A fantastic February with the NSD challenge

solventsoon

:jWELCOME TO THE FEBRUARY NSD CHALLENGE:j



February: the month when winter usually takes its toll on us all, Christmas is but a distant memory and spring seems a long way off. Come and join us and you’ll find that February passes in a blur (usually caused by Igor’s home brew:D)


We are a happy (and some might say mildly insane) bunch doing battle with those retailers - and there’s plenty of temptation at the moment with all the sales on. We are seriously committed to saving money, but nobody said it can't be done with a smile on your face - so we organise riotous nights out and gatecrash any function going - all without leaving the comfort of our own imaginations or armchairs!

On a slightly more serious note, we are here to help each other avoid spending for the number of days we feel we can manage to try to take back some control over our hard-earned money. What you class as a "spend'" is entirely your choice; some people will try to shop on the days DD/SO etc are paid, whilst others will not include essentials such as rent. Have a look for a post from our sponsor (and godmother of this challenge) BigMummaF, this contains some guidelines and ideas for starting you off on the challenge.

It’s amazing how inventive you get when you’re determined NOT to spend - from weird menu ingredients to surprising DIY solutions - but you know what? 99% of the time those wacky ideas work.


There are lots of things for us to celebrate this month, some ideas are below:

8th - a strange thing occurred in Devon - that could be an excuse for another outing
11th - Sir Francis Drake became the first known Englishman to sail the Pacific in 178 - I’m sure we could get there much quicker in the Tardis
14th - St Valentines Day.... ahhhhh


The link to our January thread is below so you can see what a friendly group we are. New recruits are joining up all the time - everyone is welcome so please don’t be shy, come and join us, the more the merrier.


Good luck everyone, our lucky mascot is joining us again for February



Here are some threads to help keep us on the straight and narrow, if you know of others, please post. Many of the lunch box ideas are aimed toward children and are great ideas now that everyone’s back to work or school.

March Grocery Challenge, with lots of recipe ideas.
Tinned Food Recipes.
Leftovers? Don’t Throw It..
Exciting Sandwich Fillings on a Budget.
Lunch for Work.
Laptop Lunchbox Ideas.
Packed Lunches.
Cheap Healthy Snacks
Cheap Snack Ideas to Stop Buying Crisps.
Homemade Snack Ideas…contains further links for ideas.
Sprouting Seeds to Eat.
Really Quick & Alternative Snacks.
Easy Homemade Biscuits.
Muesli & Cereal Bar Recipes.
Weetabix Cake.
HM Popcorn.
Smoothie Recipes.
Yoghurt Without a Yoghurt Maker.
Ham Economics.
Low Carb Kids Lunches...contains advice for diabetics.
Kids Lunch Box Ideas.
Back to School Lunches.
Healthy Kids Snacks.
HM Lollies.
Ice Lolly Ideas
Cheap Healthy Playground Snacks.
Homemade Fudge.
OS HM Sweets.
Forgotten Puddings.
Making chocolates or sweets

Link to last month's challenge is below so any newcomers can see what we get up to (hmmmmm... on second thoughts, that might put you off:D...)

solventsoon

Hope you like the prizes this month. The reason for these is that the Saxons called February "Sol-monath" - Cake Month - seemed logical to me

target met = target no 2 met =
target no 3 met = target no 4 met =
target exceeded =



Thanks to all the regulars and newbies who have joined up already


166million 2
2catsandme - 18

abundant1972 - 15 15
Allie Ballie Bee - 12 11
arrowlili - 17 17 target increased - 20

