The Lets Make It Awesome April NSD Thread

charleybear

just popped by to say it's a spend day for me,
i have to get a weekly bus pass for college

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!

black_cat

SloventSoon and Sazzie:

I'm glad I got my hair done. It cost less than I thought, but I still begrudge the two hours it took - glad I took reading material! Probably won't visit the hairdressers for another year now!

Planning on a NSD today...
All the best to everyone.

IF

Morning all :hello:

I have my 3rd NSD

Thank you Freeby, Spoon, Marmite, Cheryl and Sazzie
IF…x

MissE001

freebyfifty wrote: »

I have been gathering a little bit of statistical information just to keep us all on the straight and narrow.

Although there have been loads more of us taking part in the NSD challenges the past few months, it doesn't necessarily mean we have been doing better

In January there were - 124 of us doing the challenge and we averaged 10.64 NSDs each.

In February there were - 90 of us doing the challenge and we averaged 9.18 NSDs each.

In March there were - 62 of us doing the challenge and we averaged 11.08 NSDs each.

So March was our collective best month so far.:j:j



So, I am declaring a group challenge :eek: Lets make April the best average yet :j So far we are only at 1.73 NSDs each, so get those nets out and get NSD hunting :rotfl:



Hope that all made sense

Wow, thanks Freeby - I love the idea of a group challenge....and you inspired me to do some more sums :cool:

If we continue at this rate, we'll get to 10.38. And.....if everyone gets their target, we'll get to 12.6 which would be our best month this year :j

I'm in for the challenge (although not NSD today for reasons previously mentioned )

black_cat

freebyfifty wrote: »

So, I am declaring a group challenge :eek: Lets make April the best average yet :j So far we are only at 1.73 NSDs each, so get those nets out and get NSD hunting :rotfl:

I'm up for that! I'm hoping to get more than my 10, as I'm back at work on Monday. I'm enjoying this thread - it makes me not want to spend (even when I have to)

EverTheOptimist

Well not a great week for me. I have spent everyday of April so far. :eek: even with not needing to do my usual supermarket top ups. From a spend point of view it's really not good having hubby around.

Today will probably be a spend day too.

Will try harder next week, don't want to drag the stats down.

freebyfifty

MissE001 wrote: »

Wow, thanks Freeby - I love the idea of a group challenge....and you inspired me to do some more sums :cool:

If we continue at this rate, we'll get to 10.38. And.....if everyone gets their target, we'll get to 12.6 which would be our best month this year :j

I'm in for the challenge (although not NSD today for reasons previously mentioned )

black_cat wrote: »

I'm up for that! I'm hoping to get more than my 10, as I'm back at work on Monday. I'm enjoying this thread - it makes me not want to spend (even when I have to)

I am glad that it has given some motivation to you :j

My job is done :rotfl:

kerri_gt

Love the stats Freeby - I bet you're like me with the spreadsheets and lists constantly on the go Sadly prob not a NSD for me today, need to do a couple of things in town later which should be LSD butt not a NSD (that's Low Spend Day btw..I'm not off into the 60's :rotfl:)

freebyfifty

kerri_gt wrote: »

Love the stats Freeby - I bet you're like me with the spreadsheets and lists constantly on the go Sadly prob not a NSD for me today, need to do a couple of things in town later which should be LSD butt not a NSD (that's Low Spend Day btw..I'm not off into the 60's :rotfl:)

I love love love a spreadsheet and a list. I sometimes have a list of what lists I need


Have a great LSD type day :rotfl: