Bridge the gap with the February NSD challenge

BlimusOreilly

NSD 9 for me today. maybe I will reach my meagre target of 10 after all this month, as I plan to make another NSD tomorrow.

BigMummaF

HhhhheeeeyyyyyyeewwwwwwwwwGiiiiii-eyyeeeeezzzzz!
Anyone remember The G00nies; Sloth was an amazing character & one of many that is regularly quoted around our house

So we have a new leader for next month. I'm sure you'll do just fine once you get things in an order that suits you BDINI :T Don't be afraid to tweak things to make it easier for YOU to keep us lot going as, after all is said & done, that is the one thing that this Challenge is all about....IYSWIM...I am still spending so much time over with Mum or I would be there with the others offering to be of more practical help, but as it is I shall have to be cheering you on from the distant sidelines X

Special mentions to those fighting off personal demons ((HUGS)) & apologies for not naming names. My brain is a little frazzled & I don't wish to make a goof on things like this X

I can add another 3 days to my total so I think that's 18 now, up to today. The two lady aliens I have staying here are wondering if the new companion could bring some frbitewfn when she comes as they've almost run out apparently & I'm not spoiling an nsd just for them to put niuwaef in their hbivbwsiue :rotfl:

A thought to leave you with..Just imagine if all of us get just one of the possible two days left as an nsd, how many we would achieve as a group :eek:

Nargleblast

Well, it has just occurred to me that as I could not be arrised to go out today (and DS was not up for martial arts class, having homework leftover from before the holiday) then somehow, by some peculiar chance, today has ended up another NSD.

So that is now

9 for the Nargle!

Three days and counting to the NSD St Davids day bash - bad news is, Igor has got wind of our plans. (All right, Igor, don't go on so, you can come if you like! What's that you said? You'll bring the picnic for us all? Including your very own secret recipe Leek and Daffodil Surprise Cheesy Chocolate Chip Fudge cake? oh please don't.)

fedupandskint

Tra la la la lalala! Its only NSD no.17 for me today and can I achieve a record breaking number 18 tomorrow - oh yes I can! I don't need to go out and buy anything. This is getting ingrained as a new habit. Think what do I need? Oh yes, nothing because I have plenty in and only topped up shop yesterday and I don't need a thing. No need to go to the shops and mooch about.

Instead its a 10k run and a bit of cleaning and ironing and plenty of studying woo hoo indeed!

cw18

Shopping all done and dusted...... And in order to use my Mr T voucher and get the petrol 'spit', I now have breakfast cereal for another 3 months and at least 6 months worth of pasta as I stocked up on multi-save offers !!!!!

But Easter Eggs (and alternatives for 2 who don't particularly appreciate eggs, so not worth wasting pennies when I can get something they'll appreciate for close enough to the same money) are all bought, so that's one job out of the way that would have needed doing shortly anyway :T


From other stores on the complex I also picked up birthday pressies for my younger GD. These are needed for her party in 5 weeks time, so one job I had down for this week was to try and find something suitable - can't believe I managed it without any real effort today, and can probably hold on to an NSD during the week as an added bonus

Only really frivolous spend was a cake tin, though it's really a mould as it's silicon
It basically makes up an 18cm high, 17cm diameter cupcake, which I thought would be great fun as a birthday cake for those of a more senior age (as well as for little ones). It's one of these, but even at £4.99 I gave it some considerable thought - and had it out of the box to inspect and read the instruction leaflet.....
But I'm going to have to play to figure out the cake mix quantities it needs, as it talks it terms of 'boxed cake mixes' and the only indication of anything else is that the mix should fill '4 cups'. Whilst I do have measuring cups I've never put cake mix into them to see how much it makes, so I can see some baking days coming up to 'test' it while I'm off work this next week

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!

boultdj

Moved on Thursday, and spent everyday since!

katholicos

Today was NSD number 17.

Hope you are all having an enjoyable weekend

ilovetea

Hello every one.
Up to 17 NSD now as Wed.,Thurs. and friday were nsds. Today I needed a few odds and ends,so I had to spend .

ilovetea xx

somethingsgottogive

Hi all,

haven't done too well this month, shall have to reign it in a bit next month!

11/15 for me

SGTG