The Love is in the Air February NSD Challenge

wildcherry

Finally a NSD day so that is NSD #5 for me. Its been hard to find them and tomorrow definitely won't be as its my youngest 's birthday on Thursday so I need to go buy ingredients tomorrow.
Photographer wasn't at studio at the appointment time which I am very unhappy about. Have already emailed and am going to try and get my deposit back. It wasn't much but that's not the point"

Anyway, hope everyone else is getting a few more NSD's bagged today!

beanielou

So NSD no 10 today.
Very cold today.

flowerofscotland

Have been even busier than usual for a few days but am still on the NSD hunt so would like to report

NSD#3 for last Wednesday, #4 for Sunday and #5 for Monday making a total to date of 5/16

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!

IF

Afternoon all :hello:
Got my 6th NSD

Thank you Freeby, Spoon, BDINI and Marmite
IF…x

Nargleblast

Happy Pancake Day, everyone!

IVA review forms sent off, so that job ticked off on my list.
Car needed new pollen filter so spendy day today, but it was a planned spendy day (goodies from the Ringtons Tea chappie) so no worries. Tomorrow will be buying last minute St Val's day stuff (soon creeps up on you when your mind is elsewhere) but I spy some NSDs a-lurking later this week.
Blooming cold today here, pathetic attempt at snow earlier but the real stuff forecast for tomorrow. Then after that a lot milder...(sings..."We're having a heatwave....feel it hot hot hot!...")

ButterflyBee

Well I can add today to my NSD so this is now a total of 6 but I have broken the cycle to reach my goal of 5/5 in a row.

Keep going........:T

HeadAboveWater

NSD today again - did nip out earlier to buy milk (and a pancake!) but took the money from my 'kitty' that I have at work

That'll will be number 5 for me

(Love the cartoon IF! Tempted to try it myself!! :rotfl:)

PennySaving

Happy Pancake Day Everyone!
I have MIA for a few days but happy to report NSD 4 for me

Jonesy88

Nargleblast wrote: »

(sings..."We're having a heatwave....feel it hot hot hot!...")

I have that tune in my head now! "Feel it hot hot hot, do dooo"
Still atleast it's a happy tune

Today wasnt a spend day as i bought a mcdonalds (sorry)