The Mad March NSD Challenge

freebyfifty

Good Morning

The front page has been done with some brilliant totals already :j
I love that nearly everyone who joined up has declared at least one NSD, it's not often that happens :T

Well done everyone and keep going

freebyfifty

There are

57

of us taking part in the March NSD Challenge

and so far we have collected

165 NSDs

:T:T:T:T:T

freebyfifty

HeadAboveWater wrote: »

Woohoooooo!!! :j I did do it!! I'm off the mark!!! :j

From the time I leave the house for work until the end of my lunch, that's my 'danger' time! Yes I know it's not even 2pm, but I can safely say I'm finally on my way!!!

1/12 :D:D

Woo Hoo :j Well done. They will come rolling in now. :T

freebyfifty

beanielou wrote: »

NSD no 6 today.
Was hoping to buy new undies but it wasent to be.

Beanie - I am worried :cool: I hope you are not wandering around 'commando' style :rotfl:

I had you down for NSD #6 already!! Are you doing yourself out of a precious NSD????:eek:

freebyfifty

It is FRIDAY :T:T:T:T

Get your wiggle on :rotfl:






Have a great day everyone

HeadAboveWater

solventsoon wrote: »

I must be seriously sickening for something... I keep visiting all my favourite online sites and clicking on things I like the look of, putting them in my basket and then deciding I don't need them... totally unheard of, I'm getting worried :eek: I'm sure the spell will break one day :rotfl::rotfl:

:rotfl::rotfl:

cw18

Was about to pop on and declare yesterday as an NSD, but then I remembered to check my bank account before doing so.

Had a D/Debit go out yesterday, so it wasn't

Another D/Debit's gone out today, but it wasn't going to be an NSD anyway as I'm off to do my weekly Mr T grocery shop before my swimming lesson this afternoon (but I'm about to nip to A!di to check availability/prices of a few of the bits first ) I also need to fill up with liquid gold this afternoon :eek: (Necessary as I've about 60 miles left in car, but will be doing a 70+ mile round trip tomorrow morning to drop off/pick up Mother's Day bits, drop off some stuff younger DS wants from here, and pick up birthday bits for elder DS ready for Wednesday)

Hopefully the weekend will get me a couple more, but I'm not going to count my chickens........

IF

Morning all :hello:

HeadAboveWater

Gosh those penguins are moving waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too fast for me this morning :eek:


:rotfl:

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!