Avoiding the shops in April - The NSD Challenge

slowlyfading

Please put me down for 18 NSDs for April please?

kerri_gt

jintyb wrote: »

Thanks BMF, but IF is def the QUEEN of the Pics! I'm just an enthusiastic learner. I've just spent the last hour practicing some of what I learned on the ExCel course last week. Slow but sure......I even managed a pie chart!
Anyhoo, my weekend sounds about as exciting as your's - off to hang out my washing then for a walk with doglet. The thing is I'm perfectly happy.......heh heh!;)

I love it when the weather just turns warm/dry enough to put the washing out - mine is merrily swinging in the breeze finishing off. Might go and pop in another load to make the most of the nice weather....think it's forecast rain tomorrow booo!!!! x

caledonian_princess

Hiya, a newbie here so would you put me down for 8 NSDs while I work out if it's actually possible for me to do it?

BigMummaF

ifwisheswerehorses... wrote: »

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!

It's not so much that I've got washing to do, it's the tracking down of stray items that makes a two-load wash day suddenly increase to a six-load wash day that annoys me :wall: Four loads were done yesterday in readiness, then waiting for various uniforms & things gave me another two today

Meant to say earlier too; fingers X for a good first meeting tomorrow Cheryl. Hope it goes well & you gain a new friend, if nothing else.

And WELCOME Caledonian Princess. Pull up a poota & make yourself comfy x

dmb_2

Can I sign up for 12 again this months. Thanks

DansMum_2

Hi all :j

Well I didnt make March, my own fault, one under :mad:

So with renewed vigour and discipline, I would like to sign for 15 this month please.... Many thanks for lovely prizes

Starting as I mean to go on 2 so far

Have alovely weekend xx

chris81418

Hello everyone! :wave:

butdoineedit? wrote: »

As i can't open more than 1 web page at a time, can i ask a huge favour.... if you have posted your April target on the March thread, please post again on here & i will update forthwith!!

As requested BDINI:

chris81418 wrote: »

BDINI I'd like to stick to my lucky NSD number and pledge my usual 19 NSDs for April please

Can I also add to that, that I'd also like to pledge my usual 6 NSDs in-a-row. Thank you!

Whilst I'm here, I got off the mark yesterday, so I'm up to 1 NSD! Woo hoo! :j

Well done everyone with all the NSDs already collected, and a big hello and welcome to the newbies!

Good luck for April everyone!

bellkat

I'm on course for my 1st NSD today I think, will update later, although I can't see any spending being done tonight. Going to sort some things out for eBay, as it's free listing this weekend.

Kathx

debtfreewannabe321

Hi can I join in please i will aim for 7 NSD this month as it's the Easter hols and Hubby has annual leave so i expect they will want to go out nearly every day! thank you xx

kerri_gt

well as predicted a spendy day already today - bread. milk, salad and a few other bits to top us up for the week, total from Mr T plus 99p shop = about £13

plus went to get some flowers for mothers day tomorrow. Was going to go to the lady in the precient as I mentioned yesterday, but 'mysteriously' all her £12 water boxes had shot up to £20 :eek::mad: very nice but what a flamin rip off. Some nice ones in Mr T which I nearly bought, then popped to the market quickly to see if they had anything, and managed to pick up a £20 boquet in water for £15 as it was nearing the end of the day. Very pretty and feeling quite chuffed at the discount (even if they still weren't cheap). Got stopped several times on the way back to the car by people saying how nice they were and could they have a quick look/sniff

Also perusing the idea of tickets to see the Shaolin Warriors which are coming to a town near to us next month - look really good but it's the monday straight after we're back from hols...I am SERIOUSLY tempted though, it just depends if OH thinks he can get home in time. Tickets aren't cheap (£23 each) but does look AMAZING. :think: