May the NSD Force Be With You - May NSD Challenge

freebyfifty

Welcome to the May No Spend Day (NSD) thread!!

We are a happy (and some might say mildly insane) bunch doing battle with those retailers - and there’s plenty of temptation out there at the moment. We are seriously committed to saving money, but nobody said it can't be done with a smile on your face - so we organise riotous nights out and gatecrash any function going - all without leaving the comfort of our own imaginations or armchairs!

On a slightly more serious note, we are here to help each other avoid spending for the number of days we feel we can manage to try to take back some control over our hard-earned money. What you class as a "spend'" is entirely your choice; some people will try to shop on the days DD/SO etc are paid, whilst others will not include essentials such as rent. Have a look for a post from our sponsor (and godmother of this challenge) BigMummaF, this contains some guidelines and ideas for starting you off on the challenge.

It’s amazing how inventive you get when you’re determined NOT to spend - from weird menu ingredients to surprising DIY solutions - but you know what? 99% of the time those wacky ideas work.


Link to last month's challenge is below so any newcomers can see what we get up to (hmmmmm... on second thoughts, that might put you off...)

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4522813

freebyfifty

Well, they say that "April showers bring May flowers" - Lets hope that's true! But just in case it isn't, here are some to keep us going


1st Target Met 2nd Target Met 3rd Target Met

Target Exceeded



The Challengers



AGirlWrites – 15/
Armchair – 15/
Baileys – 10/
Beanie – 14/14 Target Met 2nd Target Met 18/18 3rd Target Met 20/20
Bigmumma – 16/3
Busybumble – 10/8
Candlewick – 23/13
Charleybear – 10/10 Target Met Target Exceeded 10/11
Cw18 – 12/12 Target Met Target Exceeded 12/15
Debtfreefuture - 12/12 Target Met
Delilahh – 10/
Donna d – 10/2
Dragon – 10/10 Target Met 2nd Target Met 15/15 3rd Target Met 18/18
Evertheoptimist – 10/10 Target Met 2nd Target Met 14/14Target Exceeded 14/18
Fedup – 17/17 Target Met 2nd Target Met 20/20 3rd Target Met 23/23 Target Exceeded 26/28
Flowerofscotland – 12/12 Target Met
Freeby – 15/15 Target Met 2nd Target Met 20/203rd Target Met 24/24Target Exceeded 24/26
Gettingthere – 10/10 Target Met 2nd Target Met 14/14
Headabove –12/12 Target Met Target Exceeded 12/14
Heyjude – 12/12 Target Met 2nd Target Met 14/14Target Increased 15/14
If – 17/17 Target Met
Jaxsmar – 14/14 Target Met
Jelly biactol – 10/10 Target Met Target Exceeded 10/13
Julie2710 – 10/6
Karenccs - 10/9
Karens42 – 16/
Kerri – 16/16 Target Met Target Exceeded 16/20
LocalAngel – 10/1
Longbowgilly – 10/5
Lottie – 10/8
Madscientist – 15/15 Target Met Target Exceeded 15/18
Marmite- 17/17 Target Met
MissE – 15/15 Target MetTarget Exceeded 15/16
ModestyB – 10/10 Target Met Target Exceeded 10/18
Motoko –15/13
MrsCautious – 15/5
Nargle – 12/12 Target Met 2nd Target Met 15/15 3rd Target Met 17/17Target Exceeded 17/18
Nomi01 – 10/
Oodnood – 22/22 Target Met
Purplesarah – 15/15 Target MetTarget Exceeded 15/16
Rachel – 8/2
Redouble – 17/
Roguey – 15/4
Sazzie – 22/22Target Met
Slowlyfading – 18/18 Target Met
Spoony – 20/20 Target Met 2nd Target Met 22/22
Spyder – 19/17
The Boss – 22/
Trajal – 13/
Wildcherry – 15/15 Target MetTarget Exceeded 15/16
Xandersmum – 10/
Zenshi – 20/14

freebyfifty

Reserved for prizes and challengers

freebyfifty

This is for anyone who wants to set themselves a target for a number of NSDs in a row. We had some impressive numbers on this over the past few months so if anyone would like to have a go at this, I'll add you here


The In-a-Rowers

Beanie - 4-in-a-Row
Dragon - 6-in-a-Row Target Reached 7-in-a-row 8-in-a-row
Freeby - 6-in-a-Row Target Reached 7-in-a-row 8-in-a-row
Marmite - 4-in-a-Row
Purplesarah - 5-in-a-Row Target Reached 6-in-a-row 7-in-a-row
Sazzie - 5-in-a-Row Target Reached 6-in-a-row
Spoon - 5-in-a-Row Target Reached
Zensi - 4-in-a-Row x 3

freebyfifty

Hi lovely NSD gang:A
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 I ask you to highlight your number of NSDs in a colour and in bold so that I can see them easily when I whizz through the posts - red would be best but I don't really mind as long as I 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

Firstly, a big thank you to everyone who runs this thread - setting it up, updating, posters, pictures and wiggles - while out walking the dog this morning it occured to me how far I've come since last Sept when I started off with 7 NSDs and now I'm aiming for 26 on April.

What a team! Amazing all round!

May target - 17 NSD

BigMummaF

Yes..I agree..we ARE a good team!
I'd like to add my thanks to the folk who play a part in keeping this Challenge going, & also to those who post--whether it be newsy, funny or just plain daft --you'll never know how much I appreciate seeing you all here, so Thank You x



Now, let's think..:think: ..2 Bank Hols, I cousin's b'day (could be a day trip + a prezzie), at least 2 hospital appts & a load more local ones..hmmm..& all in 31 days _pale_ Think I'll start at 16 please; that's still more than half of the month where the dosh doesn't dawdle, & leaves some grace to gather more.


I hope this month turns out just how you'd like it to be, for you & yours x

Jelly_Biactol

My May target is 10 NSDs

and thanks to everyone who everyone who runs/updates these threads :T

AGirlWrites

Hello, I'd like to join and challenge myself to 15 NSD's in May!

jaxsmar

Please add me going for 14 NSD's many thanks for all the hard work :beer:

nomi01

Hi, can i sign up for 10 NSD in may please. Lots going on but will try my best.