The Mad March NSD Challenge

positivelypurple

Finally I can come in and report NSD#2! It's been a long time coming and hopefully the start of a bit of roll now. I really need them this week.

My little lad is quite poorly and has been since Friday. DH is taking the day off work as I get docked a day's pay whereas he doesn't. Feeling terribly guilty and will stay at home tomorrow if he's not any better.

Happy Mother's Day to those celebrating :coffee:

freebyfifty

Good Morning

Another update from me.

Lots of brilliant NSDs are rolling in. Well done everyone.

Beanielou – You are doing so well and managed a brilliant NSD #9. :T Well done.:T

Bigmumma – You are doing well with NSD #6 in the bag. :THave a lovely Mother’s day and enjoy those berries....if there’s any left.:rotfl:

Candlewick – Well done on bagging NSD #5. :T That’s an excellent number to have. I just relisted a whole lot of stuff on eb*y too. Here’s hoping we are lucky.:)

Delilahh – An excellent NSD #4 and 3-in-a-Row for you. :T Keep going, you are doing really well.:)

Dragon – NSD #7 safely captured which is a brilliant number to have. :T Good luck for lots more.:T

Emloves – Well done on nabbing NSD #7. :T You are on a definite roll.:)

Fancynancy – Well done on that NSD #5 and 4-in-a-Row. :T Keep going, you are doing really well.

Fedup – Another one in the bag for you and now you are up to NSD #5. :T Great going, well done.:)

Flowerofscotland - It sounds like you have had a horrible spendy month so far so well done on getting another two in the bag to take you up to NSD #4.:T Hope that you can stop spending for a while now, you deserve a break.:)

Flubbery – Don’t you just love pj days? :T It got you NSD #6 which is excellent. Well done.:T

Kittiej – Good luck with all that planning. Do a spreadsheet. I love a spreadsheet. Well done on NSD #6, here’s hoping for many more.:T

Marmite – NSD #7 all safely tucked away and 4-in-a-Row too. :T That is great, well done. :T Have a great day off.:)

Mrs Cautious – You are doing brilliantly.:T NSD #5 collected and lots more to come I am sure.:T That target will be smashed in no time.:)

Positivelypurple – Another one collected and you are up to NSD #2. :T Hope your little one starts to feel much better soon.:A

Spoony – You are doing so well with NSD #8. :T Good luck for getting another one today and a de-cluttered house too.:T

freebyfifty

The front page is all up to date

I had a horrible spendy day yesterday and it was all on groceries :mad: We just seemed to need everything and I blew my budget out of the water :mad::o
On the positive side, my cupboards and freezer are fit to burst so I refuse to buy anything but fresh stuff until everything is used up :mad:


Have a great Sunday everyone. Happy Mother's day :A:A

freebyfifty

There are

57

of us taking part in the March NSD Challenge

and so far we have collected

196 NSDs

:T:T:T:T:T

freebyfifty

It's me again - I'm sorry

Is there anyone out there who would like to help with the updating??? Please???
It is not an onerous task and is quite enjoyable reading everyones updates and being able to make your own comments - especially if you are nosey and opinionated like me :o:rotfl:
It would be just one evening/morning a week and we would be very grateful for your help.

Thank you

IF

Morning all :hello:

Got my 5th NSD

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

Think this is very apt for today :beer:

freebyfifty

And on that note ^^^^

Has anyone seen/heard from LMH, BDINI or Red?????

If you are lurking, lets us know you're okay :A



ETA - bloomin' heck If sneaked in inbetween posts.:rotfl:

freebyfifty

Another couple of brilliant pictures If :A
Thank you for making me smile

IF

freebyfifty wrote: »

Another couple of brilliant pictures If :A
Thank you for making me smile

Your welcome and have a lovely day Freeby :beer:

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!