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!

LittleMissHappy_2

Heres todays round up


freeby - well done for NSD 21 :j:j:j hope you are staying dry and warm too - I find it extremely ironic that the moment we get a hosepipe ban it becomes the wettest April for years :cool: !

L2B - well done for NSD 12 :j:j:j enjoy your spending

Iamarsi - well done for NSD 14 :j:j:j good luck getting your next NSD

ModestyB - well done for NSD9 :j:j:j great going, keep it up

rising - well done for NSD11 :j:j:j I still struggle to budget too

Nargle - well done for NSD 9 :j:j:j great going, keep it up

flying - well done for NSD 11 :j:j:j I hope you have been enjoying the spending, I love a good shopping spree (or three!)


And hello to :

beanie - agree with flying, we all need a treat (and socks are a very practical treat, so in it's own way, very :money:)

No NSD for me again as I got my babies a treat from the shops on the way home from school

IF

Evening all :hello:

freeby and LMH got my 14th NSD thank you both xx:A:A

freebyfifty

Good Morning

NSD #22 captured yesterday :j One more to get and I'm hoping it'll be today

Watch out for the new thread, I'll put it up this weekend sometime


Have a brilliant Friday x x

chris81418

Good morning everyone! :wave:

freebyfifty wrote: »

Chris81418 – An excellent NSD #20 & 21 for you. :j You are doing brilliantly. Well done. :T What bloomin’ time do you get up??? And I thought I was an early riser.

Thanks freeby! Well done to you too with you total so far; and I can happily report that I managed to catch NSD number 22 yesterday, so I've reached my second target! :j As for getting up early - work keeps me busy ... had a lil' lie-in today though.

Enjoy that Friday feeling everyone and have a good wiggle!

rising_from_the_ashes

:jOhhhhhhh .... clear's throat .... drum roll please ......

*the sun has got his hat on ..... hip hip hip horay*:j

About time too! Happy Friday all:D

poohbear59

I am now up to NSD 17. Cutting it a bit fine to achieve 20 but hopefully will make it.

stripeyjumpergirl

Happy Friday! Just popping by to report NSDs 14 and 15 x

IF

Afternoon all :hello:

I'm doing the Friday ~ Wiggle ~ :dance:

IF

Me again :hello:

freeby and LMH got my 15th NSD thank you both xx:A:A