The Mad March NSD Challenge

The_Dragon

Grabbed #7 on the way past yesterday! :j

The_Boss

The_Boss wrote: »

Friday will be an NSD for me - or have I just put the mockers on it?

Yes, I did put the mockers on it! Had to send my cut up driving license and updated log book with new address to the DVLA (one address for each - grr) - no problem there as I already had stamps, but decided to send both by recorded delivery after reading some people on here had issues with the DVLA receiving things. Would rather spend the extra £2 and know they got there than risk some oik running around with a form of my ID...

Having spent money on recorded delivery I also did a mini shop for essentials. This means that next NSD (number 4) will hopefully be on Monday (unless I have put the mockers on that too now!).

BigMummaF

Can't stop..I'm up to no 6, but going on a spendy today. I need to pay for the flowers to take up the cemetary tomorrow, find summat for muvva & get the pud for tomorrow when The Offspring come over for a roast. It's fresh berries I'm after so thought it best to get them as late as possible. ( to stop me eating them & having to get more :whistle: is closer to the truth :rotfl:)

Have a Good W/E Peeps :wave:

fedupandskint

NSD 5 today thank you!

flowerofscotland

Wed and Fri were NSD days # 3 and 4 but this has been an horrendous month so far for spending - new boiler, new shower, car service and MOT (paid on credit card so don't need to find cash until next month) and new slow cooker. All absolutely essential spends so it's a good thing that I am curbing non essential spending through this thread.

Friday was an unexpected NSD as friend cancelled our lunch meeting and I managed to find something in the cupboard to take in for a packed lunch - before this thread I would have bought a sandwich because have run out of bread until delivery Sat.

Grocery delivery arrived today and am very pleased that it is almost all fresh stuff as I am trying not to buy anything just to store. So only had to go to local butchers for roast for Sunday- his meat is wonderful and I will get at least 3 other meals and some of my packed lunches out of the joint.

Love reading all your posts when I can - great inspiration

IF

Afternoon all :hello:

wildcherry

Afternoon All,

Two spendy days unfortunately and tomorrow will be one too. I'm hoping Monday I will start with renewed vigour on several fronts but definitely with the NSD's.
A couple of days and my default setting has always been to 'treat' myself. I'm learning to just 'sit' with how I feel and work through it that way but it takes longer and is more uncomfortable but on the plus side doesn't cause me to put on weight or spend more money!!
Having said that, I bought a chocolate orange as they were half price in Mr S today and I no doubt chomp through a bit of that this evening. It won't be with the (used to be) obligatory bottle of wine though so I'm getting there....Its a journey after all...

Hope everyone is having a cheery Saturday and the weather (its rainy and cold here) hasn't ruined anybodies plans.

Fancynancy77

Checking in with 5 NSD's and 4 in a row.

kittiej

Afternoon everyone :wave:

Dropping in to report another NSD so that's 6 NSD so far, I would have had a NSD yesterday but had to buy some bread and other bits n bobs.

I only have 3 NSD's left for the month :doh:I need to plan, plan and plan again

Good luck to everyone else!

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!