Marching on in March - The NSD Challenge

boultdj

Yesterday made #4 seeing as I stayed in all day waiting for delivery's, now I just need to put the shelf[?] and I keep walking up and down the new carpet.......it's sooooooo warm and cosy now....
dosent take much to keep me happy

jintyb

Good moring all!

Thanks Cheryl and Spoon for the guidance re the power companies! I will be working on a shiny new spreadsheet to monitor the costs ( ooh I love a spreadsheet! Sad eh!):T
Today will be a spendy as its grocery shop today, plus I need a couple of vouchers for birthday presents. I have three birthdays to buy for this week!:eek: My sister, and two of the GC's!
I've decided to make some fudge to sell for Comic Relief, so I need to get cellophane bags for that. I have most of the ingredients so dont need much to make a couple of batches. I'm making white choc and cranberry and a plain chocolate one.
I'm going to hit the shops early today as I fancy having a quiet one for the rest of the day!
Have a lovely day everyone!:)

butdoineedit?

Just a quick round up for the night owls i missed last night

Lots of NSDs rolling in today, so well done to:

:j:j d3mon4ngel – well done for number 4, you’re doing great!!

:j:j The Dragon – well done for number 4, enjoy your weekend!

:j:j bottleofred - well done for number 6, you’re doing great!!

:j:j wit40iwtwan – well done for number 6, you’re doing great!!

:j:j postingalwaysposting – well done for number 8, you’re doing great!!

:j:j dmb - well done for number 3, you’re doing great!!

:j:j hannah:-) – well done for number 5, & well done for resisting spending in the shops!!

:j:j holidayaholic – well done for 7, & for getting 5 in a row!!

:j:j jaffacakegal - well done for number 5, you’re doing great!!

:j:j chris81418 - well done for 9, that’s a fantastic total, you’re doing so well!!

:j:j castri09 - well done for number 5, you’re doing great!!

:j:j boultdj – well done for number 4, :j to the new carpet, so glad you are pleased with it!

butdoineedit?

kerri_gt wrote: »

BDINI, even though you said (as grand overseer of the NSD Challenge this month - and a jolly good job you're doing too) I could count the mags as a NSD if I got any today, it just doesn't feel right, so I'm counting today as a spend - I feel if I start making 'excuses' in my rules now, I'll carry on. So Spoony - you're safe from that soggy paintbrush tonight...tomorrow might be a diff matter though as I'm hopping back on the NSD wagon all being well

:rotfl::rotfl:
Glad you managed to get what you wanted Kerri, no more excuses now or i'm coming for you!!!

solventsoon wrote: »

Oh dear, sorry you've had a carp day, BDINI:(. Try wielding your sledgehammer while the electrician's around, that might make him reduce his costs a bit. Hope things get sorted at work soon, any news yet on when you can hand your notice in?
Take care x

and PS: BDINI you're doing a fabby job, think I might have to take a holiday a bit more often:D:D:D

Awww thanks Spoon, i'm quite enjoying this, so you're welcome to more holidays!

Am hoping i might here next week about handing my notice in, (although i've said that before!), so fingers crossed!

& as for the electrician, i've crossed all but the essential jobs off the list, he's going to finish them today & then i'm going to pay him off & not use him again!! (slightly more legal than battering him with a sledgehammer i think! :rotfl:)

Karb

NSD's to report on Monday and Wednesday this week, so that's 4 so far

IF

Good morning :hello: Thank you all, will keep bumping :kisses3:

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!

cw18

jintyb wrote: »

( ooh I love a spreadsheet! Sad eh!):T

Not the tiniest bit sad in my eyes - but I'm sure you already knew that :rotfl:

jintyb

cw18 wrote: »

Not the tiniest bit sad in my eyes - but I'm sure you already knew that :rotfl:

Heh heh! Spreadsheets can keep me amused for hours!

Back from my shopping, got everything I was after so very happy!
Even bought lovely wee bags with ribbons already attached for my fudge - rather pretty I thought!:)
Have sold my €bay things - not a lot of money but better than the stuff languishing in a drawer. I am going to treat myself to a new, yes new, hardback book! I adore Alexander McCall Smith,s writing and there's a new book just published in the No 1 Ladies Detecive Agency series. I made enough to justify buying it;)
Off to wrap my parcels.........laters!

pinkfluffybabe

Reporting NSD No.6 for me today

Have successfully kicked my 'buying coffee at uni' habit.

SOT2011

Checking in with 2 more NSDs yesterday and today, bringing the running total to 8 so far in March