The Mad March NSD Challenge

cw18

freebyfifty wrote: »

I never count spends on groceries, as they are (to me) an essential.

OH and I were discussing what should/shouldn't count as a spend for this if you only counted non-essentials just this last weekend. I know everyone will have their own take on some of these (and how they run this challenge - hence why everyone has their own rules which work for them personally, which is one of the best things of this challenge :T), but this is pretty much where we ended up.....

Mortgage/rent and Council Tax are essentials. You do have some control over them, but the cost of moving to somewhere smaller/cheaper could well take a good while to recover so not really viable to do often.

Water is tricky - depends on where you live / whether or not you have a water meter. We're not in Scotland so it's not included in CT, but I'm on a meter (meaning I can control the cost) while OH's not (meaning he can leave a tap running 24/7 without paying extra). So while we agreed it's something we need, it's certainly something I have to monitor closely.

Gas/Electricity (and oil or whatever else anyone uses) - again essential, but could be squandered or controlled carefully.

Car and all related expenses - not essential for me, but it is for OH. He works a 3 weeks shift system, and he can't get in on public transport for one of the shifts.

Bus/train/tram/taxi fares - again not essential for me, but would be for OH if he didn't have a car.

TV licence - definite non-essential (I've not had for over 2 years)

Sky/Cable etc - definite non-essential

Mobile phone - non-essential

Broadband - non-essential (could use internet in local library in short doses)

Home phone - tough one with the demise of local pay phones. My closest one disappeared recently, and that was a good 5 minute brisk walk from home! I'm looking at twice that walk now I still came down (marginally) on the non-essential side though.

Clothes/shoes - we all need some, but I expect almost all of use have far more than needed.... and without massive changes in weight I know I could last a long while without needing any more. Couldn't actually come to a definitive agreement on this one!

Gym / personal trainer / swimming lessons / fitness equipment - definitely all non-essential.

Books, magazines, DVDs, CDs - non-essentials. Library is just down the road, and there are plenty of events in the year when people buy me presents that could be from this category

Window cleaner - non-essential (though I'd have to overcome my fear of heights if I wanted to see out of my bedroom window )

Groceries - essential, but could spiral out of control if I had fillet steak every day So another one that needs to be carefully controlled.

And so the list went on......

I have budgets for every category, so I could class something as a spend only if it took me over the relevant budget - but is that the budget for the month, or once I've blown the budget for the year? Guess that's another debate :think:

That's why I've always counted every penny I part with as a spend - no grey areas that way

And it's also why I'm not excluding all groceries now. If I did I know I wouldn't see using up the freezer/cupboard contents as such an important issue. But if buying something new that I have an alternative in stock for counts against me while buying small bits to complete a meal doesn't, then I'm hopefully that'll be enough to see gaps appearing :T (Just maybe freezers will be ready for a partial restock at a food festival on 4th May. And hopefully by not shopping for as much food between now and then I'll also have the money to cover the restock even though it's going to be much better qualiity - and more expensive - food)

kittiej

Hi everyone, hope the weather isn't as miserable with you as it is here in wet Wales

Another 2 NSD to report making my total 5NSD so far.

I've just realised that I don't include my bills and debt payments like some of you NSD enthusiasts :T I'm trying to cut back on the spending I have control over - oh how I wish I didn't have bills to pay :rotfl:

cw18

kittiej wrote: »

I've just realised that I don't include my bills and debt payments like some of you NSD enthusiasts :T I'm trying to cut back on the spending I have control over

which is the beauty of this challenge - you can include/exclude to suit yourself and how your household works :beer:

- oh how I wish I didn't have bills to pay :rotfl:

don't we all

HeadAboveWater

It's the UNnecessary spending I'm trying to keep a tight rein on! Had to discount the grocery shopping as OH could spring that on me at any time, even after managing so well at not spending during the day.

It's the takeaway coffee in the morning, wee trip to Poundland or Tescos for snacks or 'stuff', online shopping, meeting friends for lunch - those are the things I have to get a hold on and what I'm trying to control!

And so far I still haven't managed a NSD in March yet! Yesterday I met my SIL for lunch - and it was my turn :(

Aiming for one today - again - so fingers, legs, toes, arms and everything else crossed please :D:D

solventsoon

HeadAboveWater wrote: »

And so far I still haven't managed a NSD in March yet! Yesterday I met my SIL for lunch - and it was my turn :(

Aiming for one today - again - so fingers, legs, toes, arms and everything else crossed please :D:D

All crossed :D come on... you can do it!!

IF

Morning all :hello:

Got my 4th NSD

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

Debtbusterintraining

Declaring my first NSD for march,so 1/9 for me.

Delilahh

Checking in with yesterdays NSD

2/12 NSD

Fancynancy77

Checking in with 2 more NSD's for Tuesday and Wednesday. So now i have 4 NSD's and 3 in a row.
Today will be an NSD no doubt but you never know what could crop up.
Tomorrow is grocery day, Fuel up day and a little treat day :j

Thanks for the very warm welcome. I'm getting used to not spending now :j

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!