The Love is in the Air February NSD Challenge

coolcats

10 NSD may still reach the monthly target, didn't think it was going to be possible this month from how the start had been. But getting better!

poohbear59

I haven't been checking in here but have kept a count of NSDs. 14NSDs now.

Tiggy10

5 NSD's to date! 2 in a row so far!

Nargleblast

And another NSD today makes 9 !!!!

jaxsmar

Avoided temptation today, craving a large bar of chocolate but I know me, before I know it I've picked up this and that gone to the check out and bam £5.00 plus spent on rubbish... so I'll bake a cake! so I will be adding today as a NSD.


11 NSD's

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!

HeadAboveWater

Spendy day for me (although it was expected!)

Went to Mr Ts at lunch and stocked up on *ahem* a few *ahem* snacks for work!! I honestly shouldn't have to buy any more for at least a month!! :rotfl:

bt1

Claiming #9 today!

That's 3 in a row out of 6 half way there! Must get to Saturday without spending!!

EverTheOptimist

NSD # 9 for me today. :j

Was supposed to be a spend day but friend cancelled tea as she has a chest infection. I have been fighting the urge all day to spend money. Really wanted to just buy, buy, buy. I've also resisted the urge to buy tea, I didn't get anything out of the freezer as was supposed to be out. Need to find a tin of soup or something.

Really pleased with the NSD, I also need to hold on to the £10-£15 I had allocated for tea tonight as we will prob get together in the next few weeks so just need to defer rather than having to find the money again.

MissE001

Quick update to say bagged #7 / 10

I need an onion tomorrow - honestly, one onion will mean a spendy day tomorrow....only because I used the last of the frozen variety last night making my dinners for the rest of the week. I've got a butternut squash to make into risotto...once I get the onion!

So pleased though....before this thread I wouldn't even have thought about it. And I'm pretty confident I'll get to my target :T

Thanks once again to all of you lovely counter-uppers and motivators for this lovely thread :j