Bridge the gap with the February NSD challenge

solventsoon

:jWELCOME TO THE FEBRUARY NSD CHALLENGE:j


Why “bridge the gap”, you may ask? Well, I always think of February as the bridge between long, dreary, depressing January (post-Xmas bills, diets:() and spring-like March (baa-lambs and daffodils:D).

It’s a lovely short month and the days are getting longer, two reasons to celebrate:j , so let’s have another reason as well - joining the NSD challenge.

Let us help you to make January 2012 a bit less depressing by encouraging you to keep your hard-earned cash safe, loved and cossetted with you rather than being used and abused by those nasty retailers:D.


We are a happy (and some might say mildly insane:D bunch doing battle with those retailers - and there’s plenty of temptation all around us. 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 thread) 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.


The link to our January thread is below so you can see what a friendly group we are. New recruits are joining up all the time - everyone is welcome so please don’t be shy, come and join us, the more the merrier.


Good luck everyone, our lucky mascot is joining us again for February



Here are some threads to help keep us on the straight and narrow, if you know of others, please post. Many of the lunch box ideas are aimed toward children and are great ideas now that everyone’s back to work and/or school.

March Grocery Challenge, with lots of recipe ideas.
Tinned Food Recipes.
Leftovers? Don’t Throw It..
Exciting Sandwich Fillings on a Budget.
Lunch for Work.
Laptop Lunchbox Ideas.
Packed Lunches.
Cheap Healthy Snacks
Cheap Snack Ideas to Stop Buying Crisps.
Homemade Snack Ideas…contains further links for ideas.
Sprouting Seeds to Eat.
Really Quick & Alternative Snacks.
Easy Homemade Biscuits.
Muesli & Cereal Bar Recipes.
Weetabix Cake.
HM Popcorn.
Smoothie Recipes.
Yoghurt Without a Yoghurt Maker.
Ham Economics.
Low Carb Kids Lunches...contains advice for diabetics.
Kids Lunch Box Ideas.
Back to School Lunches.
Healthy Kids Snacks.
HM Lollies.
Ice Lolly Ideas
Cheap Healthy Playground Snacks.
Homemade Fudge.
OS HM Sweets.
Forgotten Puddings.
Making chocolates or sweets

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;)...)

solventsoon

I hope you like this month's prizes, they have a slightly "out of this world" theme:D

target met = target no 2 met = target no 3 met =
target no 4 met = target exceeded =

We have 5 prizes again this month because beanie managed 4 targets again last month and I'm anticipating a repeat performance

Thanks to all the regulars and newbies who have joined up already. Hoping lots more of you will come along for the ride catching NSDS (you may think that looks like a chicken, but really it's an NSD:D )

2joanne - 15 4
3Dogs - 15 15
AlwaysHappy - 10 10 target exceeded 16
Amethyst68 - 10
angelflower - 14 3
beanielou - 11 11 target increased to 16 16 target increased again to 19 19 target exceeded 21
belfast_girl - 15
Bexterragga - 10 10 target increased to 15 15target exceeded 16
BigMummaF - 14 14 target exceeded 18
BlimusOreilly - 10 10
blissfullydebtfreewannabe - 18
boultdj - 15 12
Brown_suga - 10 10
butdoineedit? - 15 15 target exceeded 16
Butti - 5 2
cannp123165 - 10 10 #
castri09 - 15 9
catslovelycats - 18 15
catspaw - 10
chris81418 - 19 19 target increased to 22 22 target exceeded 23
Cmdr_Bond - 7
CommitedToChange - 10 4
complimentschemistry - 12 1
cuddlymarm - 14 14
cw18 - 12 12 target increased to 14 14target exceeded 16
d3mon4ngel - 10 9
Danni-R - 10
DansMum - 14 14 target exceeded 15
Decluttering - 10 10 target increased to 12 12
Dee-cb - 12 12
determined new ms - 9
dmb - 12 11
dollybeads - 15 3
donna dynamo - 15 13
ebayqueen - 14 4
ebsaver - 20 16
elf06 - 10 10 target increased to 15 15 target exceeded 16
elfen - 14 14 target exceeded 15
emiliah - 18 9
fedupandskint - 15 15 target increased to 17 17target exceeded 19
fillyfop - 18 15
flyingember - 7 7
grassgirl - 18
hannah:-) - 10 8
holidayaholic - 15 15
honey - 14 1
ifwishes - 15 15 target exceeded 16
ilovetea - 10 10 target increased to 14 14 target increased again to 18 19
jaffacakegal - 10 10 target exceeded 11
jedi82 - 12
jintyb - 16 16
julytex - 10 1
Karb - 7 7 target exceeded 8
karmachilovething - 10 10 target exceeded 11
karom - 12 11
katenut - 16 13
katholicos - 18 17
kdenty - 13 13 target increased to 17 15
Keiss 21 - 16 16
Kellyjelly27 - 10
kerri gt - 15 14
kevstanley - 8 7
LadyfromVenice - 18
LittleMissHappy - 15 15 target exceeded 17
lornz23 - 15 8
lotti379 - 12 12
loveGSDs - 10 8
martafdz - 10
mi jardin - 15 15
Money Fritter - 16 4
moneypenny2k - 10 5
muffin man 7 - 18 18
Nargleblast - 14 10
niccatw - 17 17 target exceeded 19
njo86 - 10 4
Nym Mcfroglet - 15 14
Palema - 10 10 target exceeded 12
PerfectPeaches - 16 4
Pie - 5
pinkfluffybabe - 11 10
Pippilongstocking - 10 1
postingalwaysposting - 15 15 target exceeded 18
Queen.Bess - 11
rising from the ashes - 12 5
Rock_Cakes - 15 15 target increased to 17 17
romylou - 20 14
runnerbean17 - 12 12
SarahNeedle1872 - 20 9
sazzledazzle - 12
SeasideEm - 10
skaps - 16 16
slowlyfading - 15 15 target exceeded 16
sofababe - 12 4
solventsoon - 18 18 target increased to 20 20 target exceeded 21
somethingsgottogive - 15 11
Sunnylooloo - 15 15
Surfbabe - 10 8
suzie wong - 12 12 target exceeded 13
SuziQ1962 - 15 9
tattooed_lady - 4 4 target increased to 7 7target exceeded 8
tazmac25 - 10 3
teenyweenyspender - 18 8
The Dragon - 10 10 target exceeded 13
thrifty fifty - 10 10
Tixy - 12 7
Trinny - 15 9
Tropicalmoments - 20 13
twistedhazel - 15 15 target increased to 18
Wee Pilsbury - 10 6
wit40iwtwan - 20 20
wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver - 10 3
Yorkielass - 12 11

