Marching into March with the NSD Challenge

rising_from_the_ashes

freebyfifty wrote: »

I think that BDINI must still be having troubles with her t'internet connection, so I have started the April thread

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/52182109#Comment_52182109

Thanks Freeby :T... I was wondering if that may be the case.

IF

April's NSD thread - Click here

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!

muffin_man_7

declaring 20nsd for march

kerri_gt

Declaring NSD #14 for yesterday (didn't declare earlier incase internet shopping got me but i made a lucky eascape) so target met by the skin of my teeth for March :beer:

Not sure how today will fare, both cars washed but I saved my pennies at the jet wash and used a regular old bucket and sponge at home instead. Might be the last time in a while, we're already on a hosepipe ban here from April and I can see if it doesn't rain lots soon then there'll be a ban on watering gardens, washing cars etc. Might or might not be a NSD today, there's some undergarmets I like on the Deb's webiste and 10% off code ends today - if you saw my collection of sorry underwear you'd understand I could do with a couple of nice additions.... will let you know on the april thread x

cuddlymarm

Hi everyone

I am declaring 14NSDs for March (not as good as I would like but at least I hit my target. I am going to try for a really good month in April because we only have 6 weeks till we go on our hols and we really need to get some money put away )

I hope everyone had a good month
Cuddles:)

freebyfifty

Good Morning,

Here is Sunday’s and March’s final round up.


Well done to everyone who captured all those last NSDs for March

Cuddlymarm – 14 NSDs for you. :j:j That’s excellent. Keep saving for those holidays.

Kerri gt – A total of 14 NSDs :T Excellent. :T Glad you weren’t sucked in by the dreaded internet shopping.:eek:

LMH - 15 NSDs in total for you. :j:j Well blimmin’ done. :T

Marmiterulesok – A brilliant total of 16 NSDs for you.:j:j So what if you were one short, it’s still a brilliant total. :T

Muffin man 7 – A superb total of 20 NSDs in March for you. :j:j Well done.

SillyBlondie – 18 NSDs and two targets smashed. :j:j How brilliant are you? :T

mytimetoshine2012

Hello,

Just thought I would fly in to say that I ended on 18/14 for March!!!

Now heading to the April thread to catch up with everyone!

jaffacakegal

Hey,

Bit late I know (will have broadband at home soon so won't be MIA quite so often!)

Nabbed 17 NSDs in March (I think I miscounted somewhere on her!)

Off to April!

JCG x

blindtoast

Finished the month on 9 NSDs after getting 8 and 9 on Thursday and Friday. Also got 7 days in a row which is unheard of for me!

So 1 off my target this month but still pleased with what I managed - especially since the beginning of the month was a disaster!

Feeling good for April although it does contain 2 holidays!

butdoineedit?

Front page all updated now, all the final prizes awarded & it looks great, you have all done so well!!!!