The Love is in the Air February NSD Challenge

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!

beanielou

POsitive vibes Nargle for your dad.
BINDI~Hope today was way way better for you.

NSD no 17 today.
Freeby~Can I increase my target to 19 please?

emslovesmickey

Second target hit - NSD 18. Can i up it to 21 please?

Nargleblast

Took DS into town today - farmers' market on. Got 5 onions, a whole sprout stalk with enough sprouts on it for about 4 meals, 6 potatoes for jacket spuds and a soup bag containing 6 huge carrots, 1 parsnip, 2 small swedes, 2 onions and a chicken stock cube. £3-50 the lot! I'd be paying a lot more than that in the big shops. Also went to a farm stall selling their own organic meat - bought some beef burgers and sausages which looked really good. The burgers were delicious and of course no horses were harmed in the making of this product. They also do pork, bacon, lamb and mutton - had a mutton leg joint from them last weekend, really nice. Proper butchers and greengrocers and market stalls are definitely the best for value and quality. Although Mr Ald1 is worth looking at sometimes for his super six fruit and veg offers.

My Dad had his pre-op appointment today and is raring to go, he can't wait for next week! He has been told he must not lift anything afterwards, not even a kettle, so guess who will be on teamaking duty when he gets home! Good job I am partial to the odd cuppa myself, and I am sure my stepmum won't say no either!

So, OH has scuppered my chance of a NSD tomorrow because he wants me to lend him some cash to pay for his car service tomorrow. He will, of course, reimburse me on payday. So, I think Saturday looks like the next one. February target will not be reached I'm afraid, but I will still reach double figures so no complaints there.

And I haven't said the F word (ner ner, ner ner ner!)

EverTheOptimist

NSD # 10 today. :j:j

Really hoping I'll get number 11 tomorrow as I know I'll be spending over the weekend. And really hoping to get over target.

Aaarrrggghhh as I'm typing this I've just remembered I have my 28 week bloods tomorrow which means paying for parking at the hospital. I might see if I can park for free in a side street.
Can't believe how frustrated I am at having to spend money. Lol. What's happened to me. :rotfl:

beanielou

EverThe~I just wouldent count hospital parking.

MissE001

EverTheOptimist wrote: »

Can't believe how frustrated I am at having to spend money. Lol. What's happened to me. :rotfl:

Well done on reaching your target ETO - isn't it funny how we really grudge spendy days - even when it's only for parking....or an onion :rotfl:

Pleased to report I'm at # 8 /10 :j:j

I'm hoping to reach my target at the weekend - fingers crossed :A

EverTheOptimist

beanielou wrote: »

EverThe~I just wouldent count hospital parking.

I know that's what I should do but that would mean changing my rules mid month. So I probably will count it and try extra hard to make sure I get my final two somehow.

I may re look at my rules from next month to include only non needed spends. As car parking for hospital is needed, especially as I'm heading into my third trimester, as opposed to car parking for clothes shopping purposes.

EverTheOptimist

MissE001 wrote: »

Well done on reaching your target ETO - isn't it funny how we really grudge spendy days - even when it's only for parking....or an onion :rotfl:

Pleased to report I'm at # 8 /10 :j:j

I'm hoping to reach my target at the weekend - fingers crossed :A

Unfortunately I haven't quite made my target yet, I just worded my post badly. Lol. I was hoping to get to 11 tomorrow meaning I still had next mon- thurs to get a few more to take me over target.

Well done on your 8 NSD's. :j

The_Dragon

and woo hoo! another snaffled and locked up safe and sound - so #17 grabbed please