The Love is in the Air February NSD Challenge

HeadAboveWater

Today WAS meant to be a NSD but OH isn't in great form (ex causing bother once again!), so decided I just had to skoot to Mr T's at lunchtime and buy almond croissants for our breakfast tomorrow mmmmmmmm

Then seeing as I was spending anyway, I went to a local deli type place and got a some fresh chicken and ham pie for later

Hope everyone has a good day and a good start to February Enjoy your weekend!!

IF

Afternoon all :hello:

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 thefirst 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

Hi everyone ...... can't believe January's disappeared :eek: and we're into Feb:eek: - I like Feb!:D

So ..... No 1 today ..... starting as I mean to go on .... need those NSDs this month!!!

WelshWoofer

I've had a rethink about my own "rules" for NSDs and DDs have never been taken into account for me as they are spread all over the month but I have counted the grocery shopping as a spend. This month I'm not going to do this providing its just groceries bought and not some sneaky books, makeup, newspapers etc in the trolley.

A spendy day today - just had to have some chocolate for tonight after this week at work.:o

Will try harder tomorrow.

Baileys_Babe

Friday 1st - 1st NSD

katholicos

NSD number 1 for me today.

:happy:

coolcats

1NSD for me, good start to the month.

marmiterulesok

freebyfifty wrote: »

Good Luck everyone, capture those NSDs and remember to keep popping in to lets us know all your highs and lows so we can cheer you on or give you a kick up the wotsit :rotfl:

I beg your pudding!:eek:

Just a well I got #1 today then.:p

Please bring back the soggy paintbrush-all is forgiven!

cw18

1st of month = weekday = direct debit = not an NSD

so I grabbed the opportunity to stock up on milk for DS (been getting Mr T's filtered one while it's been on offer - only until 5th - as he likes this type of milk), got myself some el-cheapo chicken nuggets for tea, and picked up some mince and garlic bread so I can make chilli for OH and myself tomorrow (just need to remember to put kidney beans to soak overnight as I've finally finished all my tinned ones). also picked up a card and small pressie for 14th, and some ham for sandwiches - plus some toastie bread and some eggs as OH needs a decent breakfast on Sunday before I drag him to the gym for the first time ever in his life oh! and some Whoopsied pure apple juice made it into my basket as well...


May grab the opportunity to order my new combi oven tonight as well Been dreading spending on that, as my shortlisted ones are all in the £150-£270 range, with my favourites being £245-£270 :eek: I've got £100 towards it (birthday cheque from parents), but that still left me a lot to find - until tonight

Last weekend I had an email inviting me to take part in a user group meeting for my phone & b/band provider - with those who attend being paid £125 for doing so (£100 after Mr TaxMan takes his cut, as I shall have to declare it on my tax return). Had a phonecall on Tuesday from someone related to this asking some questions to help them pick the successful candidates from those who applied - and I've had an email this evening to say I'm in So I no longer had to starve myself for weeks in order to get one of the machines I had at the top of my list :T