Barbeduk - 6 6 target increased - 9 8
beanielou - 14 14 target increased - 17 17 target exceeded - 20
beemuzed - 12
beth2242 - 15
blindtoast - 12 10
bottleofred - 15 15 target increased - 18 18 target exceeded - 20
Broomstick - 19 19 target increased - 23 23
brummiebabe - 15 1
bubble32 - 5 5 target increased - 12 12 target exceeded - 13
butdoineedit? - 15 15
Butti - 8 7
Byatt - 15

catslovelycats - 10 2
chris81418 - 19 19 target increased - 23 23
cleggie - 10 3
cuddlymarm - 14
cw18 - 12 12 target increased - 17 17 target exceeded - 18

debtfree future - 10 8
deeleybopper - 6 6
Delilahh - 11 10
donna dynamo - 15 15 target increased - 18 17
dumpy - 15

elfen - 12 12 target increased - 14 14 target exceeded - 15
elly2 - 15 4

fedupandskint - 20 12
flying_fresian - 15 15 target exceeded - 16
freebyfifty - 14 14 target increased - 18 18
freshair - 15 15 target exceeded - 16
Frodobaggins - 12 12 target increased - 16 15

gailey - 6
GlasweJen - 6
got-it-spend-it - 10
greenanne - 15 10

Hiddenidenity - 15 5

ifwisheswerehorses... - 15 14
Igamogam - 10 10 target exceeded - 14
ILoveSaving - 10 10
immie - 15
iwanttogoonholiday - 15 15

jaffacakegal - 16 14
jencolescott - 10 3
JES_F1 - 15
jintyb - 10 10
JustDave - 10 8

katy721 - 18 13
Keiss 21 - 18 18
kerri gt - 14 14
kersplatt - 15
Kittikins - 15 15
Knitting Nora - 10 10 target increased - 15 15 target exceeded - 17

lashley82 - 19 12
Learning2Budget - 10 9
LittleMissHappy - 15 15 target exceeded - 18
LondonGirl252 -14 7
lotti379 - 5 2

mandz1 - 6 4
marmiterulesok - 17 17
mavvysmum - 15
mf0u1098 - 16
mfmaybe - 12
miss_t - 10 10 target increased - 15
ModestyB - 15 15
ms_night_ryder - 10
muffin man 7 - 10 4
mumofjusttwo - 15
mumsiemum - 20 15
Mumtothree3 - 10
mytimetoshine2012 - 14 14

Nargleblast - 12 11
new leaf 88 - 10 6
niccatw - 8 1
Nikadi - 10 3
niksyg - 15 6

oldtractor - 16 16

phoebesmum2105 - 15 10
pinkfluffybabe - 15 13
Pinkpenguin - 16 5
pinkpinkuk - 6 2
pixiechick99 - 12
poohbear59 - 24 20
Poppy_Golightly - 15 4
Purplemumof2 - 10 5
purpleorchid - 12 12 target exceeded - 19

QueenB. - 16 13

rdchick - 10
Redouble - 10 3
Richy23 - 12
rising from the ashes - 15 15


savingforoz - 25
Sazdaz - 10 3
shazzer73 - 3 1
shezam - 8
SillyBlondie - 13 13
silvasava - 12 12 target exceeded - 13
sirish1979 - 15 13
slowlyfading - 15 13
solventsoon - 20 20target increased - 23 23 target exceeded - 24
Spendaholic Chick - 10 9
SteffieLou - 15
SuziQ1962 - 14 3

The Dragon - 10 10target increased - 15 15
thrifty fifty - 10 4
TwelveStopsThenHome - 15 3

Vicky496 - 10

wannabee_in_credit - 12 12
WelshDreamer - 17 13

yasmin2 - 12 9
zafiro1984 - 14 9

solventsoon

This is for anyone who wants to set themselves a target for a number of NSDs in a row. We had some impressive numbers on this over the past few months so if anyone would like to have a go at this, I'll add you here


arrowlili - 6 in a row - made it - woohoo
and again... woohoo
blindtoast - 6 in a row
chris81418 - 6 in a row - made it - woohoo
and now... 11 in a row - woohoo
poohbear59 - 6 in a row - made it - woohoo


abundant1972 - 5 in a row - made it - woohoo
flying_fresian - 5 in a row - made it - woohoo
greenanne - 5 in a row
katy721 - 5 in a row
ModestyB - 5 in a row - made it - woohoo
muffin man 7 - 5 in a row
oldtractor - 5 in a row
purpleorchid - 5 in a row - made it - woohoo
Redouble - 5 in a row
The Dragon - 5 in a row - made it - woohoo


