Avoiding the shops in April - The NSD Challenge

kathy40uk

jintyb wrote: »

Still reeling from the news that I have to get four teeth out - see May thread for further info!

:eek:ouch Jinty :eek: Hope it all goes okay

:grouphug:

kathy40uk

[QUOTE=cuddlymarm;43247074

It looks like it is going to be a lovely day here. I hope everyone has sunshine today cos it just makes life seem that little bit easier.
[/QUOTE]


Doesn't it just cuddles

IF

Afternoon all :hello:

BDINI got my 17th NSD today!! Think that's all the NSD's for me this month.

Thanks for doing the last two months BDINI, much appreciated your a Star :kisses3:

Thanks to SlowlyFading and Catslovelycats for your round ups too xx :A:A


Link to May's NSD thread - Click here


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![/QUOTE]

AlyBaly

A spend day for me today but still happy that I have reached my target. Think thats all the NSDs for me this month but looking forward to seeing you all in the May challenge x

cococoladebt

Feeling distraught. I have two weddings coming over and buying two suits will cost about £500 - which would be suicide. Where could I rent suits easily and cheaply?

hannah:-)_2

Yesterday was a spendy day as I went out for a huge meal using tesco vouchers (still have to pay for drinks but still a huge bargain!) and then shopping for a few bits to take on holiday at the end of May. Didn't go too mad and am now feeling about having plenty to wear in the sun.

And today has been a NSD! Hurrah. Ok, so I'm miles off target, but at least I did manage my mini target I set myself 6 days ago (when I realised I was going to hideously miss the overall target) of having at least 3 of those 6 remaining days as NSDs :j (if you see what I mean )
So, I'm finishing the month at 6 NSDs. Please go easy with the soggy paintbrush and I promise to do better next month

kerri_gt

cococoladebt wrote: »

Feeling distraught. I have two weddings coming over and buying two suits will cost about £500 - which would be suicide. Where could I rent suits easily and cheaply?

Yikes! Where are you based? and first question, do you really need two different suits? Lots of places do suit rental at reasonable prices depending on how long you need it for. If you give us a few more details I'm sure we can help. Also posting on the Special Occasions thread might be a help?

OH needed a tux for a wedding reception just over a year ago, it was NYE so was a bit more expensive but I'm sure everything all in was c.£100.

Kath - sounds like you've made the right decision re the work thing - and your day sounds divine. Bet Lara is loving this weather is she's anything like Skip - who seems to have moved out into the garden and comes in only to grace us with her presence for food.

I can't wait for Doctor Who - will need to watch it on iPlayer I think as OH will prob be watching the football, but part of the reason for me not wanting to go out tonight is to see it

Well, I've rounded April off with a spendy afternoon. FINALLY bought our suncream for hols - my and OH have v.diff skin (me - tan easily, him - pasty Scot :rotfl:) and OMG all the offers and diff types are just baffling - plus it is SO expensive in the UK. Superdrug have a good offer on their own range atm - buy one get 2 free :T So I have a SPF 25, SPF 15 and a face one (SPF 50 which is higher than I was really looking for but then I thought, well I really should look after my face skin as I ain't getting any younger ), also got some insect repellant foam, apparently works for 9hrs and is suitable for sensitive skin. Last time we went on hols the backs of my legs got REALLY REALLY itchy at night - to the point where I'd wake up clawing them. I am inclined to think it was the insect replellant for lack of anything else it might be, plus the stuff was pretty useless as I STILL got bitten - even though this one had DEET in as well!:eek: So I'm gonna give this new one a whirl, and if I itch again, I guess it's the DEET that affect me. Anyway, I had a 25% off voucher from buying some hair stuff yesterday and giving a feedback survey so..... total bill £12.50...total saving £18+ :j:j

Also had lots of other odds and s*ds to buy, wrapping paper for my nieces present, bananas and natural yoghurt (can you tell I'm on a health kick?!), 3 little container tubs from the £1 store for freezing smaller portions of sauces - oh and I treated myself to some Haiwan Tropic self tan (so I dont' go away looking quite like a milk bottle) See...told you it was an eclectic shop :rotfl::rotfl:

Also bought another bikini from Peac*cks as I'm still not sure about the one I bought yesterday - will try them both on and see which one OH looks less horrified at :rotfl::rotfl:

Catslovelycats

HI all

Off out now. I'll do weekend update tomorrow.

bottleofred

Hi folks,

Checking in to report NSD14:beer:
I hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine:D

chris81418

Hello everyone! :wave:

Checking in to delare a final tally of 24 NSDs for April - meaning I've exceed my 2nd target! Woo hoo! :j

Well done everyone with all the NSDs we've managed to collectively catch! :T:money: More money kept in our pockets can only be a good thing!

See you all on the May thread - I see that it's already 4 pages long so I've got lots of catching up to do already!

In the mean time I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful long bank holiday weather! :wave: