Marching on in March - The NSD Challenge

cw18

butdoineedit? wrote: »

Your right I’d noticed we hadn’t seen Cheryl for a while, I do hope it’s because she’s loved up with her new man!

New man? Do you know something I don't :rotfl:

Seriously, the chap I was speaking to a couple of weeks back has dropped all contact - no explanation, but definitely cooled off after being told I have a male friend.

Was contacted by someone else this past week, but when asked how he'd feel about a partner having opposite sex friends (question from a list, with multi-choice answers) he said he'd "probably be uncomfortable about it". Next round of communication also flagged up a couple of potential problem areas, so I sent him a message explaining I didn't think it was worth me taking up any more of his time (and mentioning the male friend one as being a stumbling block, so he had the option to offer to 'try and work on it' but just replied 'thanks for the message')

I just wish the site didn't think that my mileage restriction of 30 miles (which I've also set to a pretty high importance) meant they realised this means I'm not interested in blokes who live 100-120 miles away :mad: I'm only back on there due to a special offer (3 months for less the the normal 1 month rate, though it's still slightly dearer than the last 3 month offer I had) - but if this carries on I certainly won't be renewing again, special offer or not!!

SOT2011

One more NSD yesterday, bringing me to 17/20.

3 more to get out of the remaining 4 days this month. Think it is achievable, fingers crossed.

bottleofred

Hi folks,

I know it's early, but I'm declaring NSD 14!:beer:

BigMummaF

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!

And I DID resist the Forbidden Fruit yesterday, so I'm on no 18.
Hope you remembered to change your clocks folks!

suzie_wong

A NSD to report today, taking me up to NSD#11. Virtually impossible to reach my target this month now. Will try again next month- should be easier in the school holidays as I will have more time to get organised. That's the plan anyway

hannah:-)_2

I know it's early, but I'm still declaring as I've just got to work so shouldn't have any more opportunities to spend today! After tentatively raising my target to 11 this morning, I've hit it this afternoon (as today's planned spend has been put back to Tuesday!!! Would have preferred to have stuck to the plan even if it had meant a spend today, but hey ho, silver linings and all that.)

So that's NSD #11. Think I'll try for another one, so raising my target to 12

elfen

Number 15 for me please

marmiterulesok

I had hoped of having my 3rd NSD weekend in a row,but I had to buy some groceries yesterday.

Today however is no.15/16!!!!!

IF

Afternoon all :hello: Hope you all have this lovely weather, to make up for losing an hour today x

BDINI got my 15th and 16th NSD's thank you :A

Catslovelycats

I feel rather hypocritical listing everyone's fabulous NSD efforts when I've failed miserably. Don't even bother looking at my confession on the toiletries thread. Suffice it to say I'm falling off the wagon a bit at the moment...

Anyway, well done to all these fab folks who against the weekend odds have managed NSDs. Thinking of those of you who, like me, are struggling to keep a handle on things...:T

Slowlyfading: 20:j
Dinna Dynamo: 12:j
Wit401wtwan: 16:j
BigmummaF: 18:j
Dan’sMum: 11:j
KArb: 10:j
Holidayaholic: 14:j
Boultdj: 14:j
Beanielou: 16 (increased target to 18):j
Pinkfluffybabe: 20:j
Bottleofred: 14:j
Fillyfop: 15:j
Elfen: 15 (pls increase target to 16):j
Kezlou: 21:j
Lucy1010: 12:j
Hannah: 11 (pls increase target to 12):j
The dragon: 14:j
Cw18:10:j
Ebsaver: 17:j
Suzie wong: 11:j
Marmiterulesok: 15:j
Ifwisheswerehorses: 16:j