Springing Into the April NSD Challenge

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!

Delilahh

Really been a bit mad for me lately, and it really does look like this month is going to be a huge fail on the NSD challenge.

Last week, Wed, Thur & Fri - I managed to get:

NSD 4, 5 & 6

May end up with another one today - but unless I spend nothing between now and the end of the month (which is impossible as I need to book some travel), then I won't do it sadly.

stripeyjumpergirl

Hello! Had a spendy few days, but declaring NSD 11as my only plan for today is to stay in and hide from the rain and make soup.

Learning2Budget

Nearly popped to Mr A to get some stuff for a roast but so wanted my 4 in a row & NSD 11. That i have resisted hard, delved through the freezer and found a pack of chicken breasts. Saved myself from buying a joint of beef.
OH popped to shop instead cos he wanted crisps., so Im feeling happy what my will power held out!!
L2B.x

bottleofred

Good afternoon folks from a very hungover Red:o

I was out with friends last night for dinner and we all overdid it a bit with the consumption of wine:p. It seemed like such a good idea at the time:D, but I've been paying for my overindulgence since 7am:mad:
On the plus side, had a lovely dinner and catch up. So far have made soup, sticky toffee pudding and chilli bread to try to get rid of the hangover, but it's hanging on:eek:
I'm declaring NSD15 for today and target reached:D
I will just carry on to see how many more NSDs I can get.
I hope everyone enjoys the rest of the weekend:)

rising_from_the_ashes

LittleMissHappy wrote: »

I am taking DD into town and we are meeting our friends (my bestie's daughter is my daughters bestie!) for lunch etc.

Awwwww that's lovely LMH

Struggled to No 8 today they are so hard to come by this month!

Roll on May so I can get back to "normal"!:rotfl:

I've have had to make 2 purchases out of my coin jars this month (these are being saved for a garden shed - desperately needed but hopefully I can still get there by autumn as stuff's OK in the garage by then) in order to "balance the books".

A new printer (was really needed) and the left-handed crochet course (really a want:o BUT something I've wanted to learn for around 30 years so I think it's justified!) .... still, on the positive side - at least the money was there to do it!:T

Nargleblast

Hello NSD gang, been a bit busy with sloggus domesticus and academicus lately. Also found time to be a complete invalid for a few days - off sick with the mother of all colds, so OH was in charge of all domestic arrangements. Back at work now, still a bit chesty and all that but a hundred times better than what I was.

My current NSD total is now 7 NSDs!!!

It will be a bit of a gamble as to whether I can hit my target of 13 or not, but if I don't then I am hoping to at least get to double figures. And that is one third of the month, which ain't bad going!

ModestyB

I'm very upset and angry tonight. Had to take our poor Star to the emergency vet as she's eaten some leftover food that has made her really ill. The vet said she's got gastroenteritis and she's had to stay there overnight on a drip.:mad::mad::mad:
It's cost me £322 so far but we might get it back from the insurance. I don't really care, I just want her home safe and well.:(

Nargleblast

Get a grip, Nargle, your target is 12 not 13....oh, those vanishing little grey cells....time for a cup of tea and a bit of cake definitely!

kerri_gt

ModestyB wrote: »

I'm very upset and angry tonight. Had to take our poor Star to the emergency vet as she's eaten some leftover food that has made her really ill. The vet said she's got gastroenteritis and she's had to stay there overnight on a drip.:mad::mad::mad:
It's cost me £322 so far but we might get it back from the insurance. I don't really care, I just want her home safe and well.:(

Oh no, poor Star - do you know what the leftover food she ate was? Pets are such a worry, and very costly when they are ill but good news she should be home tomorrow for some tlc.

Well I am most miffed today. Firstly a spendy day, but did ok in Mr A, total after coupons about £30 and that included 4 bottles of red wine....BUT my Tacto price check from yesterday came back and my bloomin cheese hasn't price checked, despite it clearly comparing on Mysupermarket - so I'm bascially £7.47 out of pocket :mad: Am torn between trying to take it back or calling CS. Need to go back tomorrow anyway because one of the packs of sandwich meat I purchased has a cut all the way down the pack - not sure if it was from the other pack I bought when it was packed, but don't want to risk it. ARGH! why does moneysaving have to be so challenging at times. Feel a bit one step forwards and two steps back today