Bridge the gap with the February NSD challenge

kerri_gt

No NSD for me today - but I do have lovely brows after the threading woman worked her magic on them.

Well done with your month end Jints - we knew you could do it :beer:

Keiss - that's lovely about your first card, I love 'Songbird'

Feeling a little better today, thanks for all your hugs guys - don't know what's wrong with me at the moment but just don't feel quite in control of everything and it's getting to me - need to pull myself up by my bootstraps and get a grip...perhaps I should slap myself with that kipper that's been floating around

IF

Afternoon all :hello:

Spoony and SF got my 11th NSD yesterday, thank you both :A:A


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!

elfen

NSD no 9 for me please

SuziQ1962

Hi Guys No 8 NSD for me today,did go and try on some clothes in Geo**ge today but just looked fat! Think they may have changed the cut off their jeans but they all fitted in the WRONG places! So was able to walk away with my head held high ,proud of the fact i could post another NSD today -whoo hoo!

niccatw

Hello every-one. Obviously I'd never been on here whilst at work! But I'm aware I've been missing in action, so thought I'd pop on to quickly say I'm on 10/17 in February so far. I'm going out for dinner later, but we have a groupon deal, so hopefully I won't spend over and above and may even sneak number 11 today!

I've been very good at keeping my NSDs updated in my diary in Jan and Feb, which is a very visual way at keeping me on track.

Sorry I haven't managed to keep up with you all this month. I hope you are all well and bigs hugs for every-one who wants and needs one.

chris81418

Hello everyone! :wave:

I've been away from the forum for a few days, and there's a plethora of posts to catch up on! Possibly too many for me! Anyway, apologies if I've missed anything, and hugs to those that need them.

holidayaholic wrote: »

I'm annoyed about the dinner this afternoon as it's at a fairly expensive gastropub, but as it's my SIL's birthday, we can't back out. More annoying as we got talked into stumping up £70 contribution towards her present, which we just don't have.

:eek: That's a shocking amount of money to contribute! They could have at least left the ball in your court and let you decided later and in your own time, rather than talking you into it.

Anyway, maybe your SIL will return the favour?? Just make it known that you prefer cash so you can treat yourself because you're difficult to buy for ... :whistle:

Where was I, oh yes, checking to report that yesterday was a big spendy day with the weekly food shop done and other bits n bobs for the bathroom bought; however, Saturday and Sunday were NSDs meaning I'm up to 12 NSDs and 6 NSDs in-a-row for the second time this month! Woo hoo!

I've got the urge to spend today, but I've managed to resist it so far, and I think I've got over the worst of it, so fingers crossed that today will be another.

Good luck everyone! Here's to everyone catching another NSD today!

LittleMissHappy_2

I'v e finally got my number 8 NSD, but only because I am not very well Got up fine this morning, went to my sisters, came back home and was walking the dog when I realised I felt a bit funny.........nauseous tummy and weak knees?!?!? Anyway, got back home and had a banana, then set my alarm and slept until I had to pick littlies up. Now feeling shivery, sore throat and run down

Oh, well, at least I got an NSD :cool:

Back in bed now, will have an early night and hopefully will be better in the morning x

The_Dragon

By the end of today I will have hit 10 :beer::beer::beer: amazing how not going out at all helps

slowlyfading

Finally!!!! Number 8 for me

IF

slowlyfading wrote: »

Finally!!!! Number 8 for me

It was the thought of that Kipper eh!!