A fantastic February with the NSD challenge

lotti379

Hello!

I tried to update yesterday, but my browser didn't want to enable the text editing buttons... so I am on 1/5 NSDs. It sounds daft starting so late, but I need to discipline myself, every little helps!

Still fighting off a grim cold over here, and lots of little jobs to get done, and work at 4pm. Oh how I love shift work!

lotti379

jintyb - I love your wiggling madam! He he!

bubble32

Hi all
I bagged another yesterday ! so this NSD #11. Only one more to go !! I might even go over my target this month ... fingers crossed.

IF

Morning all :hello:

I'm a ~ Wigglin' ~ :dance:

IF

Beanie I am sorry to hear your news xx

Keiss_21

Just a quick one: NSD 15 nabbed yesterday :j

Spending today and tomorrow (DS2's bday tomorrow!).

Have a good Friday, hope you're all wiggling!! xx

ModestyB

Beanie, I'm so sorry for your loss. Hugs to you and yours.

chris81418

Hello everyone! :wave:

LittleMissHappy wrote: »

chris - well done for NSD 21 :j:j:j that sunny smiley was certainly appropriate today It was a beautiful day!

Thanks LMH! And long may the good weather continue - fingers crossed that this weekend will be a sunny one for all of us!

Plus, a further update, I managed to catch NSD number 22 yesterday! :j

Enjoy that Friday feeling and have a good wiggle everyone!

jaffacakegal

NSD 13 yesterday

JCG x

IF

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!