Making mayhem in May with the NSD challenge

BigMummaF

Today is the 17th right? so last Tuesday was 10th..if memory serves (which is highly unlikely :whistle:) I've had another two nsds since then to make my total 10.
I knew Sunday was going to be a spendy but we decided to take a picnic & visit a steam railway, instead of the plans we had originally to eat out. And because of such an early start to get organised, I got the money out of the bank Saturday when I went for rolls & things so in theory kept one day of the weekend an nsd...makes sense in my world anyways

Hello Newbs & Welcome. ((HUGS)) & HOORAHS where appropriate fellow Nsderes, & as soon as I am able, we must have a proper catch-up sesh..with dentist pending & opticians tomorrow I can't commit to funding a new poota for the foreseeable, but I do miss y'awl with a vengance

BigMummaF

For those--like me--who are struggling a bit this month, perhaps a little reminder of why we're here

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!

jaffacakegal

Hi all,

Finally nabbed an NSD yesterday :dance: that gets me to 6 NSDs

Eating stuff up in my fridge and freezer - MUST RESIST THE SHOPS!

Put £10 of petrol in my car Sunday and the light is already back on I haven't been far its just so frustratingly expensive to run a car nowadays!

Hope everyone is ok. I've got a banging headache and need to revise for an exam tonight. Will treat myself to a swim after to celebrate (hopefully!)

JCG x

IF

Afternoon NSD'ers :hello:

Spoony got my 11th NSD today :dance:

chris81418

Hello everyone! :wave:

I've been AWOL for over a week due to being very busy, so haven't had time to post ... but on the plus side, I've been too busy to spend, so I can happily report that on Sunday I collected my 13th NSD of the the month and also hit 8 NSDs in-a-row!! Woo hoo!!!

What with amassing so many NSDs, yesterday was a big spend day - the cupboards and fridge were very bare, plus I took the opportunity to also sort out the motorbike with it's MOT and road tax, so at least that's done and dusted for another year.

katholicos wrote: »

I think i'm up to 9 NSD's . The best news i have though is that I am now debt free, just about! Living on the breadline like many, and will never have savings as just keeping head above water financially is taking everything I have incoming...but it's such a weight off my shoulders to be free of debt after all these years!

A huge well done to you katholicos!!! :T I find it so inspiring ... I can't wait for my debt free day, it gives me real motivation every time one of our regulars reaches their debt free day!

Hope everyone else is well ... I have 25 pages of posts to catch up on since my last post! :eek:

Have a good rest of the day everyone, and good luck catching more NSDs!

angelflower_2

not recorded in a couple of days but day 6 for me on Sunday and day 7 today (I am spending about £3 today but I gave it to my dd last night and she is actually doing the transaction so its all good )

angelflower_2

wow, just realised I am half way and I might just make it this month

The_Dragon

Another 2 for me taking me up to 8 please

suzie_wong

My first chance to log in for ages, due to a VERY busy weekend, but did manage to clock up another NSD today (not before time! )

My current total is 6 NSDs..... I really need to get a move on!

Rock_Cakes

Hi all :wave:

Woke up not feeling great this morning, as I called in sick. Spent the morning going through my paper pile under the duvet on the sofa. I have to say that I do feel a better for my day off. So the day in the flat has managed me to get to double figures, NSD#10 :j

Hope everyone has had a great day?
xx