Making mayhem in May with the NSD challenge

pinkfluffybabe

NSD No.9 for me today.

Don't think tomorrow will be but Sunday might.

kerri_gt

Evening all! Whew! just caught up on what feels like about 20 pages of news and updates - think I need another holiday

Did mow the jungle that had replaced our front garden and did a bit of tidying up there this afternoon, then crashed for a few hours - combo of late nights on holiday and not getting back til late last night. Cat is also back from the cattery and enjoying being home (though I think we're in the dog house, so to speak, with her)

Had to go to the local shop to get more milk this evening (4pts of 1% for £1) since the expensive Crav*ndale we picked up from the garage on the way home last night was off - despite having a use by date of 28th May - obviously they hadn't refridgerated it properly :mad:

Jints - hope you're having a lovely holiday. Regarding NSD and holibags, I'm not counting one way or the other for mine - hence my lower than usual NSD target this month. I was blowed if I was going to worry about NSD while being away, plus it was hardly likely to happen so I've just counted that week as a 'non-week' and had a jolly old time in the sun

Cheryl - Zumba sounds great, I think there is a class in one of the local churches I'd quite like to try (I know the gym does them but I'm not paying a monthly membership there)

Muffinman - sounds like you've had a rotten time, and so has your poor DS, hope things take a turn for you soon x

Big hugs to everyone who has been ill or had sad news xx :grouphug:

we had a bit of sad news upon return, found out someone OH was friendly with passed away while we were away. Overall (due to circumstances) it's not a total shock but not nice for OH. Unfortunately, we often seem to come back to this kind of news after a holiday... goodness knows why

Right, chin up though, weather has been lovely here today (we bought the sun back from Spain with us ) and still two more days til I'm back at work :j Plus lots of TV to catch up on over the weekend.

Oh, can anyone fill me in on the petrol prices in the past week? I thought I got the impression they had gone down a little but one station I passed on the way home last night had gone up to 139.9p! :eek:

bottleofred

Hi folks,

Spend days yesterday and today for me.

IF

Good evening all :hello:

solventsoon 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!

slowlyfading

It’s quiet on the thread today – where is everyone?!

muffin man 7 – well done on number 11 :j :j :j
meersy22 – well done on number 6 :j :j :j
mandz1 – well done on number 4 :j :j :j
BlimusOreilly – well done on number 3 :j :j :j
if – well done on number 8 :j :j :j
kathy40uk – well done on number 8 :j :j :j
miss_t – well done on number 10 :j :j :j and upping your target to 15
beanielou – well done on number 10 :j :j :j
dmb – well done on number 6 :j :j :j
pinkfluffybabe – well done on number 9 :j :j :j

Welcome to jojitsui – putting you down for 10 NSDs!

I got number 8 today, so plodding along

suzie_wong

No more NSDs to report, I'm afraid. Spendies yesterday and today but got loads for my money today and stuck to my list :A

Am really excited about the weekend- I have the London Moonwalk tomorrow night :j followed by a big event for my choir at Wembley on sunday :j. When I will get some sleep is a mystery :rotfl:
I hope the excitement and adrenalin will get be through when I'm feeling weary!!

Hope everyone has a fab weekend

solventsoon

Hello lovely gang:A

Thanks for the update, sf:A and well done for getting to no 8 :j:j:j- that's not plodding at all

Quick catch up:

mm7 - hope your son's tooth is calming down a bit

jinty - glad we're not losing you for your hols, hope you have a lovely time

Keiss - hope you had a great day but:eek: to the bad night:(
kathy - good to see you back, you have been busy:eek:. Glad the talk last weekend went well and that Lara has settled down, she sounds like a bit of a character:D. Love the dancing bear:D

kerri - yes, we did miss you. Welcome back and glad you had a lovely time away.

marmiterulesok - good luck with the lottery ticket

jojitsui - hi :hello: and welcome. Yes, of course you can join, you're very welcome. All signed up now and good luck with getting to your target

miss_t - well done for reaching your target, that's brilliant:j:j:j. Your prize has been awarded and your target increased to 15 - good luck with getting that.

hannah:-) - well done for sticking to your list but :eek: to the windscreen, hope it's fixable


A big GOOD LUCK to anyone doing the Moonwalk tomorrow


Front page updated now, see you all tomorrow.

'night everyone
spoon xx

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

NSD 5 today !!!! Laptop, housework sorting some clothings, Texting Very important Friend but no nearer to much needed telephone convo with him. *all sorts of things about him making me very sad indeed but no definite answers as such aggh*, Dresses washed so hang out on line hopefully. Bum aching from Yesterdays shop.
2 small books read upping Goodreads Totals. I did a new thing. I made a Lentil quiche today after reading her veggie recipes in her Bean Book. All I did is soup it up to Gourmet proportions ie proper custard etc. Green beans for green veggie bit. I used a ready made Shortcrust, should have brought an All Butter from Waitrose or slapped knuckles *make it myself in true MSE style* (bar Puff Pastry all butter of course better brought). Quiche is a deep fill job full of goodness,maybe next time use Red Lentils to keep colour (eqaully delicious). Hope all is well.xx

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

Spendy day so far on a couple of Apps, so not gonna aim for First Ever Three in a Row..confession time.

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

5 NSD's so far..accounting post.