Springing Into the April NSD Challenge

emslovesmickey

NSD 12 please!

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 feeling well this morning. Here’s Thursday’s update.:)


Well done to everyone who captured another NSD


Allie Ballie Bee – NSD #5 for you. :j The only good thing about work is that it stops us from spending as much money.:)

Beanielou – I’m glad you are feeling much better. Well done for NSD #13 & 14.:T

Bottleofred – NSD #13 safely snaffled.:T Well done.:)

Donna dynamo – Well done for NSD #9 :j
and I’m glad you’re on the mend. Take it easy though.:)

Dragon – Well done for all those NSDs, up to NSD #7. :j
That’s brilliant.:)

Emlovesmickey – NSD #11 & 12 for you. :T Well done. Enjoy your glasses, they’ll feel even better because you know they were a bargain.

Ifwishes – A brilliant NSD #10. :T Well done, I loved your picture of the scales,:rotfl: that’s me on a weight watchers night.

Igamogam – Up to NSD #13. :j I hope it is lucky for you.

Itsapuzzle – Up to NSD #10 now. :T Not many more to capture now. Well done.

Jaffacakegal – NSD #9. :T Well done. I hope you sleep well on your new mattress.

Katy721 – NSD #11 for you. :j You’re doing really well.

Keiss 21 – Well done for capturing NSD #11. :j Enjoy your trip.

Kerri gt – A well earned NSD #8 for you. :T Hope the pain is worth it. You must be very fit and have so much energy.

KissyKaren – An excellent NSD #8 for you. :j Half way there now. Well done.

Lamarsi – NSD #10 & 11 in the bag and your target smashed. :j:j I’ll increase it to 14 for you.

LMH – A lovely NSD #13 in the bag for you. :T Well blimmin’ done. :T

Poohbear59 – A brilliant NSD #10 for you. :j Well done for staying away from the dreaded internet shopping

SillyBlondie – Up to NSD #12 now. :T That’s brilliant. Well done.

Slowlyfading – NSD #10 & 11 safely captured. :j Well done.

Stripeyjumpergirl – Well done for NSD #10 and your first target. :j:j I’ll increase your next one to 13. Good luck.



And hello to


Rising – You are not having much luck with the internet are you. I bet you’re not a happy bunny. :mad: Hope it’s all sorted out for you soon.

freebyfifty

I was so intent on getting the update submitted I forgot to say I hit my target yesterday with NSD #15 :j:j I am going to go for a new target of 19 next. Should be do-able if I stick to plan but who knows what life will throw in my way :mad:


Have a great Thursday x x

mooomin

Yesterday was a spendy day as I had to pay for parking. I did my research online first and paid £4 for 4 hours and had a nice walk in the sunshine rather than going to the closest carpark which would have been nearly £10 :eek:

In very good news though - I lost 3.5lbs at Fat Club and now only have four pounds to lose until I hit my goal weight

freebyfifty

flying_fresian wrote: »

In very good news though - I lost 3.5lbs at Fat Club and now only have four pounds to lose until I hit my goal weight

Oh well done Flying. :j You have lost a fantastic amount of weight. :T (that sounds a bit cheeky but you know what I mean ) It's a brilliant feeling when you see those scales beep down. Good luck for the last 4lbs
We shall do it together, I have 5lbs to go for goal and have given myself 5 weeks to do it in. A pound a week should be achievable (I hope)

LittleMissHappy_2

Sorry for not posting yesterdays update on time everyone, I was tired by the time I thought about it so put it off until this morning and then saw that the lovely freeby has done it for me - thank you very much freeby :D:D

Well, yesterday was NSD 14, still 6 more to get though

IF

Well done Flying on the weight loss and so near your goal too!! :beer:

jaffacakegal

NSD 10 for me yesterday

JCG xx

LittleMissHappy_2

I have just realised that I should have done Tuesdays update not Wednesdays I'm a numpty, I admit it The days are all wonky in my head at the moment as my children didn't go back to school until Tuesday and also my head is normally all wonky anyway so I am amazed I normally update on the right day :rotfl:

Anyway, today is NSD 15 as no spending is occurring today, only studying!