Springing Into the April NSD Challenge

Keiss_21

Planning on making today an NSD, but things may go still go awry, so will declare later, just in case.....

Hope those of you who have snow are not too affected by it. Raining here...which is great...honest (now I have the washing in)!!

lamarsi

oh can I join in please???
other half has my car as he's working away so I can't be bothered to go to the shops and I'm of work/uni till weekend so would love to spend until then

10 in total and 3 in a row please and 1 nsd for today :T

Igamogam

Number 3 please. Ta!

ModestyB

Hi all, declaring NSD No 1 today. Won't be one tomorrow as we're meeting a friend for a meal in town. Looking forward to it as we haven't seen her since last August.

Hugs to all who need one and welcome to all our new friends.

wannabee_in_credit

I still haven't caught a nsd today - more spending on wedding related stuff and a few groceries.
Tomorrow not hopeful either - we're hoping to get on with some suit hire.

rising_from_the_ashes

LittleMissHappy wrote: »

Sorry guys, am tired and still not 100% so did this update as quick as possible Hoping to be back on form asap xxx

Hope you're feeling better LMH:)

jaffacakegal wrote: »

Don't you just hate it when you nip to A$da for eggs and bread and end up spending £110!!! :whistle:

:eek::eek: Ohhhhhhh - at least you're due some money back!


Well, none for me today - finally managed to get the PO open so popped in and bought loads of stamps (nearly had heart failure when the total came out) - hopefully won't need any for at least a year:rotfl:

Then popped and paid for the crochet course .....

Rant warning Have just been trying to switch to a better broadband deal and have discovered I'm one of the unfortunate 16.4% of households stuck in Market 1 ie B*T is the only supplier . Have just written a stinking letter to Of*com as they're doing nothing to open this area up to more competition - just 'cos you're in a rural area, why should you be penalised & have to pay more!:mad: rant over

Work tomorrow AM & then on hols for a week :j:j

Ohhhh - anyone got snow? Horrible here!:eek:

Nargleblast

Snow and sleet here, windy and cold too. Chickypoodles shut in tonight. Funny when you consider we had temperatures of 20 - 21 degrees C this time last week. Oh the joys of the English weather!

Still no NSD, nipped to A$d@ to stock up on meat from the freezer - having had a horrendous bill from Mr S last week, OH went on mysupermarket and compared prices. A$da was cheaper in a lot of things, so might try there for next payday shop.

NSD creeping up over the horizon, though, must get my net ready!

marmiterulesok

#2 for me today-unexpected as well.

We've had some rain (finally),and more is due these next few days.:)

KissyKissyKaren41

Number 2 NSD for me today xx 2 in a row...:j

IF

freebyfifty 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!