solventsoon

This is for anyone who wants to set themselves a target for a number of NSDs in a row. We had some impressive numbers in January(added below), so if anyone would like to have a go at this, I'll add you here:D

January records:
niccatw: 8 in a row
boultdj: 7 in a row
beanielou: 7 in a row
chris81418, BaileysBabe, The Dragon, Tropicalmoments, savingcaz: 6 in a row
SBeth, Tixy: 5 in a row


February targets:
somethingsgottogive - 7 in a row
wit40iwtwan - 8 in a row... woohoo... made it....
chris81418 - 6 in a row... woohoo... made it....
6 in a row again
beanielou - 5 in a row... woohoo... made it....
increased to 6 in a row... woohoo... made it....
and now 7 in a row... woohoo... made it....
and 8 in a row... woohoo... made it....
and 9 in a row... woohoo... made it....
Rock_Cakes - 5 in a row... woohoo... made it....
and now 6 in a row... woohoo... made it....
Tropicalmoments - 5 in a row... woohoo... made it....
increased to 6 in a row
The Dragon - 5 in a row... woohoo... made it....
Keiss 21 - 5 in a row... woohoo... made it....
kdenty - 5 in a row... woohoo... made it....
jintyb - 5 in a row... woohoo... made it....
BDINI - 4 in a row... woohoo... made it....
fedupandskint - 4 in a row... woohoo... made it....
and now 5 in a row... woohoo... made it....
Rock_Cakes - 4 in a row... woohoo... made it....
kerri gt - 4 in a row... woohoo... made it....
and now 5 in a row... woohoo... made it....
and 6 in a row... woohoo... made it....
karma-chi - 4 in a row... woohoo... made it....
boultdj - 5 in a row
Dee_cb - 5 in a row

solventsoon

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 & 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 Solvent's (aka Spoon:rotfl:) first 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 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

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 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!

solventsoon

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.

Thanks everyone:A
spoon xx

IF

Hello Spoony, Where did January go :eek::eek:
Can you put me down for 15 NDS’s Please, thank you :A

solventsoon

ifwisheswerehorses... wrote: »

Hello Spoony, Where did January go :eek::eek:
Can you put me down for 15 NDS’s Please, thank you :A

Hello if :hello:

My first visitor:D:D, welcome to the shiny new thread:j:j:j

spoon xx

IF

solventsoon wrote: »

Hello if :hello:

My first visitor:D:D, welcome to the shiny new thread:j:j:j

spoon xx

Hellooooooo Spoony, love the new furniture too!!

solventsoon

ifwisheswerehorses... wrote: »

Hellooooooo Spoony, love the new furniture too!!

Good, specially redecorated, BDINI's been helping me

IF

solventsoon wrote: »

Good, specially redecorated, BDINI's been helping me

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Love the prizes too :beer:


target met = target no 2 met = target no 3 met =
target no 4 met = target exceeded =

belfast_girl

can I be added for this one, would like to go for 15 please