Avoiding the shops in April - The NSD Challenge

chris81418

Good morning everyone! :wave:

Checking in to report 2 more NSDs collected over the weekend, so I'm now up to 14 NSDs! Woo hoo! Today will be a spend day though, as a food shop is overdue ... curses the need to eat! :rotfl:

Congrats to Kerri on becoming an Aunty! :beer:

Have a good day everyone, and enjoy the sunshine!

twistedhazel

Congrats on becoming an Auntie Kerri - enjoy the feeling - and feel free to mock the rabbit in headlights expression on your brother's face - it's half the fun

jintyb

kerri_gt wrote: »

*rushes in* just a really really quick stop - no NSD for me today but it's a well worthwhile spend as I have just been buying some baby gifts as I became proud (very proud) Aunty to a baby girl at 10.30pm last night! :j:j:j

Have nieces and nephews on my OH side but this is my Bro's first little 'un. Mum and baby all good and daddy chuffed to bits to (though prob still looking like a rabbit in the headlights knowing him :rotfl:)

So, being v.unorganised Aunty - I just ordered the things that I have been meaning to order for weeks

:beer:

Lovely news Kerri - congrats to you! Not having any kids of my own, I loved when my nieces were born - ( 19 and 21 years ago!) and absolutely adore them both!:D

karmachilovething

kerri_gt wrote: »

Been busy at home today - mowed the lawn and did some hedge trimming in the front garden. Also pumped up my bicycle tyres in the vague idea I might start using it to get to work some days a week. Am slightly worried as the back tyre seems to be a bit craked :think:

Hi Kerri! Congratulation on Aunty-ship! On the cycling to work thing, it does make a massive difference to one's petrol consumption. I have a little competition with myself as to how many NCD (that's no CAR days) I can get in a week. If I make 5-6 (including the weekend) I can actually make a tank of petrol last about 6 weeks. It becomes a massive incentive when you look at it like that, and helps me when you look out the window in the mornings and think "Hmmm, looks drizzly . . ."

What I would say though is get your self (Beg, borrow, steal . . .) a pair of waterproof trousers (OK hopefully won't need them this summer!) becaus then there's no excuses!

No more NSD for me this weekend, but then it was my housemate's 30th party/celebrations so was always going to be expensive. Hoping to counteract it with a high NSD this week.

marmiterulesok

I've managed 2 more NSDs-today and yesterday.

Nearly there:14th NSD/15.:)

If only every month were like this....

BigMummaF

Isn't it quiet in here today? Hopefully means folk are out enjoying the weather...

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!

fedupandskint

Checking in with a NSD today - leaving purse at home today worked well and I'll be doing it again tomoz!

Number 8

butdoineedit?

BigMummaF wrote: »

Aww..thanks for missing me..I didn't mean to worry you Unfortunately the one person whose been able to do the blood tests from me at our surgery has left. I saw another nurse yesterday morning who had two attempts & ended up having to go to the Path lab at the general hospital Now, this doesn't really anger me--I'm used to it!--but this was a fasting blood test, my gp appt was for 9am & I eventually parted with the red stuff at 12:55! Strangely, I was more miffed at missing me morning cuppa than sorting the rumbly tum & would have drained a 6 gallon urn had one been available :rotfl:Tis weird what things you miss the most isn't it

We couldn't not miss your fantastic banter BMF!!
Sounds like you had a bit of a nightmare getting your blood taken, & i totally agree about your cuppa, i can rush out the house with no brekkie if i'm running late, but i can't give up my morning cuppa!!

butdoineedit?

solventsoon wrote: »

Hello lovely peeps and thanks for missing me:A:A. Sorry, I didn't mean to worry you, tbh I hadn't realised it was so long since I've been on here:o:o, I've had a busy week at work. Had loads of catching up to do, I've missed so much gossip and news:D
Glad all is ok, please try not to work too hard!! & well done for all your NSD's!!

Just to let you know that If is on her hols this week so she won't be around, but she will appreciate that you've missed her.
Thanks for letting us know Spoon, i'm glad to know she is OK

BDINI, well done for your 7 NSDs and I agree with Rock_Cakes, well done for all the hard work you're putting into the challenge this month, you're a star:A:A:A. Hope you have a lovely weekend.:j:j:j

Aww thanks Spoon!!

butdoineedit?

jintyb wrote: »

Was at the vet yesterday with puss. The results of the numerous tests showed that he has Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease which explains all the irregular weeing. He has a very inflammed bladder (ouch) so he got a slow release steroid injection which covers the next four weeks. He seems a lot calmer this morning and no little "surprises" for me either! I'm relieved we've finally, after lots of investigation, got to the root of the problem. The vet said that he will always have this problem but hopefully it can be managed. Thank goodness for pet insurance!:T

Aww poor puss Jinty, but glad you now know what is wrong & can get it sorted, sounds like he is on the mend already which is fab news, i hope you feel happier about it now too?