The Mad March NSD Challenge

Candlewick

Morning everyone :wave:

NSD 10 for me today please.

Freeby, thanks for updating. Although I don't have any planned spend days coming up, I could easily get caught out with the unexpected work related expenses. :eek:

Spoon, I could become addicted!

MrsCautious, I agree about the temptation of a bread maker. It came up once before and quite fancy one myself.

I have a couple of watchers on my new listings from last night. I would have thought people would have better things to do on a Saturday night!

Have a good Sunday everyone but it's another wet one here.

CW

kerri_gt

Cooeeeyyyyy....declaring NSD #10 for yesterday and into double figures :j Was thinking today would be one but just seen a necklace one an online sale site that my DM might like, £8 from about £40 so even with p&p its a good buy. I also know she's looking for something for her sister as they were burgled recently and my aunt had all her everyday jewellery half-inched :mad:

The_Boss

Candlewick wrote: »

Morning everyone :wave:

NSD 10 for me today please.

CW

Shhh, it's 1126am and you're tempting fate

Candlewick

The_Boss wrote: »

Shhh, it's 1126am and you're tempting fate

Ha, ha I commit early because I don't tend to spend at the weekends. I'm not a big online shopper unless I really need it and can't wait. I could never do that during the week though.

My day is taken up with cooking so far (couple of evening meals and lunches for next week), then off to deliver the cat food to the cat rescue centre I bought Friday night. Later am going to my parents for dinner. I am being chauffered by my sister to my parents today so no driving then.

CW

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, Marmite, Cheryl and Sazzie 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!

fedupandskint

NSD 11 and 12 gained this weekend.

And will be raking them in next week too as very few pennies to spend!

PennySaving

Hello again! Well happy to declare NSD 7. :j

beanielou

NSD no 15 today.

Happy Sunday all

marmiterulesok

Hello fellow non-spendy folk!:wave:

I'm claiming #13 for today please.

I'm another big fan of breadmakers btw.I used to enjoy making bread by hand,and thought that I'd miss it (all the kneading-great for getting rid of tension).I don't really miss it after all.What I love about making my own bread is that I know exactly what's in it:flour,yeast,water,porridge oats,oil,some sugar and salt (small amounts quite frankly) and some dried milk powder.No additives/preservatives/glucose/fructose or emulsified do-dahs in sight.:D Mind you,I'm not sure if dried milk powder is just that-must look at the package.
Plus I have delevoped a recipe I am very happy with and that works every time.:)

pennysaving glad that GS is improving.I hope that the op for your MIL goes smoothly-what a worry for you all.(((big hugs)))

Happy St Patrick's Day everyone.I might have a glass of that punch if that's ok-thanks Igor!:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Nargleblast

Had to buy more catfood and chicken food and straw today as four pairs of beady eyes kept looking at me in a soulful sort of way.....wonder where the next potential NSD will come from?