwins_mum

Good morning all, I didn't see this thread last month, and actually did 19 days. A record for me. Please put me down for the whole of February.

Good luck everyone
DM

Hi DM,

Do you mean you want to go for 28 NSDs??? If so, very well done and loads of luck

[The Dragon]

Oooh missed the link over the weekend! Can have a Starter for 10 please and 6 in-a row

[fedupandskint]

I would like my target to be 20 NSD for Feb.
Here goes!

[Karb]

Well, 28 days in Feb, and I've just hit my target of 12 NSDs in January on the 28th day, so no reason why I can't hit 12 again.

So, on the basis that I ought to set a more challenging target, I'm going to aim for 14 NSDs please

[slowlyfading]

Please can you put me down for 16 NSDs?

[LMac]

Im away for a holiday later this month so Im aiming for 12 NSDs again - saving the pennies to splurge later!

Thanks to everyone involved in running the challenge

[frugalgdubs]

I am going to give the NSD a go in Feb. I think I could manage a minimum of 10.

I have stocked up well, and have been getting loads of inspiration and ideas from you guys!!

Bring on Feb!!!!

[katholicos]

Since i am currently at 15 nsds for january, i think i will switch it up a gear and have a crack at 18 nsds in february please. Many thanks all

Really want to try to practice mindfully spending money in february, so knowing i only have ten days in which to spend, should shake me up a bit so that i plan my spends rather than just letting them happen willy-nilly, as i do now.