The Lets Make It Awesome April NSD Thread

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!

Nargleblast

And a very full-of-busy Nargle whooshes by to declare Number 1 NSD

firmly chained up in the Cauldron of Doom!

Catch you all later this week with hopefully another one or two for the collection.

charleybear

I'd like to save up again,
although I have had 2 spend days so far.
but, i did buy a sealed savings tin so
that I save some money if i do spend.

my goal would be 15 no spend days for april, i think i can manage it as I don't have many if any birthdays or events this month.

Will have to watch what i spend now, spent quite a bit.

MissE001

flowerofscotland wrote: »

Have ordered some birthday presents today so not a NSD but have covered the whole month's gifts in one go (and kept within my budget). It's great the way this thread makes you think about spending even on spendy days (if that makes sense).

Ha ha, yes makes perfect sense to me :rotfl: I spent most of my weekly budget yesterday because I had to spend anyway in the hope that I'll nab some early NSDs. Pleased to report success! #1 / 15 safely in the bag today :A

beanielou

New slippers & an Indian today :rotfl: :eek;

MissE001

Ah beanie, sometimes we just need a wee treat

And for the first time ever I have the same number of NSDs as you I know it won't last but enjoying it while it does

rogueylawyer

Hi, I'd like to join the challenge? I'm trying to pay off all my debt by Xmas, so I will count a NSD for each day I don't spend on my personal debit card or cash. I've drawn out cash for my spends and have taken my debit card out of my purse in an effort to limit my spending.

Today was a NSD as I only paid for fuel on the joint account. I aim to have 10 NSDs as it's my first month.

1/10

new_leaf_88

Hi

Can I join again this month please. I would like to aim for 10 NSD with 3 in a row.

I have already managed 1 NSD yesterday :j:j

Thanks for running the thread again it really helps me to focus.
Good luck everyone :T:T

armchairexpert

Hello!

I dropped off the face of the thread last month, to my shame, but I'm back this month.

Can I declare a modest 10 NSD please, because I have an upcoming holiday to the US this month and that will be expensive like woah. I'm hoping this thread will help me contain the damage by limitating spends before the trip.

And with that in mind, I am already up to 2 NSD and hopefully a third today.

Right, now I'll go back and read the rest of the thread like a nice person.

solventsoon

marmiterulesok wrote: »

Oh and marmite also got #1.:j:j

Woohoooo... well done you... and thanks for the fabby update marmite

marmiterulesok wrote: »

Welcome back spoony!Hope that things are well with you.

Thank you:A Things are settling down again now, finally, and normality is slowly being restored, much to my relief

Hope all's well with you and that the big freeze has finally ended