The Love is in the Air February NSD Challenge

freebyfifty

There are

90

of us taking part in the NSD Challenge

and so far we have collected

628 NSDs

:T:T:T:T:T

wildcherry

Morning All,

I was hoping that today was going to be a NSD but my parents want to come over and bring me a new (to me) sofa so I need to offer them some nourishment in return so will have to buy some bits for lunch. Obviously it saves me buying a new sofa as mine has seen (much!) better days. I didn't know until yesterday that they wanted to come over today and I said I would help a friend out by storing some of their stuff for a couple of weeks so my garage is going to be very full!
Still, its helping them out and me out (with a new sofa) and I'm certain it will work out in the end.
I might get tempted to buy some new cushions though too....and maybe a new throw. At least if I have the throw when I start turning off the heating at night (when kids are in bed) at least I won't freeze!!
Next weekend there will be no heating in the day and only a couple of hours morning and evening. I tend to not have it on that much but when we are all here on a weekend, I feel very mean when its cold in the house and the kids are playing.
Its going to be a busy day......

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

Morning all :hello:


Got my 13th NSD

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


This is clever!! :eek::rotfl:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqxTUxzOceE

freebyfifty

Thanks If,

That cheered me up for the first time in ages :rotfl:

MissE001

Brilliant If....made me laugh out loud :rotfl:

BDINI - big hugs, hope your day isn't too hideous and you come home to a lovely clean house and an appreciative friend!

MOT now postponed till next Saturday - got a Groupon offer this morning for MOT, service and car wash for £29....hope it's not too good to be true! Car now booked in for next Saturday - hopefully saved £100 and haven't just wasted £29 on the Groupon voucher.

Still no NSD though as I've now paid for the voucher - target in sight tomorrow

Thanks again to all of you who keep us up to date :A

fedupandskint

IF - thank you, that made me laugh out loud - hilarious!

Looks like I'm on course for a NSD today as I'm not planning on going anywhere to spend - nice!

Candlewick

Morning everyone :wave:

We have had the odd flakes of snow here and it looks freezing out so I will definitely be staying in to catch-up with housework, cooking, ironing and resting which will keep me occupied for the day. I am hoping to spend more time resting though . Boyfriend over later and he usually brings the wine so it will be day 17 for me today.

Enjoy your Saturday. Try and stay warm.

CW

emslovesmickey

Yesterday was not an NSD but today is so clock me up for 19 please

cw18

Another weekly check in from me

Last on here on Sunday, when I attained number 8. Since then

Monday was NSD #9. Once again decided I didn't need any groceries

Tuesday was another spend day - and a huuuuuuge one at that, as my sight test confirmed I did need a new prescription (and therefore new glasses). My distance sight only had a very minimal change, but my reading distance has 'gone up 3 lenses' according to the optician (from 1.0 to 1.75 in both eyes). As well as those (and bus fare) I managed to buy most of the birthday cards I need for the year, an Easter pressies, a couple of 'bits' for OH's birthday (November) and Christmas, Mother's Day card, several books, a few magazines and some casual clothes (3 pairs of leggings, 2 lightweight tops and a jumper) and some chocolate for me

Wednesday became NSD #10, Thursday was NSD #11, and Friday was NSD #12 which took me to target :T

I though I was going to have to go out today to get some milk for DS, but it turns out he has just over half a 2litre container left, so he'll have to make do with that when he comes back tomorrow evening until after I hit Mr T on Monday morning (after PT and swim) - so today is NSD #13 subject to nothing unexpected cropping up.


Other news for this week if that I handed in my notice at work yesterday :eek:

I'm never going to fit in there until I can regularly turn up late, take longer breaks than I should, spend half my shift texting friends, tick off jobs I haven't done and only make a half-hearted attempt at those I do do without feeling guilty about any of it. I've come to realise in the last few weeks that I don't relax until late Saturday afternoon (having clocked off at 2:30 on Friday), start stressing again Tuesday lunch time (for a 6am start on Wednesday) and am back to chewing my nails as far down as I can (having stopped around Easter 2009). Haven't mentioned it to OH or family yet, but I know I've done the right thing as yesterday was the first time this year I've come home from work and not wanted to crawl straight into bed......