Bridge the gap with the February NSD challenge

kerri_gt

Well done for taking on the March challenge BDINI - I'm afraid that since I'll be away for a good portion of it I'll prob be b*gger all help to you if I offered to give you a hand. Does this mean we're in danger of being wallpapered rather than hit with a wet kipper if we fall off the NSD wagon? :rotfl:

Well....*bloomin big drum roll please* Its NSD #14 for me today, AND 6 in a row!!! :eek::eek:

I did buy a belt to go with my dress next week in T*psh*p - it was marked £15 but was reduced to £7, however, I had a gift card for that - and actually, might just take it back as I don't wear belts often - we'll see how it looks with the dress. Did resist a lovely satchel type bag for £55 :eek: On the up side, when I got my gift card out, I also found one in the little envelope for MnS and B**ts. I know the MnS one prob hasn't got much on it, but if it was 0 I'd have prob thrown it away, and ditto with the B**ts one, but it was a jolly nice surprise none the less.

Fish and chips for dinner tonight - at the request of my OH who enjoyed it so much on Wed (see, told you it was a MSE rod for my own back)...talking of which...I think I smell burning!!! :eek::eek::eek:

Catslovelycats

nsd 13 for me

[Deleted User]

Hi everyone
Added another NSD to my tally now up to 12 for the month :j
Have a good weekend
P
X

Nargleblast

Bdini - hail to thee great head honcho of the March NSD thread, I promise to be a good little Nargle and meet my target next month. First item on the agenda for you is to administer a virtual wet-kippering to wouldbequalitymoneysaver, who said the dreaded "F" word last nght. We do not "f*il" on here, every NSD is worth celebrating.
Kerrigt - the sheep will be more than welcome at the St Davids day bash, someone for Hubert to play with!
Spoon - enjoy a break amongst the NSD plebs for a change!

Well, today was a spendy day - getting new school stuff for DS who for some strange reason keeps on growing...and spent £34 on new tops in Dotty P's sale. However, I had a £30 gift card to spend so it only cost me £4 for a cardi, a jumper and 2 teeshirts.

tattooed_lady

Hello all :wave:

Spendy day for me again, took kids to Pizza E$%ress (courtesy of Mr T vouchers) but had to pay for our drinks - and tomorrow we are going to Cadbury World (Mr T again ) but will have fuel to pay for.

Really hoping that Sun/Mon will be NSD's so that I can reach my target .

xx

runnerbean17

I only need 1 more NSD to reach my target but that Lloyds Pharmacy B1G2F has managed to put a stop to that. Hopefully I'll get the last 1 on sunday :rotfl:

cw18

Target exceeded :T
I'm now at NSD #15, as I didn't go and do my big shop this evening (and have no plans to this side of midnight)
So it was well worth digging through my collection of unused postage stamps this morning

Took my shopping list into work with me though, and after I clocked out I went around the store noting the prices of the items I planned to get at Mr T. A few are a little bit cheaper (even before staff discount), and some are the same price (so would add to my sealed pot without making any larger a dent into my grocery budget). I then nipped over to A!di to perform the same exercise, and found a few that are cheapest there.....

Still got Lid! to check tomorrow, and then I shall pick up everything where it's cheapest. But I'll need to make sure I still have enough on my Mr T list (or at least enough on my 'back-up' list to replace things I get elsewhere in terms on monetary value) in order to use my £6 off voucher (and hopefully for the petrol till-spit as well!)

Fortunately today being pay-day (with 28.5 hours overtime, which basically means an extra weeks pay as I'm contracted to 29 hours/week) means I can afford to shop around and still meet the minimum spend requirements

butdoineedit?

Well thank you all for the support & the lovely comments, i am already deciding on a replacement for the wet kippers :rotfl::rotfl: (but don't worry Jinty i promise it won't be a sledgehammer!! )

I shall PM all you lovely people who have offered to help when i have got myself a bit more organised....

Number 15 & target today :j:j
The only place i have been is to my friends for a shower - the first proper wash i have had since Friday night just before i became bathroomless & it was the most lovely feeling, i have decided i definitely couldn't have lived in the olden days when people only had a bath once a week!!

katholicos

Hi all, hope you are all okay. Thanks to everyone for their kind comments and pm's about Dad's passing away...they are much appreciated.

Well i think it was NSD number 16 today.

Hope you all have an enjoyable weekend.

IF

Just bumping, incase anyone new wants to join us for March

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!