Avoiding the shops in April - The NSD Challenge

elfen

I didn't go to Lush, I got my nails done instead

gothrockchic1

Last day and glad to report my last NSD of the month that makes me 6/10 but I will make it next month!

Nargleblast

My final total is still 12, 2 over target, so I am very pleased.

Well done everybody and race you to the May thread - last one there is a wet nelly!

twistedhazel

Yay - I did it - no. 20 caught and bagged. Hurrah - very proud of myself, it's been a tough month and I was struggling so to hit my target is amazing. Bring on May and the the next 20 that's what I say.

Well done everyone who hit their target and those that didn't, don't worry head on over to the May thread and start over.

Take it easy guys
TH

pinkfluffybabe

Managed to just sneak over target with a NSD No21 today :j

cw18

As predicted, a spend day today...

Managed to get away without paying for parking, as it's not pay & display and the manned 'charge on entry' booth doesn't start until 10am (I arrived about 8:15am ) Would only have been £1.50 if I'd had to pay, and as that's for as long as you want to stay (so no guesstimating how long you'll be there) I'd have happily coughed up had it been open on arrival.

But I coughed up £13 for running 12.79 miles of the challenge (total run is 31 miles/day, and is being completed on 66 consecutive days by one runner!) and bought myself a T-shirt for £5. I was then very naughty and jumped back in for the last 1.91 miles of the run (which I didn't pay for ) less than 3 hours after completing my lengthy section.......

Off to the next venue tomorrow, which is actually closer to home (the route planner I use told me 12.9 miles each way for today, though it was a tad more after getting lost and needing the far side of the park, but is telling me just 6.4 miles each way tomorow) - so despite it being a weekend (meaning no D/Debits out of the bank) I'm still going to start May with a spend day

beanielou

No 21 yesterday & a spendy today.

cococoladebt

kerri_gt wrote: »

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.

I'm in London. Easy access to the city.

I have one suit, but I have only ever worn this to work. The wedding is my bosses daughters, so my work colleagues will be there and it being a Pakistani affair I am invited to two events. So I don't need a tux just a suit would do.

Two different suits for two days. I was planning to buy two new suits from TM Lewin and then wear these suits to work. But I think that'll be stretching the financial purse. So rental sounds a better idea. Thanks I will post there shortly.

bellkat

Well my final total for April is 13 , 3 over target. Really pleased with that.

Well done everyone, off to the May thread now

Kath

IF

Evening all :hello:


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!