Marching on in March - The NSD Challenge

shezam

Hi all,

I'm a newbie here but have been following for a while.

I'd like to attempt 7 NSD's this month if possible? Payday was yesterday and I have less than half left after bills, dd's and splurging at the shops. So 7 NSD's would really help me out.

Good luck to everyone

IF

Happy St Davids day:hello:

butdoineedit? wrote: »

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

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!

lauzellen

Logging in to register my 1st NSD of the month :j Hoping for another tomorrow but I have to do my food shop Thur. BTW I am not including my d/d in this challenge as they come out all over the place.. I am including any other spending via cash or card including for food.

hannah:-)_2

Please put me down for 10 NSDs this month, BDINI

I didn't quite hit target last month, but I did end up under budget, which I haven't managed for I can't remember how long so :T:T:T NSDs are definitely the way to go!

kathy40uk

:hello:

Hi all NSD'ers

Thanks to all of you for the lovely 'Welcome Backs', or does feel good to be back :j

Don't know if I will make the outing tonight as I am doing a couple of hours at second job and am on an early shift tomorrow but here are some daffodils for you all



*Don't let Hubert eat too many he will get bellyache

Well I tried to be all organised yesterday but I forgot stamps and need to post a letter today as it must get to the person by Thursday so not quite the start I was hoping for but have made up for it by checking washing powder and stuff so am aiming NOT to be going to the shops at all this week after my early shifts......back to purse at home routine is a must

Wishing everyone a happy NSD St David's day xxxxx

:hello:

Actress

Hi

I'm new and would love to join in the challenge. Please could you put me down for 7 NSDs please for March.

Thank you so much!

cw18

1st of the month, and as normal (unless it falls on a weekend) it's a spend day for me as it's the day for my gas & electricity D/Debit

Trying to decide whether to nip out and get some milk or not, but am swaying towards the 'not'. Still have about half a pint of skimmed in the fridge (and I think there's still another pint in the freezer) which I use in my cuppas or if I have porridge, plus soya milk which I use with other cereals. So if I stay off the porridge for most of the week I should be fine for a while longer - just not sure it'll last until 10th, which is when I expect the next D/Debit to go out, given I'm definitely on porridge next Mon, Tues & Wed (due to them all being full days at work)

Guess I should check the freezer really..... will need some if there's none there, might try stretching it if I have one, but would be OK if (by some small miracle) I've still got 2.

Yorkielass

I'm in again this month. Almost made my target of 12 for last month and as it's a long month I'm going for 14 NSDs in March. The next 6 days are rather crazy but then after that things calm down a bit (I hope!) and I'll have a bit more time and energy to plan these things. I find NSDs help me in that if I know I'm not going to be going shopping etc in the evenings I'm less likely to be tempted by chocolate at work. I know that today, tomorrow and Friday will be spend days for me already but I'll report back on Sunday on the rest of them!

So thanks for the thread and put me down for 14 NSDs please

pinkfluffybabe

Can I try for 11 NSD again this month?

Thanks!

slowlyfading

Number 1 for me