Springing Into the April NSD Challenge

kerri_gt

Second batch of muffins taste ok :j could do with a touch more cinnamon (and now have more cals / fat than I was aiming for) but at least edible.

Oh, and declaring NSD # 3 :j

abundant1972

Hi all...

Am a little late joining this month but would like to pledge:

15 NSD plus 5 in-a-row!

Thanks and good luck!!!

emslovesmickey

Definitely not an NSD today. £9.15 on food for work, £10 for food top up and £285 off my credit card

brizzledfw

Hello everyone:wave:

Hope you're enjoying the bank hols

I had NSD Day No.3 today!! Woo hoo!! Very pleased with myself and off to update the sig now!!

Thanks guys - you're really helping me remain focussed here!

Brizzle

brizzledfw

PS Emlovesmickey..well done on the CC..if thats a payment off the balance then that kinda doesnt count dont you think???;) Anyway well done you

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!

freebyfifty

Good Morning,

I hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend. Don’t eat too much chocolate. :rotfl:


Well done to everyone who captured another NSD


Beanielou – And you are up to NSD #5. :j Well done.

Bottleofred – An excellent NSD 2&3 for you. :j :eek: To woodchip wallpaper, it’s a nightmare to get off. :eek: Can you let me know what target you are aiming for please?

Brizzledfw – NSD #3.Well done. :T This challenge definitely helps you to keep focused on how much we spend.

Chris81418 – Up to NSD #4 now. :T That’s excellent. Have a great weekend yourself.

Donna dynamo – Well done for NSD #2. :j And chocolate is calorie free when it is medicinal you know. :rotfl:

Flying – A brilliant NSD #4. :j And well done on resisting those lovely new clothes. :T

Ifwishes – NSD #3for you. :j Well bloomin’ done. :T Thank you for all your pictures. They cheer us all up. :A

Keiss 21 – NSD #4for you. :j Well done. I love garden centres and managed to spend a small fortune in one yesterday – luckily I had a gift voucher which came in very handy.

Kerri gt – NSD #3 for you :T and a lovely batch of muffins too.

Lamarsi – A brilliant NSD #4 for you. :j Don’t ya just love lazy days.

Marmiterulesok – Woo Hoo NSD #5 and your 4-in-a-row. :j Well done. And that chocolate and orange cake sounds gorgeous.

ModestyB – Well done on NSD #2. :T Thanks for the reminder about ebay. I’ve got loads of stuff I should get on there this weekend.

Nargleblast – Yay NSD #1. :j You’re off the mark. Enjoy your Easter.

SillyBlondie – Woo Hoo you are off the mark with NSD #1. :T Watch them come rolling in now.

Stripeyjumpergirl – A brilliant NSD #3 for you. :T Well done.



And hello to

Emslovesmickey – Well done on getting that massive payment off your credit card. :T That’s what we’re here for after all.



No NSD for me yesterday, went to the garden centre and then to Mr A. Hopefully there will be no spending for a couple of days now though

Have a great Saturday x x

bottleofred

Good morning everyone,

Declaring NSD 4 for yesterday please. Freeby, can I go for 15NSDs this month please.
Kerri, having worked as a chef for 17 years prior to changing career 4 years ago, any recipes to do with baking usually need to be followed very closely. At least the birds got some food though:) I also can remember the song and my house is indeed very small with woodchip left on one rooms walls:D You'll be looking forward to the end of lent and well done on going the distance:T

Rising, the teacher who tried to make me write with my right hand was in her 50s when I was at primary school and never resorted to tying my arm, but used to stand over me. My parents eventually had to go to the school, as she got a little frustrated with me one day and hit me with the blackboard duster:o.

I hope everyone who was off yesterday had a good day and has a fantastic easter weekend.

emslovesmickey

brizzledfw wrote: »

PS Emlovesmickey..well done on the CC..if thats a payment off the balance then that kinda doesnt count dont you think???;) Anyway well done you

Thanks I got a bonus this month and thought the best thing to do would be to knock a chunk off the card.

The_Dragon

Finally managed to corner one of the elusive little burgers yesterday! So off the blocks with NSD #1 please Freebyfifty :beer: