A fantastic February with the NSD challenge

freebyfifty

I forgot to post my own capture

A lovely NSD #11 for me :j

marmiterulesok

A day off for me today.It's going to be a spend day here for me,but a small one ,I hope.The 'tache needs attention,so I'll get a few groceries as well since I'm spending anyway.

I'm going to make two curries today.:)

I'm planning to try for another 4-in-a-row from Friday to Monday.

bdini hope it clears up ASAP!

freeby thanks for the update.

wannabee_in_credit

I'm not having a good February in terms of nsd's it has to be said. I knew that being off work for half term would be tough but I just cannot catch the nsds. I spent £2.97 yesterday getting spaghetti and a couple of other bits, and today is looking like a spendy day too as I'm meeting a friend for lunch.
Getting a bit annoyed with myself.

Barbeduk

Don't worry wannabee, it's back to normal next week and we can catch up then! Ruined my NSD yesterday as DD bought the dog a chew! He was very pleased with it though :)

Today we have to go to the local budget shop for dog food, a thrilling day out for the kids :rotfl:then DS is off to opticians (sight tests for under 16s are free).

bubble32

Hi all

I am doing well , i just reached my 7th NSD :j
I think this is one of my best months. Looking at the calendar i think i might be able to do all 12NSD , fingers crossed.

cleggie

Hi guys.
Was hoping for a NSD today, but forgot that i have to take the cat to get her annual vacinations. Darn!
Then tomorrow will be a trip out to the zoo too, so not a NSD then either!
But as from Saturday i should be able to get as many NSDs in as possible so that i hit my 10 day target!

IF

Morning all :hello:

LittleMissHappy wrote: »

Has anyone tried the new look forum? I'm trying it at the moment and it's a bit weird I'm sure I'll get used to it ...... !

I have and I don't like it at all LMH so far!! :eek::eek:

BDINI Got my fingers crossed the cream works xx :A

Delilahh

Completed 5/10 NSD yesterday. Stayed at work lunch time and went straight home after work - avoiding the town centre!

Hoping to get another 2 in this week if I can (today included), but I have to do my prescription on Saturday, and Sunday is my food shopping day. Been a tight week as I'm only being paid for 3 days work, so have to pull the reigns in a little.

Back to normal next week and back to clearing the debts - woohoo!

jaffacakegal

NSD 8 yesterday. Not got car back yet, now insured on my dads, he is paying for everything again cos I just can't afford this kind of thing can't wait to be self-sufficient but fear that will only be once I have a partner and live with them, so still relying on someone else! So frustrating.

JCG 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!