Avoiding the shops in April - The NSD Challenge

cw18

Spend day for me, as is normal when 1st falls on a weekday (meaning a D/Debit goes out)

So I also big up a bag of spuds, a couple of Whoopsied yoghurts, a container of Whoopsied Jersey milk (rice pudding for me this weekend ), and a pack of danish pastries I'd only just finished decorating and packing (and had only just cooled enough for me to do so)

In other news, I'm hoping to sort out details to meet with #2 on Sunday

bottleofred

Hi folks,

I'm afraid it was a spend day for me due to direct debits and going for lunch. I hope everyone is well.

Red

kerri_gt

MAY1950 wrote: »

Hi

Can I join the challenge, I would like to start with 13 NSD please.

Thanks

Welcome to the challenge May1950 - great to have you on board :j

Cheryl - what time will the rice pudding be ready? my mum used to make it for me as a kid (even though she hates it herself)

cw18

kerri_gt wrote: »

Cheryl - what time will the rice pudding be ready? my mum used to make it for me as a kid (even though she hates it herself)

Not until some time tomorrow evening :rotfl:

Out from early morning (well, 8:45am-ish anyway), and back heaven only knows when (party ends at 1pm, clear up probably until 2pm, could then be at DDs for an hour or so, then a 45-50 minute drive home) - and I won't even start making it until I'm back

I love h/made rice pudding, but only ever tend to do it when I manage to get Whoopsied Jersey milk - 'cos that makes the best rice pudding ever as far as my taste buds are concerned

fillyfop

Hmm, not a good start...spendy one for me but it was a Friday and my team at work went out for lunch so I couldn't really say no to that ... my sandwiches looked far less appealing

Another spendy one tomorrow as I will be meeting up with a friend for lunch and shopping followed by a night out with another group of friends. So will be expensive!!

Hoping Sunday I will catch me my first

IF

Got my 1st NSD today, thanks BDINI :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!

Mandamoo_3

Hi BDINI and all you lovely peeps, can I join please.

I am going to set myself a target of 10 NSD this April. Never done it before so hopefully wont be 2 painful

Mandamoo

solventsoon

cw18 wrote: »

Not until some time tomorrow evening :rotfl:

Out from early morning (well, 8:45am-ish anyway), and back heaven only knows when (party ends at 1pm, clear up probably until 2pm, could then be at DDs for an hour or so, then a 45-50 minute drive home) - and I won't even start making it until I'm back

I love h/made rice pudding, but only ever tend to do it when I manage to get Whoopsied Jersey milk - 'cos that makes the best rice pudding ever as far as my taste buds are concerned

Count me in, Cheryl, I adore home made rice pudding:j:j:j:j

Sounds as though you have a busy day tomorrow, have fun.

Any more news to tell us?;)

Oooh... just spotted the other post... hope Sunday goes well

solventsoon

Mandamoo wrote: »

Hi BDINI and all you lovely peeps, can I join please.

I am going to set myself a target of 10 NSD this April. Never done it before so hopefully wont be 2 painful

Mandamoo

:hello:Hi Mandamoo
Of course you may join in, all are welcome here:A

BDINI will sign you up either over the weekend or Monday, I just didn't want you to think we were ignoring you in the meantime.

We're very friendly so please feel free to join in the chat and ask away if you need to know anything. It won't be painful at all, you'll get lots of support here as well.

Good luck with your first NSD challenge.

spoon xx

Mandamoo_3

Thank you Spoon

I am off for 2 weeks now so think the not spending will be tricky but I have made some plans for me and Dd to have some no spend days out. We are going to the beach to collect shells and will take a picnic
We are also off to the woods for a picnic with the dogs. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Have a lovely weekend

Mmoo x