The Love is in the Air February NSD Challenge

jaxsmar

2 out of 2 hopefully today will be a NSD as well but not counting my chickens just yet.:D

PennySaving

Hello!
I had a spendy again today but it was for postage to send off my PPI claims form to MBNA and Egg. Fingers crossed for a good result..
Well done everyone on all your NSDs!

HeadAboveWater

Could have been a NSD but stopped off for a cappuccino on way to work! Only reason was, I was meant to be buying more stuff at lunch so figured I'd do everything in one day! As it turned out, I bought nothing at lunchtime. Dammit!!!! Kicking myself now!!

Better luck tomorrow

solventsoon

BigMummaF wrote: »

My mse reply brain must have been set on yesterday cuz I had a spectacular on another thread too

To explain..the four nsds yesterday were playing bridge (thankfully rules were abided so no-one ended up in the bridge supports *phew* although things did get a bit tetchy when Mr Bun the Baker tried to commandeer Miss Tech the Teacher's oven)
Anyway..no blood was spilled, no 5 came over to help calm things down & they spent the rest of the day recreating $pice Gurls dance routines :rotfl:

Phew.... you had me worried there for a bit BMF..... that was way too subtle for me:rotfl::rotfl:

Glad no 5 arrived safe and sound

ButterflyBee wrote: »

Thank you ever so much for the :T motivation and I am delighted to add another NSD today that is No2 for me now.

NSD2

it's a pleasure ButterflyBee and yay to NSD no 2, you're definitely on a roll now:j:j

ifwisheswerehorses... wrote: »

Afternoon all :hello:

Love this If :rotfl::rotfl:

MummyRivett

If

I had to look at the picture a few times before I finally got it. It's been a hard week

EverTheOptimist

NSD # 2 today, very nearly headed out to the shop, but resisted.

Baileys_Babe

NSD 3 today :j

Looking at when & where I spend so I can make a few changes so I can have more NSD's

Jonesy88

Checking in with NSD 4

Hope everybody is well.

IF

Evening all :hello:

Got my 3rdd NSD

Thank you
IF…x

IF

Hiya my No Spendy chums :hello:
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 we ask you to highlight your number of NSDs in a colour and in bold so that Freeby, Spoon, BDINI and Marmite can see them easily when they whizz through the posts - red would be best but they don't really mind as long as they 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!