The Mad March NSD Challenge

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!

complimentschemistry

Hi there!

I am very proud to say I reached my Feb goal of 8 and in a row of 3! Might seem small but it's the first one I've done in a long time and I've reached my goal, woop woop! :j

Anywho, goals for March...

Gonna go for 3 in a row & 10

Good luck everyone

PennySaving

Hi Everyone,
Can't believe a new month is nearly upon us again! Apart from Mothers Day & Easter I seem to have a relatively quiet month in store for March so will aim for 12 NSDs again.
Thank you everyone, I have definitely found these threads to motivational!

MissE001

MrsCautious wrote: »

Hey thank you for the welcome, I'm already motivated and inspired by so much on these boards. I am very grateful. Times are tough for me at the moment, I don't have financial worries per se but my whole world has changed and I'm having to adapt and change the best I can, you are helping me find focus Xxx[/QUOTE

Welcome MrsCautious - the people on these forums and this thread in particular are just lovely. Hope we keep your spirits up

Thanks for the new thread Freeby. I've decided to count D/Ds and S/Os as spends this month so will aim for 12

fedupandskint

I'm aiming a liitle lower for March - 17 NSDs please!

kittiej

Hi Freeby, can I join in this month please?

I'll aim for 25 NSD which means there are 6 available days to spend!

Debtbusterintraining

Hello I must be mad but put me down for 9 again please. I'm hoping with a few more days than feb this might be achievable

new_leaf_88

Hi Freeby

Can you put me down for 10 please with 3 in a row.

Hope to do better than I did last month but have a trip to London to factor into my budget so will be a bit demanding.

Thanks for running this thread we are all very grateful:T:T

armchairexpert

I already know I'm out for February, so could I be down for 15 please for March? I'm hoping that March will be my debt free month, so I am super ultra determined this time!

And 3-in-a-row as well please?

couldsavemore_2

count me in please. would like to aim for20 NSD again for March. I have a lot of important birthdays this month along with Easter so need to be careful but also realistic.

I will also aim to do 5. in a row

thanks and good luck everone