Avoiding the shops in April - The NSD Challenge

BigMummaF

donna_dynamo wrote: »

....Quite worried about how we are going to afford X....Everyone thinks i am strange for planning s far in advance but it makes me feel better to know everything is sorted out.:(

Hi Donna; I think you're being wise to think ahead--surely those kinds of expenses are no different than planning for crimbo or going away on holiday. When others are pulling out their hair with worry over paying the bills, you'll be able to sit in the garden sipping on a chilled juice with a contented smile on your face Then who will be looking silly hmm?

No 5 arrived on my doorstep yesterday so, being a good hostess, I invited him to stay

fenna

Just dropping into to report another NSD yesterday, that brings me to 5 NSD now, which I'm really happy with. today is going to be a spend day due to petrol etc, hopefully get a few more this week./ good luck all

Keiss_21

Hya all, hope you are having a good weekend, and enjoying the lovely weather...if you have some that is!!

Managed to get four loaves baked yesterday, as well as a fair bit of weeding and replanting. Hope to get more done today, so....declaring todays as NSD no 6:j Thought it was going to be no 5 until I checked...so better than I thought!!

bottleofred

NSD 3 for me today please:beer:

suzie_wong

Hi everyone,

Another lovely day!! I have done so much washing over the weekend- love to get it out on the line- shame about all the ironing I now have

I am claiming NSD#3 today- not before time!! I know it's a bit early in the day, but I only have to go out once later, to take my son to his (very early) St Georges day parade for cubs. No need to pay for anything there

I am hoping for a cluster of NSDs this week, to make up for my slow start this month!!

bellkat

NSD 4 for me today, thanks

Kathx

Nargleblast

Good afternoon everyone, reporting in with an early NSD as no plans to spend anything today. That makes me

3 NSDs so far!!!!

Donnadynamo - don't know why anyone would think you strange for planning ahead - it's only 3 months or so till end of summer term and the school holidays will be here with a vengeance. Good on you for thinking ahead, and let others dilly dally around until the hols creep up and bite them on the btm!

Now off to update my signature with the new NSD total.

Nargleblast

Aaahhhh! That's better! My signature read 2 out of 10 when I made the previous post so now it's accurate. Might have a chance of avoiding the soggy paintbrush this month?

elfen

Managed to scrounge around and find enough points/vouchers to get some antihistamines and some food...Quite proud

IF

Afternoon all :hello: Phew!! Its beautiful here and hope everyone's having a nice Sunday

BDINI got my 6th NSD today, thank you x :A

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!