Making mayhem in May with the NSD challenge

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

I have discovered as a person on a ridiculously low income with even more stupid lack of status that nabbing the BEST life universe and world has to offer is the best and most economic and most cheeky thing. I refuse to buy deal the underclasses are supposed to lap up from shoddy culture to poor education to lousy clothes and food etc.

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

I might join Grocery Challenge for June and limit spends to £40 a week all in except when that is not possible as well as NSD land.

kerri_gt

BigMummaF wrote: »

VvvvvaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrRRRRRRRROOOoooooooooooooommmm

Guess what we've got on the talking box

Well, Friday & yesterday were nsds & it looks likely today will be too. Mind, it helps when your kids have gone off to Th0rpe P4rk for the day with your car & house keys, & you can't shop online cuz you're using a pal's lappy & don't want to do anything more drastic than browse To err on the side of caution tho, I'll declare 20 up to yesterday, just in case I get clobbered for paying The Offspring back for something they bring home, thinking we were desperately in need of it :doh:

Do you remember the tv programme 8utterflies with a young N1ck Lyndhur$t, G€offr€y Pa1mer & Wendy something? I was mesmerised by the split-second choreography every time they wanted to go out in their cars...just as well, as that's what OUR drive is like now & hence Nos 1 & 3 Offspring taking my keys on a lovely day out

Got me thinking tho..shall we have a Holiday Monday outing to an amusement park? The Tardis would get us there in no time (my usual mode of transport is needed unfortunately, for The Ashes no less *puffs up chest in proud acknowledgement of the care lavished on my elderly chomper*), we'd get front row on all the rides & Igor would be able to have the day off as there'll be lots of candy floss & hot dogs. Hubert may even earn something towards the cost of his nappies by giving rides to littlies...so waddy-ya reckon hmm? *goes in search of ancient Kiss Me Quick, Squeeze Me Slow t-shirt & bermuda shorts*

Ohh I used to love Butterflies (bit before my time so re-runs for me) - errr, nothing to do with a slight crush on Nicholas Lyndhurst of course (oh, did I just admit to that in public? double )

I think a trip to an amusement park is an excellent idea - though someone is really going to have to keep an eye on Hubert - I would rather not imagine the outcome of him sneaking onto any of the rides :eek: Actually, my and my friend are planning a trip to Thorpe Park soon, it's only about 30mins from me and i haven't been for a few years so should be good (OH hates things like that so is relieved from duty of coming along and pretending to enjoy himself :rotfl:)

slowlyfading

Number 19 for me today

bottleofred

NSD11 for me today please solvent:beer:

slowlyfading

June's thread is up and running....

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/44026534#Comment_44026534

The_Dragon

Claiming my 12th today - one more to get in two days :rotfl:

Trinny

Hi Spoon

NSD 14 today please

Thanks

Trin

IF

Hello all :hello:

Got my 17th NSD today and delcaring as its a spend day tomorrow :beer:

Got my wet paint brush

solventsoon wrote: »

:j:jIf - for no 16, you’re doing brilliantly, only one more left to grab now, you can do it!! Good to see you back, we’ve missed you, hope you’ve managed to catch up again. Thanks for posting the reminder again:A, I keep forgetting

Thank you Spoony :kisses3: And I've caught up too

Well done on your 23rd NSD :dance:

IF

Here's the link to June’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!