The Marvellous May NSD Challenge

magni

Number 2 for me today:D

ladymay

NSD 6 for me today - and I was even working right next to a Starbucks and resisted the temptation :j

Frodobaggins

Hi everyone, hope your all well and have enjoyed today nice sunshine.

NSD#6 for me today and 2 in a row, hoping for another tomorrow.

OutofDebt-NOT-OutofDanger

Evening everyone :wave:

Not a NSD yesterday, but wasn't expecting one

Managed NSD #8 today.

As the weather has finally been dry on a weekend I had to cut the lawn (well actually it's a huge patch of weeds with some lawn in between at the moment - haven't dared use any weed control otherwise I'll just end up with several square metres of mud!). Nearly had to go and buy a rake for all the cuttings that the lawnmower didn't pick up:mad: but in true MSE style as I was picking up the worst of it by hand a neighbour lent me theirs:cool:.

Shopping day tomorrow so off to write out the list (that will be a first for me as well).

Keep going fellow NSDers.

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!

kerri_gt

Hey all, me just about to head to the land of nod but wanted to drop in and explain my absence for the weekend (errr....anyone actually miss me? )

Fri wasn't a NSD - sadly no fireman to carry me down the stairs and I must admit I haven't ached like that since the first week of boot camp, abs still hurting somewhat today :eek: Anyway, went out for a leaving lunch at work (someone else leaving, not me :rotfl:) and for one I actually only had to cough up exactly what I'd spent - we were told we all had to pay for our own food (ie company wasn't paying) and when the bill came we split it between us all, which usually goes against me but this time worked out v.nicely. Anway, had a lovely evening in with OH the night watching Paranormal Activity 2 :eek:

Night out last night for a friends daughters communion, deff one too many vinos and didn't get home until well after 2am (not done that for a looooong time!) But thankfully the beer at the venue where the party was held was pretty cheap so ended up not too expensive. :beer:

However, I can declare NSD #6 today. Managed to drag my sorry (hungover) ar*e out of bed to watch the last game of the season and then headed to A$da for a shop, first total £60 :eek: revised total after coupons and offers £44 :T still more than planned but freezer and fridge well stocked up (had to rearrange the whole freezer to get everthing in) got a few whoopised bargains but it was the usual bun fight and I couldn't be arrised for a few manky sarnies. I was really cheeky though, the lady was doing the bakery reductions and I got a couple of 1/2 baguettes, but I already also had a full french stick in my trolly, so when it was quiet I sidled up to the lady and asked if she'd reduce the one I already had too...which she did to 10p :j RESULT! Also got 4 packs of individual pilau rice for 10p each which have been frozen, v.handy for curry as OH likes chips and I like rice with mine.

Right, better go, work in the morning! nite all xx

freebyfifty

Good Morning,



Well done to everyone who captured another NSD


Barbeduk – NSD #6 safely rounded up. :T Lucky you having some sunshine.:)

Bottleofred – NSD #8 all safely captured. :T Brilliant:)

Chris81418 – Well done for NSD #9. :T The roll is rolling!:rotfl:

Deb4 – A brilliant NSD #6 in the bag for you now. :T Well done, you’re doing really well:)

Donna dynamo – NSD #5 captured. :T Well done. Keep going, it will get better eventually.;)

Flying – Well done for getting NSD #8. :T The weather here was horrible too, good day if you are a duck!:rotfl:

Frodobaggins – NSD #6 for you. That’s brilliant. Good luck for your next one.:)

Ifwishes – An excellent NSD #7 all done and dusted. :T Well blimmin’ done missus.:T

Kerri gt – NSD #6 all done and dusted. :T You are the bargain and coupon queen. You need to let me know your secrets.:A

Ladymay – Well done for NSD #6 :T and even more well dones for resisting temptation.:T

Magni – Well done on getting NSD #2. :T They’ll come rolling in now.

Oodnood – Well done for NSD #8. :T Have a frugal shopping day today.:)

Silvasava – NSD #6 captured and 3-in-a-row. Well done.

Wannabee – NSD #5 in the bag for you. Don’t be so hard on yourself, you’re doing great.


And hello to
Emsloves – Sending you lots of positive vibes that you hit your target this week, lotsa luck

freebyfifty

Good Morning

NSD #11 safely rounded up for me yesterday.

The weather was horrendous so I had no excuses not to stay in the house and do my housework and study What an exciting life I lead


Have a great Monday x x

slowlyfading

Yesterday was NSD 7 for me

chris81418

Good morning everyone! :wave:

freebyfifty wrote: »

Chris81418 – Well done for NSD #9. :T The roll is rolling!:rotfl:

Thanks freeby! And the roll rolls on with NSD number 10 caught yesterday! :j Unfortunately, today will be a spend day, but work will keep me busy for the rest of the week, so I should clock up a few more before the weekend.

Have a good week everyone!