A fantastic February with the NSD challenge

mytimetoshine2012

marmiterulesok wrote: »

How annoying.....

Spend day here.had a haircut,DDs and got some groceries.I hope to get my first one tomorrow.

It's bitter here.-9°c and that's without the wind chill factor.

mytimetoshine good luck.Is this a one-off?((hugs))

Hi Marmite,

Thanks I think we will need it It will be for the next three or four months:eek:, just an unfortunate situation where we knew things were going to happen with both of our contracts but did not expect it to happen all at once, and then throw in a bit of illness, part time studying etc etc (I know you think you'd learn at some point hey?!;)).

But on the brightside, we have a really good base stock of food supplies and we both cook. We have enough cleaning things to last a while. Our house is crammed with *stuff* most of which I am sure we can sell. I also have LOADS of seeds and so I can grow some veg, salad and herbs for the summer. My parents have offered to lend us money if we need it but I (perhaps optimistically) think that we can just scrape by by the skin of our teeth if we cut back no end!

Fasten your seatbelts it's gonna be a bumpy ride!!!:)

I'm hoping for my first NSD today too.

butdoineedit? wrote: »

That was so me too, i could manage to find a reason to be in the supermarket every night if i wanted!!
Since i started this challenge i have got it down to once a week, with an extra quid in the milk jar just in case i run out... & you know what, i don't even miss it like i thought i would....
Just go for small steps & before you know it, you'll wonder what you even liked about the supermarket!!



I guess it just depends how strict you want to be.... technically you are in profit, & therefore you can count an NSD, but if you are trying to stop your impulse buy, it may be helpful for you to count it as a spend to put you off doing it again, it's totally up to you, as the rules for this challenge are personal to you.

OMG - the supermarket! Yes it is perilous. We are now avoiding it until absolutely necessary now. I checked my receipts from last moth though and it seems that a trip to m*rrisons = a spend of £15-20 for only a few normal purchases such as fruit/veg/potatoes, whereas in Aldi I there are loads of things for £10- £12. I have concluded the answer is to stick with Aldi!

Ha ha NSD or not OP? I think butdoIneedit is right being strict may help, it has helped us. Doing this challenge has really helped us focus on what we are spending (well OK then me because OH has always been better at not making small spontaneous purchases!:p) and if either me or my OH spends cash, it doesn't count as an NSD! We have found that it helps with planning money out over the month too. Hope you find a way that helps for you!

Have a good day everyone.
MTTS

jintyb

Brrrrrrrrrrr! -4c here this morning!


Did and early run to A$da - all stocked up again, was beginning to feel like Mother Hubbard!;)

VERY glad to be off! It was hinted that I should work late last night - but I told her straight that I was leaving no later than 6pm. My work was all finished at 9am yesterday - I was covering someone elses stuff as they were off sick. ( It'll be me next at this rate!)
Got a text last night from my colleague at work to say she had got it tight from supervisor yesterday too - at least I'm not the only one and it's not in my imagination!:o Had a chat with a pal who works in HR ( in a different company) and she advised me to keep schtoom ATM but to keep a diary of "incidents" as she thinks I have grounds to raise a grievance.
I'm going to really try not to bore you all rigid with this tale of woe, sorry, I feel like a broken record!

Anyhoo, on the upside,I am off to my WW class,hoping/praying to lose a pound as that would get me to my target!

Having lunch with M&D later as I havent seen them for ages ( although I live 5 mins up the road!) That will be lovely!

Oh - and I got # 1 yesterday too - that's what happens when you have to work your lunch:mad:


Have a lovely day everyone!:)



ETA: Just back from WI - I did it!! 34LBS off - goal weight reached!:-)

chris81418

Good morning everyone! :wave:

solventsoon wrote: »

Thanks Chris :A

You're welcome Spoon!

Popping to report that I'm off the mark with NSD number 1 caught yesterday! :j

Have a good day everyone and wrap up warm!

slowlyfading

:hello: everyone, please can I be put down for 15 NSDS in February?

Today is NSD 1

elfen

NSD no 1 for today please! and I've lost 2lb

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!

IF

Morning all :hello:

dumpy

Hi All, especially to the people running all this and putting in the hours behind the scenes :T

Can I have a target of 15 this month?

Nothing to report from yesterday though, I just managed the target for January which meant I really had to spend yesterday

Cheers

silvasava

NSD 1 please!

I nip into Aldi on a Thursday as its on my way to Yoga - I WILL be discipled though and only buy something if its a bargain we need - did manage to get a load of their Tortellini last week at 30% & 50% off -its usually 99p & it freezes perfectly OK
Good luck for February everyone!

Wellyboots6

Hi all,

I am popping by to report that today is NSD 1!!

Thought I'd do it quick before I change my mind and get tempted in to the shop...