Marching on in March - The NSD Challenge

kerri_gt

Oh...forgot to mention that I managed to change the coat/mac I bought in MR TK the other week too - the one I originally bought had a mark on the collar but it was the last one so I bought it hoping to sponge the mark off or get it dry cleaned - took it with me today hoping I might see one in store that I could change it for...and I did :j so no additional dry cleaning bill :beer:

postingalwaysposting

Friday NSD number 9 and Today NSD number 10 :j Should have another two for Sunday and Monday as I have days off work and won't be going near any shops :A

Trinny

Hi Spoon

NSD 7 today please

Thanks

Trin

Nargleblast

Spendy few days ahead - oh gawd, I spy that soggy paintbrush lurking, waiting to get me.......

suzie_wong

Well, not before time, I would like to report NSD#5 :j

Hoping for another tomorrow to get me back on track

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!

I've updated my sig--sorry, I can't remember how many I'm up to now (notch it up to senior moments, cuz I swear they're catching & me muvva drops them ALL the time :doh:)--but I know I'm doing OK.
Need to find a translator to tell me what my research on PAYG dongles actually means, & then I just might be able to come visiting more often It's sssooooo flippin' confooozin' that I don't know if I'm reading Welsh or double Dutch

ps..To those foxy Loxies with romantic rendezvous this evening, I hope you have a lovely time

bexs.ua

Nargleblast wrote: »

Spendy few days ahead - oh gawd, I spy that soggy paintbrush lurking, waiting to get me.......

I think your relatively safe Nargleblast it'll get me before you so it won't be quite as wet just mildly damp :rotfl: :rotfl:

HOWEVER...

I am here to report NSD #4 for me today :T :j

Infact I got a refund of £5 so do I get a bonus??? LOL

butdoineedit?

Hello all :hello:

Just a flying visit to reassure you that you are all doing fab & the soggy paintbrush is currently washed & drying nicely so you are safe for now! :rotfl:

Welcome to the mad house burge23! I'll add you to the front page as soon as i can & catch up with everyone's goings on.
Cats & SF - thanks for the updates you are both stars!!! :A

I'm off to bed now as i'm shattered - started on the bathroom at 6.30 this morning :eek: & have discovered an allergy to cheap grout, so am currently displaying very unattractive hands... as well as odd swollen bits everywhere else i touched or scratched during the day!! :eek:

hannah:-)_2

Managed NSD #6 today Was a real hard one to catch as I was out and about and had to go into shops to pick bits up for family (their cash) but resisted the urge to get anything for me Am feeling very mse :money:

d3mon4ngel

As expected, today was a spend day, but I have managed to get new shoes for work (£12) and also get bits in for lunches next week. The latter should hopefully mean more NSD's in the coming week

I've decided that as I'm walking to the bus stop each day, I'm going to wear my comfier trainers to work and change to the shoes when I get there. Hopefully the shoes will last longer when they aren't having to climb a mountain to get to the bus station every day lol