Springing Into the April NSD Challenge

rising_from_the_ashes

:jNo 10 & target :jPhew! I did wonder at times if I'd every get anywhere this month

Just got the cc bill and I don't know what I've done this month as I've really, really screwed up the budgets somehow .

Usually I keep track in a spreadsheet and transfer the spent amounts from the relevant pots to my main account on payday and use this to pay the cc bill .... this month, I've tried to do 2 new things together (which in hindsight probably wasn't the best idea!:o) as I've combined several groups of pots together and have been trying to transfer money from them to my main account as I spend.

Great in theory ..... except I seem to have gone very wrong somewhere as I have a BIG shortfall:( - as I closed the "redundant" pots, I can't back-track to see what I have / haven't transferred :eek: (and seem to have spent more than is logged on my spreadsheet:o)

I am absolutely useless at budgeting!:mad: Anyway .... I'm going to be absolutely broke in May (seriously ..... by the time I've put money into the bills account, paid the cc bill and the pots .... I currently have nearly a £300 shortfall to find:eek:) - please, please tell me budgeting gets easier as I'm still really, really struggling with it! (might be back into the OD:eek::eek:)

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!

rising_from_the_ashes

PS .... please can I set a new target of 12 (really should try for at least one more but I have a bit of a problem with the number between 12 and 14 )

stripeyjumpergirl

Hi, got NSD 13 today. Could I up my target to 16, please? Thank you! x

kerri_gt

Sorry to hear about the budget Rising, yes it does get easier - just make sure you keep track of all your receipts, and perhaps keep a little note book with you to keep track of spends when you can't update your spreadsheet.

NSD #12 for me today - was at boot camp again, seem to be feeling a difference in just over a week, but not sure if that's just me getting a bit cocky. On the upside, not hurting as much after yesterday's workout so perhaps we are getting fitter :j

beanielou

Sorry bout the budget rising.

LittleMissHappy_2

Heres todays round up


freeby - well done for NSD 16 :j:j:j and second target met :beer::beer: I’m sure you will set your new target next time you do the front page update

chris - well done for NSD 19 :j:j:j freeby will increase your target to 22 next time she updates the front page x

poohbear - well done for NSD 14 :j:j:j great going, keep it up

beanie - well done for NSD19 :j:j:j and second target met :beer::beer: freeby will increase your target to 23 next time she updates the front page. Well done on losing this week

red - well done for NSD17 :j:j:j glad you are feeling better, me too thanks for asking :D:cool:

sf - well done for NSD 15 :j:j:j and target smashed :beer:

Allie - well done for NSD 8 :j:j:j only 2 more to get, you can do it!

rising - well done for NSD 10 :j:j:j hope you get your budget sorted soon x freeby will increase your target to 12 next time she updates the front page x

SJG - well done for NSD 13 :j:j:j freeby will increase your target to 16 next time she updates the front page x

kerri - well done for NSD 12 :j:j:j bootcamp sounds like it is doing you good

NSD 17 for me, went to the shops twice but only got food from budget already put aside for this. Am feeling like an :A (I don't expect this to last, however :D:cool: )

Igamogam

2 please. Thanks

freebyfifty

Good Morning

Thank you LMH for the update :A the front page is all updated and it looks great It makes me smile everytime I look at it As usual, let me know if I've got anything wrong

Reporting NSD #20 for yesterday and I am going for another one today .


Have a brilliant Wednesday x

chris81418

Good morning everyone! :wave:

LittleMissHappy wrote: »

chris - well done for NSD 19 :j:j:j freeby will increase your target to 22 next time she updates the front page x

freebyfifty wrote: »

the front page is all updated

Thanks LMH and freeby! And I managed to catch NSD number 20 yesterday! :j

Have a good Hump day everyone!