A fantastic February with the NSD challenge

beanielou

Spoon~I am so glad that you are doing what is right for you.
Please take lots of care of you.
Thank you so very much for all your hard work on the thread and all your support :j :j :j
Just let us know when you are debt free

Bit lost as to where I am but Thur & Sat, Sun & Mon were all NSD's.
So Ithink that takes me up to no 20.

Broomstick

Thought I might have to get to the shops to buy an alternative supper tonight because we've just had a major power cut in the area and my planned meal for tonight and tomorrow's packed lunch, plus the ability to bake a loaf before tomorrow, was not going to be possible, but, thank goodness, they've just got the electricity back on. That means I'm now on NSD#22.

Thanks
B x

lashley82

Claiming NSD 11/19, Used 20p in the gym locker but that was from my "gym locker fund" in my work drawer

IF

solventsoon wrote: »

Thanks freeby :A


Hi everyone

Sorry for my prolonged absence, I've had a mega-busy couple of weeks at work at the end of which my wrist decided to go on strike so I've had to stay away from the PC as much as possible.

I'll be back later tonight to start updating the front page and to do yesterday's update. The front page should all be updated by tomorrow night but please be a bit patient, I've got a lot to get through now.

I also wanted to let you all know that I'm taking a break from the NSD thread for a little while and probably won't be on MSE that much either. I'm doing some studying as well as a full-time job and it's all getting a bit much really, I need a break.

See you all later

spoon xx

We totally understand and you have to take a break but we will miss you mind xx :A

LittleMissHappy_2

solventsoon wrote: »

Thanks freeby :A


Hi everyone

Sorry for my prolonged absence, I've had a mega-busy couple of weeks at work at the end of which my wrist decided to go on strike so I've had to stay away from the PC as much as possible.

I'll be back later tonight to start updating the front page and to do yesterday's update. The front page should all be updated by tomorrow night but please be a bit patient, I've got a lot to get through now.

I also wanted to let you all know that I'm taking a break from the NSD thread for a little while and probably won't be on MSE that much either. I'm doing some studying as well as a full-time job and it's all getting a bit much really, I need a break.

See you all later

spoon xx

I would like to echo what everyone else has said spoon We will miss you but you must do what is right for you and take care of yourself first, but don't forget we want you back, even if it's making sure we can nag you to get more of those NSD's in :grouphug: :A

Just so everyone knows there is a plan in place for March's thread which will be up and running soon x

marmiterulesok

I had a direct debit today so no NSD,still on#17.

spoon quite understand where you're coming from.Good luck with your studying and thanks for all your great work and encouragement.Hope your wrist is on the mend and hope to see you back here soon.

rising shocking really that nothing was laid on for you all,not even water!

jaffacakegal

Will miss you spoon, hope the studying goes ok xxx

Busy weekend for me, NSD 14 Saturday, no date set yet, we'll see, maybe next weekend when less busy!

JCG x

kerri_gt

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

Even worse - there were no tea/coffee or even water supplies provided:eek:

Not impressed .....

I think I would have flaked by lunchtime if there was no tea provided :eek:

Good luck with the studying Spoony - we'll miss you being on here but its good that you're doing what you want to do. Shall we made Wed's shindig a semi-leaving do for you? OMG, if you're not about, who gets the keys to the Tardis?! :eek:

Mega busy start to my week already, but NSD 13 in the bag - one more to target, and my plans of heading to the big tacto this week to use my SSM vouchers seems to rapidly be going down the pan with late evening meetings being scheduled

Spendaholic_Chick

No 9 bagged today -might *just* make target!

IF

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!