A fantastic February with the NSD challenge

ModestyB

Hi all, VERY happy to declare NSD No 15!!! :j:T:j Didn't think I was going to make it this month but I have in spite of DH's help. :rotfl:

Save me a drop of the prune schnapps please, I'll have a search through the cupboards to see what I can bring along.

Hugs!

Wellyboots6

NSD 13!!

Why do I start on a roll right at the end of the month??

new_leaf_88

Hi everyone

Had another NSD today, the only expense was postage for e bay but don't count that.

I am now declaring 6/10 for February. not very good but this was my first month so hope to be more organised next month.

Hope there is going to be a March thread as I would like to try again to meet my target of 10 for March

Thank you for running this thread solventsoon :T:T:T

marmiterulesok

Nargleblast wrote: »

OH no! Don't tell me Hubert's found out about it?!?

Come to think of it, I thought that was rather a large funny-looking dog that came in with the band....Igor!!!! Is this your doing???? Well, I'm telling you now, if that donkey eats the beans and curry then you will be dealing with the consequences!

Pass me the prune schnapps, marmite, I think I have a queasy feeling coming on....how on earth will I survive till tomorrow night without ripping someone's head off?

He's very clever is our Hubert.

Yeah,sorry,I think he sniffed it out when I had a tipple earlier on.;)

I think that tomorrow is going to be a night to remember!

Learning2Budget

Had to do food shop today so i didn't get a NSD but aiming for one tomorrow to hit my target. However i have been paid and apart from the usual bills i have spent zilch!!! Its a miracle.
L2B.x

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!

bottleofred

kerri_gt wrote: »

Meant to say, still on the no choc wagon although today was a bit of a struggle :A

Kerri,

I'm still on the no red wine or alcohol for that matter wagon and the weekend was an almighty struggle. I think my body was shocked as it was looking for the normal red wine consumption over the weekend:eek:

slowlyfading

NSD 13 for me today

QueenB.

No NSD for me today. DS1 needed new shoes, its only been 8 weeks roughly since his last pair:(

kerri_gt

Nargleblast wrote: »

Evening all, that last NSD a bit elusive still as I had to get some odds and sods from the shops. However, there is still tomorrow. I will not go anywhere or spend anything. Smack me in the chops with a wet kipper if I don't get that last NSD!

NSD gang Leap Year Hoe-down update: Hog firmly attached to spit (and yes, it is dead. Well, you have to spell things out to Igor sometimes)
Consignment of sprout curry arrived in several insulated boxes this morning, I think Cheryl has been clearing out her freezer again.....I think I will leave it to the last minute before heating it up as there is a rather strange bubbling kind of noise coming from the boxes.
Also took delivery of several boxes of tinned baked beans.....ok, which of you comedians sent the curried Branston Pickle variety? I hope you have plenty of bicarbonate of soda handy, you will be needing it.....Jinty's Good Ole Hoe-Down Boys arrived this afternoon, and are busy getting tanked up on Igor's home brew (nothing like getting in the party spirit early, and there's still 24 hours or less to go....)

marmiterulesok wrote: »

Sounds great,quite a bash!Don't forget that I'm bringing some prune schnapps.Not for the fainthearted...:D

Just have to make sure that Hubert stays away from it.

So let me get this right, we have sprout curry, curried baked beans and prune schnapps plus one donkey with a rather delicate tum :eek: well if he gets arrested like he did in New York, I AM NOT getting him out of jail and sitting in the back of a taxi like last time - I am NEVER going to be able to wear that posh frock again :eek:

bottleofred wrote: »

Kerri,

I'm still on the no red wine or alcohol for that matter wagon and the weekend was an almighty struggle. I think my body was shocked as it was looking for the normal red wine consumption over the weekend:eek:

I know how you feel red, today was an almighty choc struggle, I made the mistake of counting the days I'd done - felt all smug...then counted how many more to go....big mistake. I might end up jumping off the wagon a day early as there's a chance I'm meeting my friend (whom I haven't seen for ages) on Sat before Easter Sun and there's always something chocolatey involved then, but since that will be longer than the J-man's 40-days and nights by that time, I won't feel too bad :A

Oh, and I'm pleased to declare NSD #14 - TARGET MET :j mainly because work is so bloomin busy I don't have time to shop