Marching on in March - The NSD Challenge

IF

Good afternoon all. BDINI another hug from me


Bumping for any Newbies joining us xx

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!

DansMum_2

Hi

Declaring Friday Saturday and Sunday as NSD so now up to 9 :j

jaffacakegal

No NSD to report just wanted to give big hugs to BDINI - hope today is better!

JCG x

BigMummaF

lotti379 wrote: »

....a socket set for mothers' day (if it's what she wants, who am I to argue?!)....

Last year I had new number plates to get me through the MOT, year before was money toward the fridge freezer & before that a bread maker & this year I've suggested a water butt, mini greenhouse or other garden stuff. Well. Flowers make me sneeze & sweeties make me fat(ter ) For Christmas 2009 I had spark plugs, 5l engine oil & various other bits to service the car, plus the three of 'em can club together to get something useful for their wonga :rotfl:

Keiss_21 wrote: »

(((((Hugs))))) winging their way to you BDINI, you're right, there's a great bunch of folk here on MSE (and a few particular threads, including this one :happyhear ). Hear Hear!

....a new TV!!!....getting a tv that will be easier to watch - 32"....

Imagine the rugby on THAT :j
Your poor eye ..I admit to being guilty of taking various body parts for granted until they go wrong in a more unusual fashion; I'd never have thought that a supposedly inoffensive cold sore could be so hazardous :eek: It's reminded me that our sight tests are overdue, but we're waiting for muvva to get her new plugs (hearing aids ) before booking, so the opthalmologist doesn't have quite as bad a time with her :whistle:

Was yesterday a particularly bad clash of planets or something? Not saying my catastrophe is on the level of yours BINDZ ..more a kitten's trophy but damned annoying none-the-less My (still-very-new) cooker decided to trip the ring main for the sockets in the house just in the middle of my cooking the evening meal Thankfully it's gas with electric ignition, so we were able to light the oven with a match; I'd done all the prep--cottage pie--& it only needed browning off & keeping warm till everyone was home for the night. And now, I'm currently awaiting a phone call to see when an engineer is in my 'area'..anyone like to hazard a guess on that call happening before end of play today hmmm? Literally just called! My apologies for doubting they would, BUT. No engineer till Monday :wall:

Perhaps I'll have a squidge at what those twits in London are planning for us next, or maybe I'll wait for the not so edited highlights on the news. It's all the "experts" chewing over the way it was said, or the way they are standing..& all the insignificant little dwebs who have to have their two-penny-worth that gets me so :mad:

Back to the topic in hand. No 15 for yesterday please, & LOTS of ((HUGS)) for those who'd like one. At least, on this thread especially, when we say we're in this together, we truly mean it x

solventsoon

butdoineedit? wrote: »

You guys are amazing, had my first tears this morning, not at the situation, but at the amount of support i've had.
When i first joined in with the challenge i knew it would sort out my spending, but i never realised i would meet the most amazing supportive bunch of people that i am proud to think of as friends now! :A

See you all later!!

more (((hugs))) BDINI and hope today is proving to be a bit better. You know we're all here for you and will offer as much support as we can.

Take care
spoon xx

solventsoon

BigMummaF wrote: »

Was yesterday a particularly bad clash of planets or something? Not saying my catastrophe is on the level of yours BINDZ ..more a kitten's trophy but damned annoying none-the-less My (still-very-new) cooker decided to trip the ring main for the sockets in the house just in the middle of my cooking the evening meal Thankfully it's gas with electric ignition, so we were able to light the oven with a match; I'd done all the prep--cottage pie--& it only needed browning off & keeping warm till everyone was home for the night. And now, I'm currently awaiting a phone call to see when an engineer is in my 'area'..anyone like to hazard a guess on that call happening before end of play today hmmm? Literally just called! My apologies for doubting they would, BUT. No engineer till Monday :wall:

Grrrrr... indeed BMF.. sometimes new things are more frustrating than old things:mad:

BigMummaF wrote: »

Perhaps I'll have a squidge at what those twits in London are planning for us next, or maybe I'll wait for the not so edited highlights on the news. It's all the "experts" chewing over the way it was said, or the way they are standing..& all the insignificant little dwebs who have to have their two-penny-worth that gets me so :mad:

Don't get me started on that one:mad::mad:

BigMummaF wrote: »

Back to the topic in hand. No 15 for yesterday please, & LOTS of ((HUGS)) for those who'd like one. At least, on this thread especially, when we say we're in this together, we truly mean it x

Very true

Good to see you again, BMF, I miss your whimsical posts and look forward to the day you're back with us again properly. Hope muvva isn't driving you too crazy.

Take care x

Keiss_21

BigMummaF wrote: »

Imagine the rugby on THAT :j
Your poor eye ..I admit to being guilty of taking various body parts for granted until they go wrong in a more unusual fashion; I'd never have thought that a supposedly inoffensive cold sore could be so hazardous :eek: .... well, it's the scarring on the cornea that's the problem. Luckily what scarring I have from previous cold sores is mostly round the edge, so doesn't affect my sight too badly.
Back to the topic in hand. No 15 for yesterday please, & LOTS of ((HUGS)) for those who'd like one. At least, on this thread especially, when we say we're in this together, we truly mean it x Too True!

Been lazing a bit today...got bread on the go...next re-shaping soon!

OOh, the new telly has arrived!! :j:j DS1 is busy unpacking it...luvverly!!

fedupandskint

NSD today making it NSD 14 one more to go until target reached

boultdj

And today make's #12,
Hope your having a better day Bdini

slowlyfading

It hasn't been one for me today - needed milk.

BDINI - hope you've had a better day today