Bridge the gap with the February NSD challenge

d3mon4ngel

I haven't kept up with reporting, but haven't had time really.

I'm only including my "incidental spending" this month. The things I really shouldn't spend on, but give in to temptation.

I'm currently only on 1 NSD from Wednesday (OH put a £5 DVD in the shopping on Tues, and I bought lunch at work yesterday even though I took some sausage rolls with me ), though today is also looking good so far

solventsoon

Hi everyone

And to follow a long tradition here, we have to have a wiggle to celebrate....





Hope it brings a smile to a few faces today.

Take care everyone and mind that wind, it's dreadful outside today.

Back later

spoon xx

lornz23

So I am having a good run so far today is my 2nd NSD - woo lets hope i can continue and beat my target of 15 days!

Keiss_21

Right, declaring today as NSD no 3...and third in a row too!!

If we manage our usual NSD weekend...then we will have got our first ever 5-in-a-row! :j Now that's a target to aim for

Have a good weekend all...off to stitch some Elegant Lady....the 6-Nations Rugby starts tonight, so there will be lots of ironing and knitting done in the next 6 weeks!!

Can't X-stitch while the rugby is on I'm afraid...too many mistakes made (guess how I found that out!).

elf06

Hi all hope your all having a lovely Friday - its horrendous here and was yesterday aswell. The wind is slighlty better than last night but there still severe weather warnings out
Yesterday was a NSD as hoped and today will be aswell - not intentions of going anywhere (other than to PO to post 3bay parcel which has postage already paid on it and to pick DS up from nursery) soooooooooooooooooooooooo can I declare 2 NSD's so far this month

Butti

Hi All,
I've been booted on here by niccatw who obviously knows what is good for me. I am studying till May on a depleting amount of money so every little helps!

Can you put me down for 5 to start off with and we'll see how we get on (that's me going off into royalty speak mode - ideas above my station!!)

Right, off to get my !!!! in gear.

B

emiliah

On a roll - NSD # 3 today

katenut

Number 3 for me today xx

angelflower_2

NSD no 3 for me today :j

IF

Good afternoon all, Spoony and SF got my 2nd NSD yesterday, thank you both:A:A


Hi lovely NSD gang:A
As you can see there is lots of activity on this thread 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


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!