Marching on in March - The NSD Challenge

Tropicalmoments

Not a good start to the month as so far exactly nil nsd's . Still there's a lot of the month left yet so onward and upwards!

IF

Good afternoon all, BDINI got my 2nd NSD yesterday, thank you x :A

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!

wit40iwtwan

2NSD's aaah - so glad that I have managed them!

I was a bit caught up in the whole eco dress worn by Livia Firth at the Oscars that I spent a few pounds yesterday on a lovely necklace (less 15%) that she helped design... very out of character for me to spend on jewellery - especially considering the price tag, but it arrived today and it is simply stunning...

http://www.eco-age.com/item/2972-The_Livia_Firth_Heart_Necklace__

It does mean that no matter what - today is a NSD so declaring it as such...

I am also going to be really strict with how much I spend on a spend day (I dont count bills) and am hoping to keep to a reasonable amount!

jaffacakegal

Still nothing for me, I knew the 1st wouldn't be one as I buy tea at college on Tuesdays, and I wanted to set some money aside for the month for after-band diet cokes (no giving up them just yet!). But I was so hoping yesterday would have been an NSD that I avoided going to L!dl even though I have nothing in to make a healthy meal with!

But forgot that I needed to pay money for weekly bonus ball that night! :mad:

I'm trying very hard today - so much so that I have sat and ate a frozen meal from a not very good batch I made months ago, and defrosted bread, whilst all my colleagues had Burger King fingers crossed I will report an NSD!

I will get out of my overdraft this month.... (and hopefully lose some weight )

JCG x

fillyfop

It's still early, but I'm going to declare NSD #3

Working from home today and not planning to go anywhere, so there is no need to spend any money!

suzie_wong

Lucy1010 wrote: »

Spend day for me

£6.12 for mouth ulcer treatment....!

Oh dear- not you as well??? Hope yours get better sooner rather than later x

lauzellen

I have laryngitis starting again Was planning on doing my food shop today - fridge is bare except for some carrots.. need milk for my DD as finished it this morning argh so don't feel up to a shop! BUT DD needs milk being a toddler and I'm thinking I will only start to feel worse...

suzie_wong

NSD#2 for me today! I know it's a bit early to declare it, but I can't think of how or why I would spend anything now today

fedupandskint

Off the mark at last with NSD 1

I need to get back on track a bit better like last month. Yesterday was supposed to be a NSD but then decided needed crisps and 2 lightbulbs and then ordered some photo posters which I'll frame and hang in the LR when they arrive then its nearly done in there

romylou_2

Hello

No 2 NSD for me please. Off to a good start. Hope I can continue