Bridge the gap with the February NSD challenge

IF

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!

Butti

Hi would be. Sorry to hear things are difficult for you at the mo.

I'm on my 2nd NSD

Butti

boultdj

A spend day for me and Keiss the card look's lovely.

Yorkielass

I've just realised I haven't posted on here yet since setting my challenge - forgot to subscribe to the thread - oops!

The first 5 days I only had 1 NSD and thought I might as well give up, but last week Tuesday-Thursday were NSDs - mainly thanks being creative with food at home, then yesterday and the previous Sunday were too so 6 to declare.

Today will be a spend day but 14 days left to get my other 6 in so hope I make it!

So I'm declaring 6 NSD so far this month

Thanks

pinkfluffybabe

NSD No.6 for me today

postingalwaysposting

Claiming NSD number 10 :T Walked to the sorting office with the dog and collected a parcel and then walked the long way home. Tomorrow will be a spends day sadly, its pay day and I need to order some new work trousers and purchase stitching threads.

beanielou

Not a NSD as took my mum out for a wee lunch.

Keiss~Loved the car.

Will increase my target to 16 I think.
Thanyou Spoony & SF:D

kdenty

NSD 10 for me today

Sorry to hear about your troubles wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

I meet a few people affeceted by drugs and alcohol through my job. It's awful what it can do.

rising_from_the_ashes

I'm not very good at this!

1/2 way through the month and only just managed No 4 today.

I've come to realise that there are many days when I only spend very small amounts (84p for crumpets or 50p on a bar of chocolate at Mr C etc) but not many when I manage to spend nothing at all mmmmmmm.

Must try harder!

Hope everyone's well, hugs for anyone who needs one (bit behind on all the posts).

dmb_2

No 4 NSD for me please Spoon