Frodobaggins - 4 in a row - made it - woohoo
Keiss 21 - 4 in a row
marmiterulesok - 4 in a row - made it - woohoo
and again ...woohoo
mumofjusttwo - 4 in a row
phoebesmum2105 - 4 in a row
Richy23 - 4 in a row
wannabee_in_credit - 4 in a row - made it - woohoo
WelshDreamer - 4 in a row


Allie Ballie Bee - 3 in a row - made it - woohoo
beemuzed - 3 in a row
freshair - 3 in a row - made it - woohoo
got-it-spend-it - 3 in a row
Igamogam - 3 in a row
ILoveSaving - 3 in a row - made it - woohoo
JustDave - 3 in a row - made it - woohoo
katy721 - 3 in a row - made it - woohoo
mfmaybe - 3 in a row
miss_t - 3 in a row - made it - woohoo
increased to 4 in a row - made it - woohoo
QueenB. - 3 in a row
yasmin2 - 3 in a row

solventsoon

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!

Knitting_Nora

Hellooooooooo *notes how quiet it is around here*

Is anybody theeeeeerrrrrreeeeee? *notes cool echo*

*settles in to have some fun*

Ooooooovaaaaaaavoooooooo......woooooossaaaaaaaaaa......

*Ahem* sorry - got carried away.

Thanks for setting up the new thread Spoon, and for taking car of us in January - you are ever the wonder, and a truly bright and shining star!

Can you sign me up for 10 NSDs please - it's going to be an expensive month!

Nora.x

freebyfifty

*skips in*

Is that Missus Knitty here yet? How many is she going for??????
Ohhhhhh 10??????

I'm hoping for 14 this month, it's going to be a expensive month for me too with birthdays and a trip to Disneyland, but if I can not spend for half of it, I'll be happy.


*goes off to don lycra, ready to race Missus Knitty*

rising_from_the_ashes

Ohhhhh lovely new thread - thanks as ever to Spoon, BDINI and LMH for keeping us in line;) and the wonderful updates (I do love reading them and how everyone's getting on) and to If for the fantastic pics - they make me chuckle and brighten the days...

Think I'll try for 15 please - will be tough with only 29 days but need to pull the belt ever tighter..... (and I have put the window cleaner's money aside already so there's one saved!:))

mooomin

I'm going to be aiming for 15 please (may as well aim high!) with a whopping five in a row :eek:

I don't include direct debit days or food shopping though, so it should be entirely achievable. Honest

Kittikins

Hello, after being inspired to reach my first ever proper target in January, I'd like to aim high for 15 rather than upping my target like I did in Jan....it's got to be a challenge I reckon. I also don't include DD days as I have so many of the little blighters and I have a spreadsheet to track my bank accounts with them all marked on, so they're already 'spent' in my mind as soon as I get paid. Oh pay day, hurry up!

mumofjusttwo

I will aim for 15 NSD and 4 in a row as is it half term in FEb and may spend a little more money.

Thanks.

cw18

29 days in Feb
7 direct debits due out this month, so if all on different days that leaves 22 possible NSDs
2 cash payments to make (window cleaners and personal trainer), so if they're on different days to everything else that leaves me 20
4 Fridays, which is when I plan to buy any groceries needed for feeding my regular weekend visitor - so down to 16
will possibly be treating someone to lunch out next Saturday (when he gets to meet the majority of my family for the first time!), so that's down to 15

will also have running club membership to pay, but as I do that using P@yPal I can pick my day - so no need to lose an NSD for it
shouldn't need petrol - last filled on 30th Dec, and have only used just over a quarter tank so far. If I'm allowed to drive to visit family on Saturday that'll probably knock me to about half a tank left, but I can't see me doing another 250+ miles in the month on top of that.....

Hmmmmm...... think I'll allow myself 3 additional spend days in case of any weekend outings/unexpected emergencies (was going to allow 2, but didn't like the figure that left me with ), so

Please can I set my initial Feb Target to 12