Marching on in March - The NSD Challenge

LittleMissHappy_2

I love Fridays

Today should be an NSD, but will be having lots of fun as seeing my Mum this morning, then my sister, nieces and a friend and her baby daughter this afternoon Don't you just love fun, free days? :j

(and I have a bottle of wine chilling in the fridge for later!)

pinkfluffybabe

NSD No.12 for yesterday.

Hopefully another today but don't want to call to early just in case

lauzellen

Goooooood Morning

I'm sporting a slight hangover today after the bottle of wine I consumed yesterday on my date with Mr S - the date went very well (again) and shall definately be seeing him again soon :j Not a sign of !!!!!! in sight woop.

Also declaring today as a NSD bringing me up to #13 - As its a lovely day i'm taking DD and my mates DD to the park - I shall of course be sporting my sunnys to protect my slightly hungover eyes :cool:

Karb

A NSD yesterday, making 6 for the month so far.

IF

Good morning , hope your all doing the Friday ~ Wiggle ~






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!

runnerbean17

#6 for me think I better lock myself in the house if I want to reach my target:rotfl:

Haven't been on here as much lately and I can really see the difference. Reading about other people doing so well really motivates me and makes me want to do well too ..

MessyMare

Logging NSDs 8 and 9! Payday is creeping every closer and we did have a naughty pizza takeaway on Wednesday- £20! Wont be doing that too often Weirdly, it hasn't come out of my account yet, so hoping the OH remembers to transfer the money for his half to my account. Just had to take a pause in typing to watch the end of dirty dancing- still gives me a shiver!

jaffacakegal

Well still no pay, another reminder will be txted on Monday...

I hate being pushy, but if needs must!

Anyway, NSD 9 yesterday :j

Can't say the same about today, I had already decided that I would buy food from a well known fast food chain for my dinner (I only buy 1 work meal a month so was my treat to myself!) so had wrote off today as a spendy. Then ended up having the food bought for me (yeay!). But managed to buy clothes whilst going to pick it up so ruined another potential NSD. Whoops!

This is why I don't go looking round clothes shops much any more, no control!!

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend - the sun is shining here, hope it continues

JCG x

DansMum_2

Happy Friday everyone :beer:

I have a rare weekend off, first one this year :eek:

However declaring Thursday as a NSD taking me to 7

Am yet to spend today and dont wish to spoil it so waont declare yet and shouldnt spend tomorrow either... Shhhhh

ElmerFudd

Unfortunately it will be an LSD for me today as I have to buy milk again. Ho hum.