A fantastic February with the NSD challenge

silvasava

Going to a wedding in Israel on Saturday so I have GOT to do some spending. Trying to get it all done in 1 or 2 days so I'm making my list. Ordered & paid for currency this morning & I'll get card today too - looking for a small gift as only taking hand luggage so TK Ma** here I come. Fingers crossed I'll manage 2 more NSD's this week. This is a 'flying visit' We're back on Tuesday (weddings on Monday) I'm the only link left with the UK side of the family. I have managed to pay for my flight & currency with my MS money so feel quite good about that. Its also DGD's 18th on Tuesday but I'm sorted for that apart from her card (which is on the list!!)
Have a good day everyone whether or not you manage another NSD

niksyg

Thanks to horrible cold I had another NSD yesterday as I just didn't feel like going anywhere!
That takes me to a total of 6 out of 15 this month! :j

Igamogam

1 more please. That was for yesterday. May squeeze another today

sirish1979

Hi all,

NSD no 4 atlast after many many spendy days.

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

Afternoony all :hello:

Hope your having a lovely Valentines day, if you don't like the day itself hope your having a lovely Tuesday :dance:

mooomin

I'm going to declare today as NSD #10 early to try and resist temptation

purpleorchid

ifwisheswerehorses... wrote: »

Afternoony all :hello:

Hope your having a lovely Valentines day, if you don't like the day itself hope your having a lovely Tuesday :dance:

thats the 1st proper laugh forme today thanks.

Luv P
xx

miss_t_2

Need to do a huge update as haven't been online for a while.

So here goes

5th - Spendy day

6th, 7th, 8th, 9th - NSD 4,5,6, & 7 which gives me my 4 in a row! :j

10th Spendy Day

11th, 12th, 13th - NSD 8, 9 & 10! Which gives me my target! :j :j

Am hoping today will be another NSD but am not sure. Could I please increase my target to 15 NSDs

Must try to update daily from now on!!

oldtractor

NSD 8 here for me,halfway to target. From next month I am going to change my NSD criteria so that basic food stuffs dont count as a spend, rather like putting diesel in the car I dont count as a spend either.It has to be done; just as eating has to be done. Fancy foods eg cakes or eating out, even fish n chips will count as a spend however. I am doing this because I have found that I have been denighing myself healthy foods and raiding the stodge rather then go out and buy fruit and veg just to have a NSD. I have put on weight and not had my 5 a day every day since Jan 1st and thats not good.