The Mad March NSD Challenge

freebyfifty

It's time for a Friday wiggle




Have a great day everyone

MrsCautious

Tough day for me today, I lost my husband in May, it's his birthday today, he would have been 45. To say I have no interest in spending money would be like saying Simon Cowell can be a bit of a big head now and again. Hope you don't mind me posting this, I'm a bit discombobulated (which is an amazing word.) heading to his mum's house later x

emslovesmickey

MrsCautious wrote: »

Tough day for me today, I lost my husband in May, it's his birthday today, he would have been 45. To say I have no interest in spending money would be like saying Simon Cowell can be a bit of a big head now and again. Hope you don't mind me posting this, I'm a bit discombobulated (which is an amazing word.) heading to his mum's house later x

I'm sorry for your loss. Birthdays and anniversaries are always hard, and i know its a cliche but it does get easier given time. Maybe you could find a way, with his mum, to celebrate his birthday? Do something that he loved to do, or eat something that he loved to eat, or just spend the day remembering the good times.

On the subject of NSD's, as usual this isn't one as its rent day.

The_Boss

freebyfifty wrote: »

Good Morning

Is everyone raring to go???

A huge welcome to everyone and lotsaluck for hitting those targets in March
Remember, we are the NSD posse and are watching you always :rotfl:especially when that purse/wallet comes out :rotfl:

Raring to go but my first NSD will be Sunday due to groceries/haircut today and date tomorrow evening

MrsCautious

emslovesmickey wrote: »

I'm sorry for your loss. Birthdays and anniversaries are always hard, and i know its a cliche but it does get easier given time. Maybe you could find a way, with his mum, to celebrate his birthday? Do something that he loved to do, or eat something that he loved to eat, or just spend the day remembering the good times.

On the subject of NSD's, as usual this isn't one as its rent day.

Hey thanks, am at hospital so my daughters can be checked out, will be joining family later for a thoughtful time x

IF

Morning all :hello:

Will have my 1st NSD today.

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

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!

solventsoon

MrsCautious wrote: »

Tough day for me today, I lost my husband in May, it's his birthday today, he would have been 45. To say I have no interest in spending money would be like saying Simon Cowell can be a bit of a big head now and again. Hope you don't mind me posting this, I'm a bit discombobulated (which is an amazing word.) heading to his mum's house later x

I'm so sorry to hear that MrsC and of course it's fine to post your thoughts, we're here to try to support each other. I'm not surprised you're a bit discombobulated (I love that word too ) today, being the first anniversary, the first one of everything is the hardest.

Be kind to yourself today, hopefully you can share some happy memories with his mum later.

Take care
Sending you lots of hugs
spoon xxx

karenccs67

MrsCautious wrote: »

Tough day for me today, I lost my husband in May, it's his birthday today, he would have been 45. To say I have no interest in spending money would be like saying Simon Cowell can be a bit of a big head now and again. Hope you don't mind me posting this, I'm a bit discombobulated (which is an amazing word.) heading to his mum's house later x

So sorry hun, I hope you and his mum can do something lovely to remember him, for close family members we have lost, on their birthdays I buy a big bunch of flowers, theyre something lovely to look at and remember someone special. xxx



Not a NSD for me today, but I have done the weekly food shop, topped up the car with petrol and had a McD's breakfast, traffic in Hitchin was at a standstill everywhere this morning, so I thought Id park up for a while, I was also hungry, didnt have time to eat before doing the school run.

chrisico

Could I join in? I did this challenge last year for a couple of months and was really motivated then moved house, twice!

Could I put myself down for 10 NSDs please?

Chris