A fantastic February with the NSD challenge

rising_from_the_ashes

Thank you to everyone for your lovely kind words :T.... sorry I haven't replied to you all individually - I'm still a bit "delicate" tbh. I didn't get online at all yesterday (not like me;)) and am absolutely exhausted:o so it will be a quick visit and I'll catch up properly at the weekend.

I actually thought it was Saturday this morning today:( - not just for a quick moment as you sometimes do when you wake up - for a looooong time. I was all lovely and tucked up enjoying my lie in when I wondered why the street was so busy with cars ... turned on the telly and :eek::eek:. Needless to say I was a bit later than usual this morning didn't have time to make lunch so had to buy out :mad: but at least I can enjoy the real thing tomorrow:).

I did manage No 4 yesterday (really struggling this month!)

Popped to Al*di on the way home, hoping to nab another tomorrow but no such luck - forgot wee cat has to go for her booster:eek: - she doesn't travel well (understatement:eek:) and turns into a monster cat (you know when you see films of vets with thick long gloves ... that's her) but the poor wee mite gets so stressed it's awful for all involved.....

Knitting_Nora

Just sprinting in to declare NSD 8 after a couple of spendy days...

Hugs to all who need them (including Rising's cat...and her vet!).

Nora.x

mooomin

NSD #7 and 4 in a row here :A

Counting as a NSD as I went for afternoon tea with my best friend (courtesy of a voucher purchased before Christmas) and we decided that we would save money and time driving there rather than paying £7 for two day tickets on the bus. We both raided our piggies for carpark money then got parked for free on the street

jaffacakegal

Declaring NSD 4 for today already as currently lying in bed feelin sorry for myself after a tumble over a box file at work has left me with a very swollen ankle. No gym 4 me and no reason for me to spend

hope everyone ok x

Nargleblast

Happy Wiggle Day everyone! Internet playing silly b's yesterday, couldn't log on. However, here I am.
Plans went a little astray, so am still on 4 NSDs. Tomorrow am treating myself to a reflexology session, so next NSD should be Sunday. Fingers, toes and other extraneous bits crossed.

Regarding some posts yesterday re prescription charges - if you don't get free prescriptions and you get two or more items every month, then apply for a prepayment card.

Cost - £10.40 per month by Direct debit for ten months of the year. As you would pay £14.80 over the counter for two items, you would be mad not to apply for it! The pharmacist should have a leaflet about it. (Obviously, if the only meds you take are one-off things, this won't help, it's just for those on regular stuff).

Poppy_Golightly

Reporting my 4th day this month without spending. If I had a tail I'd wag it as I'm so chuffed with myself



I'm staying out of charity shops now, I've promised myself that I will go back in them but only after I've got the sewing machine I'm saving for. That should see me staying out of them for the next year at least!

ModestyB

Hi all, NSD No 6 for me today. Hope to stay away from shops over the weekend so I can get more.
Now I've got the BM I won't have to nip out for a loaf of bread and spoil an nsd again.
JCG, hope your ankle heals up soon.

Hugs to all in need.

lashley82

Just a quick line to decalre NSD 5/19

I potted all the remaining change from yesterday when I got in from work into my various tins, and I now have a stash of 20p's in my drawer at work which is my gym locker fund. None of which (in my book) counts as a spend today

great way to start the weekend. Think I'll treat myself to a bottle of gorgeous dark ale from the cupboard

IF

Evening all :hello:

Spoony, BDINI, LMH and freeby got my 6th NSD thank you all xxxx :A:A:A:A

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!